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6:01 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 30-Jan-11
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I love blueberries and would like to grow them. However, the only bushes we have seen for sale thus far have been small ones, with a label stating they won't fruit until NEXT year
. (We planted a gooseberry and a blackcurrant last year, just one of each as I'm the only one who eats them, and am hoping they will fruit this year too).
Does anyone know if it's possible to buy more mature blueberry bushes that will fruit this year?
learning to love veg…..except celery :-O
6:05 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Why not enquire at Thompson and Morgan? they might be able to sell you one or tell you where to get one.
I'll try that again!
7:15 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 3-Oct-11
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We got some from our local nursery and they fruited that year, so they must have benn mature enough- we had two, but the bad winter last year did for them both.
Are we having fun yet? I am!
8:24 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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That's odd, blueberries grow wild here and we have colder temperatures than you do. Mind you with our non-wild blueberry bushes I have taken the precaution of covering them with fir coats every year, but that is as much to stop the deer from noshing on them as anything. They survived last year - hope they did this year as it did get down colder, just not as long. Thinking about it though, they were probably under their blanket of snow, haven't been able to get down that way since it snowed heavily.
7:27 am
Supreme Being
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Sun 2-Oct-11
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I didn't know T&M did bushes etc, I thought it was just seeds. I have bought all my seeds this year from them using the link on this site as they deliver to France. I am going to try to grow some flowers from seed this year too, perennials, as I need lots to brighten my garden.
Trying to enjoy life as it is
5:50 am
Senior Class
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Sat 5-Mar-11
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I'm sure you are aware - but a word of warning as I made the same mistake once... blueberries need acid soil. I planted mine in large pots full of erinaceous compost.
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6:55 am
Supreme Being
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Sun 30-Jan-11
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Oooh yes, I meant to say......we bought 2 (bigger) blueberry bushes last week in a garden centre, the label on them did say about acid soil so at the moment they are still in the pots they came in until we buy some ericaceous compost - thanks for reminding me 
learning to love veg…..except celery :-O
7:15 am
Supreme Being
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Mon 3-Oct-11
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Update on our blueberries.
Although appearing dead all last year, one of the blueberries in the garden has strted to shoot this year. They got left as they were last year as we were concentrating on the front garden and they were in the back garden.
Are we having fun yet? I am!
6:42 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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We shred pine branches to put around our blueberry bushes to keep the soil acidic. I use pine branches for keeping deer off my plants and for a bit of protection over winter and so there are usually plenty to shred.
You could use some of the pine needles from a forest floor though
7:13 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 30-Jan-11
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That's brilliant Joanna, there's a huge pine tree in our garden . Thank you
learning to love veg…..except celery :-O
6:06 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Blueberry bushes grow in the swampy acidic pine forests around here, so that kind of gave me the idea
6:26 pm
Expert
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Sat 21-Aug-10
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My soil is just a little acid so my bush is happy and it's a mass of bloom right now, but I'm wondering if there are suitable insects around to pollinate this early. Fingers crossed and I hope that I'll get more than the birds this year.
Never assume anything - except an occasional air of intelligence.
6:29 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Can you net it Ruthie?
I'll try that again!
9:02 pm
Councillor
Wed 30-Dec-09
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JoannaS said:
Blueberry bushes grow in the swampy acidic pine forests around here, so that kind of gave me the idea
When I was young I remember my mum pouring the dregs from the teapot around some plant to change the soil pH - I think it might have been to increase acidity. I wonder whether doing that would help if the soil is a bit neutral? My blueberry bush is just in a tub of homemade compost and I've no idea what the pH is.
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