If so, how would I go about getting one, planting it, upkeep of it, etc? I'd really like to try this but haven't the first clue about what to do. Free berries for the best answer!
2006-09-13 12:02:51 · 11 answers · asked by Rachel Maria 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
(1) Buy a blueberry bush from a garden centre.
(2) Dig a hole about 1 foot deep and 1 foot across.
(3) Fill the hole with water.
(4) When the water has drained away, plant your bush, and cover it to the base.
(5) Water every other day (if you plant in spring) or every fourth day (in autumn) for about three weeks.
(6) Don't expect any fruit the first year.
(7) If you don't get any fruit the second year, then try planting one or more blueberry bushes nearby. (Of course, you can always plant more than one to start with.)
(8) Feed the bush with dissolved plant food during the summer and early autumn.
(9) In November, prune back the old growth ('Twigs') but leave the new 'canes'.
(10) Look for recipes for muffins and pies on the internet.
Good Luck!
2006-09-13 12:23:14 · answer #1 · answered by Barks-at-Parrots 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say so. There was an ad on tv recently and it was about blueberries, and I am 90% sure they were talking about Ireland.It was something like the ad for Ribena where they show the blackcurrant crop growing in fields in Ireland.
I bought a blueberry bush this time last year. It even had a few berrys on it. I was so looking forward to planting it but I became ill and had to go to hospital for a time. I had put the bush (still in the pot) in a corner of the garden until I decided where I was going to plant it. I eventually came home from hospital and when I was well enough went into the garden and came across my blueberry bush. It had died through lack of water. I had completely forgotten to tell my family to keep an eye on it and the weather was really hot so that was that. I am going to look for another one this weekend. I probably should have asked a garden center to get one for me. You could ring a few places and ask if they have them and if not would they get one for you. I will try the same place again. I bought it in a very nice smallish gardencenter beside an Argos shop just outside Cavan town. It only cost something like nine or ten euro. I remember being surprised as it was almost 3ft tall. I read prices this year, somewhere or other, and it was more like fourteen euro but I will try to find one anyway. We may have to pay even more than that because with both of us ringing the same shops they will think there is a big rush on.
I had been wondering whether to plant into the ground or put it in a large pot. It would make a nice pot-plant and we could put it in the ground at a later time if we wanted.
The annoying thing is ...the day I bought the blueberry bush I also bought Six Hills Giant Mint and there wasn't a bother on that. It survived the long spell without water.
Now Rachel Maria I would just love some of the free berries please. Happy planting.
2006-09-13 12:50:02 · answer #2 · answered by Learner 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What a coincidence, I started with a couple bushes this year, and have since bought a few more since I can't seem to get any berries to myself with the children snagging the ripe ones as soon as they see them!
Blueberries are "ericacious" plants which means they need acidic soil, and they actually need soil that is more acidic than most. I am growing mine in large containers full of ericacious compost (it's labeled for azaleas and rhododendrons, etc...) and supplemented it with ericacious plant food. There are many sources for learning about the proper planting and care, just google "growing blueberries" to obtain of wealth of detailed information to print out and keep for reference.
I would start out with at least two, of different varieties for the
cross pollination and much bigger crops than you would get with a single plant trying to pollinate itself.
The people at Trehane Nursery are EXCELLENT and so friendly and right now there is an internet special reduced price on three different bushes, which would be great for the cross pollination. They are younger plants so you will have a wait til next year I imagine for berries..Mine arrived with a few berries on them, so i anticipate next year they will be mature enough to start busting out. Go ahead and phone this place, they are so nice. I thoroughly enjoyed dealing with them. http://www.trehanenursery.co.uk/detail.aspx?id=196
If you want an older plant that is cropping right away, try the Dorset Blueberry Company that sells 7.5 litre semi mature plants. They are also a good company that answers emails promptly and are an offshoot company of Trehane. Go to the specimen plant section. http://shop.dorset-blueberry.co.uk/index.php?cPath=30
Keep in mind that these are more expensive, but you will have a plant that is already producing. Both these websites are an excellent way of learning about all the different highbush and lowbush varieties available, and the people there are more than willing to help you choose a variety that is best for your geography.
I'm delighted with mine, growing happily in the northeast of scotland, except now I have lots of blackbirds visiting my garden so I've had to wrap my older, producing plant in netting, which is cheap but effective.
Happy Growing! I am having a lot of fun nurturing my new "acid babies"!
2006-09-14 06:24:16 · answer #3 · answered by Helen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shouldn't be a problem climatewise, but you need bogsoil for it to thrive, so you'd probably be better off in offaly than, say, in kerry. you'll also need to watch it quite closely as it'll spread through the soil and can overgrow your entire garden if you're not careful. last saturday they had a similar problem on gerry daly with raspberries, gerry recommended putting plastic foil into the ground that the spreading roots can't get through.
2006-09-13 12:15:59 · answer #4 · answered by nerdyhermione 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see why not.They grow all over the place in the U.S. and I think the climates here and in Ireland are fairly similar.Get in touch with some nurseries and find out if they can order some for you.
2006-09-13 12:13:33 · answer #5 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Check out a fruit catalogue. You will need a couple of bushes for pollination.
2006-09-13 12:13:08 · answer #6 · answered by pignut 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll need two different plants (two different types of plants, IIRC) to get them to fruit.
2006-09-13 12:12:05 · answer #7 · answered by Comrade Wolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yup. should be fine. You might want to make sure you give it enough space to grow and sunlight.
2006-09-13 12:10:28 · answer #8 · answered by SwImMeR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2006-09-13 12:10:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask Alan titchmarsh
2006-09-13 12:08:39 · answer #10 · answered by The Boss 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋