How to Grow a Blueberry Bush

[chickadoodles]

gjensen
Maybe I should make smaller individual beds for each plant? Does that sound crazy? I was thinking of a bed like 6x10 with maybe 6-8 plants in it. But from reading your spacing I may need to either buy less plants to start with or make a couple beds. I will have to look at the orchard and figure this out because I still want to add a few more trees. But which ever I do I will take pic's to share...

 

[LittleBlu]

I am growing a blue berry bush inside and using Flower and Vege Garden Soil and not having much luck. Its growing but not even close to blooming. It was supposed to bloom late summer and its not looking like its going to. Any help?

 

[Highcotton]

I am growing a blue berry bush inside and using Flower and Vege Garden Soil and not having much luck. Its growing but not even close to blooming. It was supposed to bloom late summer and its not looking like its going to. Any help?

Make sure sure your PH is right. the PH of Flower and Vege soil is probably too high for Blueberries. It should be 4.0 to 5.0 Use plant food for Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Sulphur will bring the PH down but I can't tell you how much to use.

 

[gjensen]

gjensen
Maybe I should make smaller individual beds for each plant? Does that sound crazy? I was thinking of a bed like 6x10 with maybe 6-8 plants in it. But from reading your spacing I may need to either buy less plants to start with or make a couple beds. I will have to look at the orchard and figure this out because I still want to add a few more trees. But which ever I do I will take pic's to share...

Rabbiteye blueberries look great individually, but they look best when allowed to develop a full spread. A variety like Tifblue can get very big.

Alternately, you can space them as close as 4' and grow them as a hedge. You just have to keep them pruned. You will not get as much per individual plant because there is no sun exposure between the plants.

I am a sucker for small fruit. I have tree fruit. Apples etc. I have grown to appreciate what especially does well in the South without routine spraying. Figs, Blackberries, Blueberries, Muscadines, Pomegranates, etc. I have grown weary of plants that I have to spray to keep alive. I do not mind a little spraying ere and there, but a not fan of it being a requirement for survival. I have never sprayed a blueberry for anything.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I am not sure yet what type of bed I will make. I have been working on my pens like crazy trying to get them done before my pullets start laying.

We started a small orchard a few years ago and we have apple, pear, plum and peach. I still want to add a few. I do not like to spray any of my food if I can help it either.

 

[gjensen]

I am not sure yet what type of bed I will make. I have been working on my pens like crazy trying to get them done before my pullets start laying.

We started a small orchard a few years ago and we have apple, pear, plum and peach. I still want to add a few. I do not like to spray any of my food if I can help it either.

I know this is a blueberry thread, but what kind of apples and pears do you have?

 

[vehve]

I know this is a blueberry thread, but what kind of apples and pears do you have?

Don't spread this around, but tomatoes have been discussed as well. And even dogs, of all things!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I have Red and Golden Delishious, Keifer pear. And I bought what was suppose to be 2 fruit cocktail trees but one is a plum and the other is a peach. I lost two Duke plum trees last winter. And I have 3 Pecan, 4 Shag Bark Hickory trees so far. I want to add another plum, pomegranite, appricot. I also just planted 2 bush cherry.

 

[gjensen]

I have Red and Golden Delishious, Keifer pear. And I bought what was suppose to be 2 fruit cocktail trees but one is a plum and the other is a peach. I lost two Duke plum trees last winter. And I have 3 Pecan, 4 Shag Bark Hickory trees so far. I want to add another plum, pomegranite, appricot. I also just planted 2 bush cherry.

Have your Apples produced any fruit? My Red and Golden Delicious have and are, but I have a couple more hundred chill hours (some years) than yourself. I am in a transition zone of sorts. Apples would not be highly recommended where I am, but 100 miles west of me, is different. Generally we do not do especially well with apples unless we go north and west of us. I have been fortunate this far.
The University of Florida has released some low chill hour apples that are disease resistant. There are a couple low chill our varieties from Israel that require more spraying. I intend to add a couple more, along these lines. My boys like Granny Smith, and it is a lower chill hour plant than most. It may get added.

Plums do well here, if we keep them sprayed. I am sure there are other examples, but if I do not keep them sprayed . . .I will eventually lose them. The same with peaches. Peaches and Plums do exceptionally well here otherwise. I love plums.
The University of Auburn has released a lot of promising plum varieties of late.

I like the Russian Pomegranates. They are more cold hardy, and less vulnerable to spring frosts. There was a cold hardy variety called State Fair, that I have been unable to find. I like to have some pomegranates if not just for their ornamental value. We get some fruit, but do not get what they could in the southwest. The hummingbirds like them.

Can't live in the South without Pecan trees, LOL.

DO you dislike Muscadines?

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: My apple trees are young this is their first year so it may be a couple years yet. I did not know that plum and peach had to be sprayed every year. The peach was suppose to be 5 different fruit on one tree but the grafts died for some reason and they tree is stunted it is at 4' and I keep fertilizing it and it won't grow any bigger.
The plum we have left was also suppose to be a fruit cocktail with 5 fruit on it. But it only grows plums and it is struggling to grow again I fertilize it three times a year. This year I finally see it starting to put on some new growth this is our third year with it.
I have an older pear that is half dead so I planted another one last year. We have not gotten any fruit off of it for the past two years and then this year it is loaded with pears again.
I guess I need to find out where to buy the trees that Auburn and Florida are putting out on the market.
I read that we could grow the Wonderful Pomegranate here, is that wrong?
We do not care for Muscadines I prefer grapes like they grow out in California. I planted some Muscadines a couple years ago but I thought they were grapes the squirrels loved them. But DH cut them down with the weed eater. Lol

What kinds of trees do you grow?