Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: andyww2013 on April 30, 2019, 19:33
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Hi,
I got given some Blueberry bushes recently. I jumped the gun a bit and immediately planted them in empty space in the fruit segment on my plot.
Then started reading up on them and discovered they need quite acidic conditions to thrive. I know I can achieve the opposite to the soil by adding lime, what can I add to help the blueberry bushes along.
Thanks.
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Sulphur chips or flowers of sulphur both work well but takes a while to work, aluminium sulphate and ferrous sulphate can also be used.
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I'd dig them back up again and replant into ericaceous compost. Perhaps one option would be a bottomless pot/flower bucket filled with ericaceous compost and then start using the sulphur when needed. I just planted a blueberry hedge and built a 12 inch high trough which I lined with visqueen and filled with ericaceous. Slashed the bottom of the visqueen for drainage but it should keep the plants in the acid they like.
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Do you know the ph of your soil? It may be you don't have to do an awful to achieve the ideal ph of around 4.5 at the site I'm on in Harrogate the ph is already just over 5 so I don't have much of a problem
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As well as the previous good advice, use rainwater rather than tap water, especially if you are in a hard water area.
Ericaceous feed (liquid or dry) can also help them along, but don't overdo it - blueberries can react badly to overfeeding.
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Look at the flora around you which should help give a clue as to the acidity of the soil. If things like azeleas, rhododendron, hydrangea, heathers, onions, redcurrants appear to grow well then yous soil is more likely to be verging towards being acidic.
If you are having to add lime to get your brassicas to grow well then don't worry too much. Ericascious feed and mulching the plants with pine needles (rotted of possible) will boost the acidity