[sclarke624]

Might have some berries of this plant.  Its First year.

[Beetroot queen]

Looks much healthier than mine, mine was covered in flowers but only about 3 leaves, apart from that it looks lovely, it was doing so well until it flowered 

[sclarke624]

I have another one that is one year old that has few leaves and hasn't flowered at all.  Will put what they are when I go out there.

[Trillium]

Few leaves is an indication that things are too alkaline for the plant...either the water you're using or not enough eracious additives.

[sclarke624]

quote author=Trillium link=topic=38272.msg455515#msg455515 date=1244064493]
Few leaves is an indication that things are too alkaline for the plant...either the water you're using or not enough eracious additives.
[/quote]

Arrived like that though with the other one, different variety, I've used rain water and eric wotsit compost.  Might pick up next year or I might just complain to crocus.co.uk where I got it from.  May just be the variety looks different, but few leaves worrying.

[sclarke624]

Found the names of them.
blueberry - mid-season fruiting
‘Vaccinium corymbosum Bluecrop’ This is the one that doesn't look much.

AND
blueberry - early fruiting
‘Vaccinium corymbosum Bluegold’.............the better one.

[barney rubble]

Yes they are looking good and on course for your first crop - enjoy ! (and make sure that robin doesn't get in there, although its the magpies which help themselves to mine) 

[sclarke624]

So far the birdies have left well alone.  But a field mouse did nick my first red strawberry last week.

[barney rubble]

So far the birdies have left well alone.  But a field mouse did nick my first red strawberry last week.

the little so and so....

[Trillium]

I forgot to mention that one year old plants aren't ready to do much this year other than set their roots. Keep the watering even as blueberries like it moist (never boggy) and they don't mind a bit of shade. If possible, give them a topping with some pelleted chicken manure asap and let them get on with things. I have bluecrop as well and it's not a particularly leafy variety.

[andreadon]

i did an experiement with my blueberries - i had one on its own outside and the other two inside a "greenhouse" (homemade plastic sheeting over chicken wire) - the one outside has very few leaves and no fruit, but the other two look very healthy and fruit is on!

my conclusion is that they need a friend to get fruit and that they need humidity.
lots of it.
(the humidity conclusion came from other people on the forum)

i think the one outside lost its leaves because it's not humid enough - it was watered with rain water and sits in ericaceous compost.

[Trillium]

Blueberries definitely need different cross pollinators, ones that flower at the same time, which is somewhat dependent on size. Short, tight plants will flower way earlier than the cultivated bush types so its a waste of time to buy one of each of those.

[sclarke624]

I forgot to mention that one year old plants aren't ready to do much this year other than set their roots. Keep the watering even as blueberries like it moist (never boggy) and they don't mind a bit of shade. If possible, give them a topping with some pelleted chicken manure asap and let them get on with things. I have bluecrop as well and it's not a particularly leafy variety.

thanks for that Trillium.  Making notes to keep.  I have stacks of pine needles my fingers can vouch for that.  We have a huge scots pine on the street outside, it blows needles, and cones all over, the times I have nearly broken my neck by stepping on a cone, I curse the thing.  Does mulch mean putting on the top of the pot around the plant.

Blueberries definitely need different cross pollinators, ones that flower at the same time, which is somewhat dependent on size. Short, tight plants will flower way earlier than the cultivated bush types so its a waste of time to buy one of each of those.

So another early and another mid would help with yield do you think.

[Trillium]

Yes, lay the pine needles on the pot soil surface all around the plant. It will eventually break down so keep adding them as they're acidic, just what the blueberries need.

And yes, corresponding time pollinators will definitely help and if possible get a different variety than the ones you already have. People who have only one plant and claim great success very likely have someone in the immediate area with blueberry plants which the bees helpfully pollinate. I have both early and later types and have 6 varieties so that all plants stay happy and productive.

[sclarke624]

Ta very