[Geordie]

I eventually cut a blue barrel into 3 and planted them in the ground and filled each with a bag of ericacious compost. I mulched them with bark chippings as well.

Only time will tell

[sunshineband]

They look good 

[Growster...]

Now that's a great idea Geordie!

I like that - instant raised beds for very little outlay too!

Anyone else tried this?

[lacewing]

I also like the blue barrel idea. I'm wondering how diffecult they are to cut?  Is it the case that a container can be too big for a plant? I seem to recall reading that any compost which the roots are not using, in a container, can go stale.

[JayG]

Depending on variety, blueberries should grow to 3-4 feet across, and the roots, which rarely go much deeper than about a foot are spread quite widely (up to the drip-line of the foliage above.)

It's therefore very unlikely that something the size of Geordie's cut-down barrels would not eventually be filled from side to side with roots, so all things considered it could be quite a good way of growing them, although they might need more frequent watering than in level soil.

[lacewing]

I will have to find a nice sharp saw and get cutting,  thus avoiding the expence of buying large pots!

[Growster...]

Wilkos had some in Maidstone yesterday for under £4.00.

Billy bargain methinks.

[angeltreats]

I like that idea!  Wonder where I could find some blue barrels.

[Growster...]

I like that idea!  Wonder where I could find some blue barrels.

They're occasionally used for fruit pulp etc., Angel.

Try a trawl around the independent garden centres, they often have them for just a few quid! Be carefull you don't get one which may have had some industrial/chemical stuff inside, as that may have the wrong consequences...

Some of them often have big screw lids as well, like a huge marmalade pot!

[carlrmj]

I bought 10 plants from j p parkers last year.I dug down 3ft and 2ft across,then filled with ericaceous compost.

I planted 5 in the ground,then 5 in large pots filled with ericaceous compost.

The ones in the pots are doing better than the ones in the ground.

MY soil is acid ph6.5

Carl   

[angeltreats]

Thanks Growster.  I'll have a look out.  I'm now starting to think that I might be better off sending them over to my dad who lives in Northern Ireland and has acidic soil.  You should see the rhodedendrons he used to grow, as he got older (he's nearly 77) he had to get rid of them as he just couldn't keep up with pruning them all, they grew so fast.  He could manage a couple of blueberry bushes though and he still likes a bit of light pruning