[Jackypam]

I have a blueberry planted in a pot in bought ericaceous soil from the GC and sunk in a bed in the fruit cage 3 years ago. I want to plant a couple more in the same bed as the space is wasted at the moment.  I'd really like to put them in the soil.  Is there something I can add to the soil to make it acid enough please?  It is pretty much neutral at the moment I think, but my test kit is a bit rubbish, so if anyone can recommend a good, not too expensive one to replace it, that would be great too.

[Asherweef]

I add spent coffee grounds to my soil just to keep acidity up. I do believe that I read on here though that it only works if you use un-steeped grounds though... I've not had problems (yet!).

[carlrmj]

 
  I've got nine assorted blueberry plants , they were in the ground initially but I couldn't get it acid enough.

 There in really big tubs now , and I feed them with ericacous feed (from Wilko's) and they have done a lot better

 since I moved them .

 The problem if your soil is not acid already is that whatever you add to the area around your blueberries just drains away in the surrounding soil.

A friend of mine  got, some small plastic drums (about 3ft x 2ft) cut the top and bottom off dug a hole put the drums in then filled with ericacous compost, they seem to be doing ok.

 He feeds them with ericacous feed also.

[JayG]

The probe-type pH meters have been discussed here many times, and it would appear that you have to spend a lot of money to get an accurate one, which doesn't make much sense for the amateur - the chemical test kits are available quite cheaply at most garden centres, and are quite accurate, albeit more "faff."

If you know your soil is chalky, or turns out to have a pH higher than 7 you will have to consider something like the physical isolation Carlrmj has just referred to, because you will never be able to lower the pH of the soil enough to be successful.

Mine is naturally around neutral, but my blueberries do quite well with annual dressings of sulphur chips, ericaceous feed, peat moss as a mulch, and of course watering with rainwater only. I've never managed to get the pH lower than about 6, and they probably would do better if I could, but at least they've got well-drained soil in their favour.

[Jackypam]

The probe-type pH meters have been discussed here many times, and it would appear that you have to spend a lot of money to get an accurate one, which doesn't make much sense for the amateur - the chemical test kits are available quite cheaply at most garden centres, and are quite accurate, albeit more "faff."

If you know your soil is chalky, or turns out to have a pH higher than 7 you will have to consider something like the physical isolation Carlrmj has just referred to, because you will never be able to lower the pH of the soil enough to be successful.

Mine is naturally around neutral, but my blueberries do quite well with annual dressings of sulphur chips, ericaceous feed, peat moss as a mulch, and of course watering with rainwater only. I've never managed to get the pH lower than about 6, and they probably would do better if I could, but at least they've got well-drained soil in their favour.

Wish mine were well drained. Heavy clay is more accurate!  Thanks for the advice on ph kits.