[muckyboots]

Thanks for that devon will keep my eye open for that one,feed wise I use sequestrian feed is that ok.(or is that something to do with horses)

[devonbarmygardener]

I've never heard of that feed! Does sound vaguely horsey!

Haven't fed mine since they've been in the ground - don't appear to have needed it!
Looking into it though.

[muckyboots]

Just checked its  Sequestrene for acid loving plants.

[devonbarmygardener]

Ah - that makes sense.

I gave them some chicken pellets - they're quite acidic - that would count as feeding. I was flinging them all over the plot.

[ThatsNice]

I think I'm probably going to take a chance and plant them in the ground. I shall do as much as i can to acidify the dug out for them to go in, then they will have two chances.. do or die, lol!

[devonbarmygardener]

I just built a square bed, probably 1.2mx1.2m square out of those little edging fences you can pick up quite cheaply at a garden centre and filled it with about 3 bags of ericacious compost.

This compost does gather moss when it's damp, but it comes away easy enough. The plants don't seem to mind it anyway - probably keps their roots warm in the winter!

Build a good cage round it though as the birdies like blueberries very very much.

[devonbarmygardener]

ooh just be aware some other plants don't like acid soils so if you don't have a bordered bed, watch what you try to grow near them.

[ThatsNice]

Will bear that in mind, thanks Devon.
Saw an idea today of two tires stacked and filled with compost and fuschias planted. They had put wood around it as decoration to disguise the tires. Wonder if I could acquire some to do this for my blueberries...?!
Birds pinching them duly noted, thank you. Will speak to my dad about netting them as have some ideas for that

[wasthiswise]

I bought several in the autumn including a pink blueberry which is apparently new. I have them in large patio pots with a mixture of ericaceous compost and semi-rotted pine needles. Soil not acidic enough here to plant in ground.

[devonbarmygardener]

Tyres are brilliant for growing in.

You can plant potatoes in the bottom one and stack them up as you earth up too.
Would be good for a blueberry too I should think.

[JohnB47]

Tyres are brilliant for growing in.

You can plant potatoes in the bottom one and stack them up as you earth up too.
Would be good for a blueberry too I should think.

I'm pretty sure our allotment has a rule against bringing tyres onto the plot. Ditto glass.

[devonbarmygardener]

Tyres are brilliant for growing in.

You can plant potatoes in the bottom one and stack them up as you earth up too.
Would be good for a blueberry too I should think.

I'm pretty sure our allotment has a rule against bringing tyres onto the plot. Ditto glass.

Can't you have greenhouses then??
Shame. You can decorate tyres to make them more attractive. I've seen them painted in blue and white and they look pretty good.

[Yorkie]

There are very strict rules now about how tyres can be disposed of, so it may well be true that it's not OK to have them on a plot these days.

[devonbarmygardener]

I'm not debating that some sites don't like tyres, just saying it's a shame. They can have good uses.

[Geordie]

I'm trying the sunken half barrel approach filled with ericacious compost approach.

See pic which shows my barrels in 2012 and now in 2013.

These plants were new last year and only produced a few berries but they have put quite a bit of growth on in their first year. I have them mulched with bark to retain moisture - would have preferred pine needles if I could have got some.

Didn't need to water them - no surprise really given the weather!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a better crop this year.