Questions on blueberries.

After looking at shop blueberry prices, I decided I'd rather have my own plants I've considered it in the past but was worried about space, but some has become available in the south facing front of the house. So I've ordered two blueberry plants (all I could reasonable fit in sadly), which are due to arrive the end of December.

In the meantime I've been doing more research, but I'm finding conflicting information I hope people may be able to help with?

Online says they like acid well draining (but moist) compost, but many sites recommend mixing John innes No. 3 with it, a slow draining loam based material. Wouldn't that mess with the PH levels? They also don't mention to what ratios, whether its 50/50 or 30/70 etc. to keep the acidity dominant and it well draining.

Another inconsistency is regarding pot size. There are sites saying the container should be 'no smaller' than 45cm, while another site says 30cm is the minimum... Being limited on space, smaller is of course better for me. But I wouldn't want the containers so small that it's detrimental the plant. So I'd appreciate any recommendation on what container size would be optimal, as the 45cm figure is a big reason why I only ordered two plants; despite the significant discount on three... 

Finally I understand being an acidic soil plant I can only feed it certain fertilisers. I read blueberries will accept BFB, which would be good because it's primarily what I use. But then I stumbled on another site saying BFB will rise the PH level over time. Best stick with the Ericaceous fertilisers?

That should hopefully be everything I appreciate clarification on any of these area  :happy:

Thompson and Morgan recommends well draining with John innes mixed in.

Blueberries require a well drained, acid soil in a sunny or semi shaded position. In areas where acid soil does not naturally occur, grow blueberry plants in patio containers using a mix of ericaceous compost and John Innes No. 3.

Glad you recommend 50cm as that's what I planned to go for. Was just worried the recommended size would have meant I could have had one more plant than expected, considering the three plant deal I would have missed.

Advice I was given was to start in small pots and increase in size every other year till up to 50cm and then replace up to half the compost every year. I've always just used ericaceous compost and liquid fertilisers, water only with rain water and they must be kept moist. I'm told that they are native to and thrive in boggy conditions but not waterlogged. Here is a link.     


http://www.growyourown.info/page70.html

One thing people forget about is that blueberries are shallow rooted so they don't need very deep pots, but they need to be deep enough that the soil won't dry out too quickly.

The many varieties of blueberries are also many mature sizes so judge according with pot sizes regarding height and width, and what stage the growth is in when you buy a plant.

With ericaceous soils, they tend to neutralize over time so each year add something to help return the acidity, like specific plant food for rhodos and such, or garden sulphur (if available). Chicken manure/pellets are also beneficial for lowering pH. The level doesn't have to be rock bottom, just not too aklaline.

They're supposed to be in 3 litre containers when delivered, so perhaps going straight to the 50cm pot would be too much of a jump for them... I have to wonder though, if too big a container can pose a problem; what about in ground where there is infinite space?

It's sometimes said that too large a pot can hold too much excess water and potentially cause root rot, and it's also true that some plants flower better when slightly stressed by being in too small a pot and therefore probably also slightly undernourished.

My own view is that neither of these apply to blueberries, although of course they won't appreciate sitting permanently in a bog any more than you or I would!   

As you say, rainwater is best, soft tap water is OK, even hard tap water is better than no water.

Ours get tap water, which is hard in our area, when there are dry spells, as I do not always have enough saved rain water.

This is counteracted by incorporating sulphur chips into the top inch of soil each Spring, both for those in pots and those in the soil at the plot

Anyone using coffee grounds?

My Mum used to water her potted azaleas with them, and with tea left in the pot.