I'm new to Garden Stew and new to growing blueberries in the Cleveland Ohio area. I planted blueberry and blackberry bushes in late June in raised beds. There were a few berries on the bushes this year but I'm concerned about them. What do you do to prepare them for the winters of the North. The bushes were about a foot tall, but I don't know how old the plants are. Is there a way to know? And when should they start growing berries? Any advice would be helpful.
Beckyt--Welcome to the Stew! I hope you will like it here. I garden in Massachusetts, not Ohio, but I checked a USDA plant hardiness map & you are in the same zone as me. My blueberries are very hardy. I have never lost a plant to the cold. I have more trouble with birds eating the berries before me! Blueberries perform best in full sun. Are yours planted in a sunny spot? They also do best in acidic soil. Did you amend your soil with organic matter? If not, you can top dress in the spring with an inch of compost. Don't put too much on at any one time as blueberries are shallow rooted & you will smother the roots with too much compost. They like a fair amount of water but don't want to be puddled in it. Because you planted yours in a raised bed, you probably won't have to worry about that. It will take a few years for your plants to produce well. Be patient & good luck!
Hi and welcome from a very distant hot and humid land. I am sorry I am not able to help you but soon someone would. I live in an area where blueberry and blackberry bushes cannot be planted or should I say is very difficult to be planted here. Welcome and have a great time here!
Hi there and welcome. Usually when you buy blueberries they are 2 year old plants. The next year(3) they will have a few blueberries but will not really get going till the next year (4). Then they should only get better and better. One thing that will help is to mulch them with pine needles if you can get them. That will add acidity to the soil as rain filters through.
