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I recently bought three blueberry bushes and was just going to plop them into the ground with compost. Someone in line at the nursery suggested blueberries love acid and to try Miracid. that sounded too close to MiracleGro for me. So what do I do so my children can enjoy these blueberries and I don't have to explain how I killed more plants? [/b][b][b][/b]
Yes blueberries love an acid soil but will do well with a Ph of 7, they do need plenty of water, add as much compost, peat,or sawdust as you can to the soil.
I'll be putting in a blueberry patch next month, and need to make the soil more acidic as well. I intend to talk with the 2 coffeshops in nearby towns about getting the used coffee grounds to use as mulch. I think I will also not let them set fruit for the first two years so that the roots get better established.
Jerry, can you explain that to me? Does pinching the blueberries force the plant to search down? Do you just pick the f lowers? I don't think my children are that patient, but I'd like to know how to do it! What's your take on strawberries? Last year I cut them back after they got very small and then I gotmore bigger berries. I'm such a berry novice! larvamama
Larvamama (bet there's a story behind that moniker),
There just so happens to be an article in this month's OG by Lee Reich on Blueberries that claims, "Remove fruit buds for the first two years so the plant puts its energy into establishing a strong root system instead of setting fruit". Much as I want to start enjoying those berries right away, it's good advice.
