blueberries

[Shutsumon]

I was in poundland today and I noticed they had blueberry plants in addition to their normal soft fruit offerings. I figured at £1 I'd got nothing to lose since I love blueberries, but I want to check a few things before I plant it.

1. I'm thinking of planting it in a large container on the - um - patio (it's more like an extra-wide path in front of the flat than a true patio) - as I'm pretty certain my soil and blueberries are not compatible. How big would be a good starting pot?

2. Quite apart from the soil it'll allow me to drag them inside in winter since I also hear they don't like frost - but in this vein should I wrap fleece round it or keep in inside when I plant it.

3. It'll need ericaceous compost right?

4. Assuming it establishes okay will I get blueberries this year or have to wait until next year?

5. Any other advice welcome.

Thanks,
Becky

[Clara]

I'm dying to get blueberries here, they aren't available.

Can't help with the frost thing, but I thought they were hardy, could be wrong.

I think, unless otherwise stated, that you need more than one plant (and possibly different cultivars) for pollination.

Be interested to hear what anyone else has to say.

[Green Aura]

Sounds great, but you'd better get another one - apparently they fruit better if there are two.

[TheLancsLass]

Yup I have heard that too about them fruiting better if you plant 2. We got the raspberries and blackcurrents from there last year :)

[Shutsumon]

I think (I may be wrong) that blueberries are self fertile but do better if there is a different type for pollination; they'd probably only have the one variety at poundland anyway so I'll need to find somewhere else selling a different type to improve the yield.

[Elizabeth]

I think fruit is about year 3.

I'm still hoping for fruit on mine!!

Have kept them frost free.

[Mainer in Exile]

I've always understood that blueberries need frost to set fruit. Frost certainly doesn't hurt them: they grow wild in my homeland, where they are exposed to temperatures to -20 F.

[Elizabeth]

They are definately fruits grown in colder climates. Not sure why I've kept them frost free!!

This link should be of some help; http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/t ... ies2.shtml

[Millymollymandy]

Mine's planted in the ground and it seems perfectly hardy. They grow wild in all sorts of cold places.

I just bought the one which was a self-pollinating variety but it didn't have many more fruit in year 2 than year 1 - which wasn't a lot. It's almost worth it though just as a shrub for its amazing autumn colours.