Cranberries

[Clarabel]

A quick post to express my excitment at the cranberry plants I reserved today. We had vague plans for some fruit bushes along our fence and were hoping to get some in soon, so when I saw them today they were a must!

Probably blokie will be less excited as he hates them, but I love them, altho I might push my love of them to the extreme if I have to eat them all myself

Clarabel

[Selby]

I wish we could grow cranbrries: our soil is not nearly acid enough.

Let us know how you get on.

[Shirley]

Nice one Clarabel

I doubt you'll get fed up of them.. .they have many uses

[ina]

Didn't even know they grow around here - wouldn't mind trying that myself. Acid soil? No problem!

[hedgewizard]

And wet feet, they hate drying out. My catalogue also sells Lingonberries, so now I don't know what to do - blueberries, cranberries, or lingonberries! Any ideas? I'll go and ask the swedes too...

[diver]

which catalogue did you get the cranberries from, please?

[hedgewizard]

Dobies do blueberries, lingonberries and "sea buckthorn" which they reckon tastes similar to cranberries.

[diver]

thanks, I will ring Dobies as I want blueberries as well

[Shirley]

I want to grow blueberries too.... think it will go on my list for next year.

Maybe there will be some in the end of season sales at the garden centres - what are people's thoughts on buying these end of season plants... waste of time or worth a go?

[Kirstykbart]

I managed to pick up a blueberry plant this spring for £3.49. I always scour the sale bit just on the offchance they might have something. I've no idea when they normally have end of line stuff though, is there a specific time like Autumn??

Anyway, back to the blueberry. It's coming along really well, probably get a handful of berries this year. It might have been more but it needed repotting and I didn't do it till just recently and I think most of the flowers/fruits fell off. Looking forward to them when they finally are ready though and will def be buying another plant I think.

Anyone know how many bushes would be sufficient for a family??

[hedgewizard]

Blueberries are slow to come into full bearing, say six years. Once they get there a soil-grown bush in good conditions should yield between 2.5 and 3.5kg (6-8lb), and should bear for around 20 years.

Bearing in mind their longevity, I'd hesitate to buy any specimen that isn't in good condition, so I'd be suspicious of end-of-season plants. Not averse, just suspicious!

[Shirley]

thanks Hedgie

As we've got good blueberry growing conditions I think I'll hold out for a good one rather than taking on a straggler at the end of the season... that's a pretty good payback anyway isn't it.

Kirsty - is yours in a pot then?? I was thinking of planting a couple in the ground.

[hedgewizard]

I'm going for a big half-barrel full of ericaceous compost and just one plant. Wish me luck!

[Muddypause]

I'm going for a big half-barrel full of ericaceous compost and just one plant. Wish me luck!

I thought you were describing your new avatar for a moment.

[Kirstykbart]

thanks Hedgie

Kirsty - is yours in a pot then?? I was thinking of planting a couple in the ground.

yes it is. Tbh the ground here may be acidic enough. I've no idea really! must actually do a ph test! But then we do rent this place and I would want to take it with me anyway if and when we leave so I imagine I'll leave it as it is.

Kirsty