Prune and/or re pot blueberries?

JoeX

Hi all,

Ive had one for two years, and two were new bare root this winter, two have fruited a small amount and then burst out some long limbs.

Should I just prune them, or repot them as well?

Obelixx

Re-pot in good ericaceous compost.  Don't prune until they start getting too big and you want to control size and shape.   The bigger they are the more fruit you get......

Fairygirl

Are they all in that container? I'd repot them and give them a container each, and follow @Obelixx's advice re pruning 

JoeX

Thanks, if I don’t prune I’ll have to stake them.  The limbs are like three or four times the size of the rest of the plant!

I have two more of the same hemp bags or I could put them in the ground by a hydrangea au use ericaceous on but it’s quite shady.

Theveggardener

I have three Blueberries and was advised on here to put them in pots with ericaceous compost and not to prune them or I'd lose some fruit. I have staked all three as like your's the limbs are long and not self supporting, they look just like yours do also they need room. I have grouped mine together but not to close.

Obelixx

Blueberries won't like a sandy soil unless you can beef it up with masses of well-rooted compost and manure to help retain moisture.   Give each one a decent sized pot so the roots can spread.  The upper stems will become self supporting as they mature.

They need ericaceous compost as the presence of calcium in the soil or water locks up iron and mahnesium so that it is inaccessible to their roots and they become anaemic and chlorotic.   You can compensate for this by using an ericaceous feeding solution in spring and thru flowering.  Adding a mulch of well rotted manure every autumn - after a good rainfall - will also help.

JoeX

Thanks all, would three of these be big enough?

https://www.diy.com/departments/mali-round-terracotta-pot-h-380mm-dia-400mm/1858674_BQ.prd

I read an article that suggested 20” diameter which is what roughly 45cm? These are 40cm diameter, 38 deep.

Bee witched

Hi @Tin pot,

You might be better with plastic rather than terracotta. Blueberries are thirsty plants and terracotta can dry out quickly.

Bee x

Obelixx

20" = 60cms.   Agree about plastic over terracotta unless you paint the terracotta with 2 or 3 layers of clear acrylic varnish which will stop it absorbing water and ths leave more available to the blueberry roots and prevent frost damage to the pots.

treehugger80

you can reduce this years growth to five leaves now, blueberries are like red currents in their pruning style, they fruit on the previous years wood. so you want side branches, you can remove the oldest branch this winter as well to encourage air flow.

Plashing

I always prune mine in February if its not to cold,there's some good videos on the net about pruning.