Help caring for my blueberry bush please

Emily36

I was given this blueberry plant a couple of years ago.  I think this is its second summer.  Does it look okay? It seems quite spindly and bare  we had a handful of blueberries last year but that was it. How can I help it grow and produce good fruit? Its only ever had some tomato food but nothing yet this year. 

BobTheGardener

Yes, looks ok for a young one.  I assume it is planted in ericaceous (acid) compost?  They do need that.  If you had a lot of flowers last year but few berries, the likelihood is that lack of pollination is the issue.  While blueberries are partially self-fertile, the crop is increased hugely if you have a second blueberry of a different variety.  As yours is in flower now, look at 'early' cropping blueberries to get a suitable pollination partner.

Because they require acidic soil, that means you also need to use a specialised food which can be taken-up by the plant, so tomato feed isn't ideal.  Look for liquid feeds which say they are for acid-lovers, such as azalea/rhododendron food.

Emily36

Thanks, good to know it looks okay! It didn't have many flowers last year, would this be just because it's a young plant? I'll look into getting some food for it. I'm quite sure it would have been potted in ericaceous compost as it was given to me by a reasonably keen gardener. 

Busy-Lizzie

It's just young and it would have more flowers, as Bob said, if it had a friend of a different variety. If you have hard water then don't water it with tap water, use rain water.

Nanny Beach

course, if it doesnt rain, you have to use tap water, had had 3 ideally you really need at least 2 for polination, lost one in the summer of 2018, I just top dress the top every spring with a bit more compost, they are in pots and get bigger and better every year