Blueberry FAQ
On ordering a blueberry for my home garden from my local nursery I’ve been informed I need two for pollination. Your info sheets do not state this so is it correct or are they selling me another plant! Would appreciate your answer on this.
Blueberry plants are self-fertile but if you have two varieties you will get a higher yield. Therefore it helps with pollination.
Pollination for fruit
Hi Fiona
The garden centre tells me we need two trees so that they pollinate to give fruit, is this correct also can you tell me the variety to order for fruiting in Dec/Jan/Feb/March.
Many thanks for your help, Bob
Good morning Bob
Blueberries will fruit if there are only one variety but if you do have two different varieties your will get a higher yield. Our garden centre varieties Tasty Blue, Blue Magic and Blue Dawn fruit from December through to February.
Pruning
Hi There
I have 3 of your blueberry plants , planted earlier in the year, and can you please tell me, how to prune them. They have finished fruiting.
Thanks, Clive
Pruning is needed to remove dead, diseased or weak growth. Cut back main leaders to encourage bushy shape – remember fruit is born on two year old wood only. In the earlier years make sure this is a light prune. In latter years older branches will need cutting back to encourage vigorous new growth. Four or five strong shoots per plant should be retained for best results.
Fruit Dropping
Hi Fiona I have just read your latest response regarding the blue berries. Over the years I have tried several bushes, the best performing for myself seems to be the highbush variety. My only problem is that it is not putting out lots of new shoots rather just continuing growing on the older wood. I am wondering as it flowers and fruits it is not the healthiest bush but I am talking about growing it in Alexandra alongside my blackcurrant bushes. I have heard that it is important that the roots are infected with Mycorrhizal fungi to really perform, the other problem being that the fruit drops off just before it is really fully ripened. I presume this is a problem with keeping the water up in our drought prone area.
Love to catch up on your new products.
Cheers Sharon
Good morning Sharon
We contacted HortResearch and they have come back with the following information.
"Sounds like a soil problem, may not have it acidic enough for blueberries
You need to add lots of mulch around the roots, to avoid them drying out, azalea fertiliser or similar.
If they can get hold of some peat soil from around blueberries, and incorporate it around the roots, it will help with mycorrhizal inoculations.
Watering through the growing season will help prevent fruit drop, but tell them not to over-water. Risk of root rot is high."
I hope this helps you Sharon. All blueberries like acidic soil and do not like to dry out or get too wet. Otherwise they are very easy to go.
Happy Gardening.
Dropping Leaves
My Blue Dawn which I planted 7/8 months ago is dropping its leaves and not looking well. I live in Rotorua so we get some pretty cold nights and I was wondering if this blueberry is frost tender. It is planted alongside a Blueberry Selection (Waimea Orchards) which is still very healthy. It gets a little bit of sun in the winter, mostly morning. I am also not sure what and when I should be feeding it.
Being a fairly novice gardener, I would appreciate your help please.
You should feed with citrus fertilizer in spring when growth starts. Plants are shutting down now that is why it is loosing some leaves. All blueberries are different and not all loose their leaves.
Pollinators
Today I purchased 4 x Blue Dawn (Takahe) Blueberry bushes ($100). Your label does not define the family this variety belongs to eg Highbush or Rabbiteye.
Apart from interest I am trying to establish which other varieties to buy for best pollination.
I live in Timaru and growing them in a single row running North to South.
Hopefully when fully grown they will form an effective screen separating the ornamental garden from the vegetables.
I would like the pollinating ones to grow to a similar height and width.
Blue Dawn, Tasty Blue and Blue Magic are all rabbiteye varieties and they will help pollinate each other. They all will grow to the same height and width. Blue Magic does have a more weeping form and fruits very heavily so needs thinning while young.
I hope this helps.