Bargain cloches cold frames fruit trees etc

[nots so bad lad]

Hi get your self of to Lidl bought two 5 metrs cloches £3.50 each seacteuas teflon coated 99p and from saturday 11th fruit trees yes cheaper than wilkos 3.99 each fruit bushes blueberry etc 99p bargains or wot cold frames 19.99

[Jaxom]

NSBL, How big are the Blueberries? I've just bought a few; as I needed a mix of varieties in order to get the best out of the bushes I had already.
What varieties do they have?
Jax

[Nicos]

Had no idea you needed different varieties! Think I have 2 types...need to check up as they are tiny compared to the neighbours. One of my favourate fruit, and so well suited to our peat soil, so long as my next door neighbour doesn't accidentally spray them with industrial glyphosphate!!! Only one of two survived but he runs all the plots so got to smile big style at him!!! ( he must have noticed???) i think I prefer these to strawberries! Did try huckleberry 2yrs ago ....but that is another story!!

[Jaxom]

Pollination of blueberries by a second named variety improves crop production in both taste and numbers of berries on the bush. I have four bushes from three named types.

[nots so bad lad]

Pass mate give in

Jaxom do not Know fellow they are not flogging them till saturday the 11th march there are red currant , black currant, blackberry, gooseberry thats wot it states on the flyer plus fruit trees granny smith, french pear,victoria plum suggest you get your self to0 lidl first saturday morning on the 11th hope this help fellow.

[nots so bad lad]

Ps also blue berry

sorry also blueberry 99p each hey come on even if you have to wait a couple of years value for money compared to your kenmuir and garden centres

[Jaxom]

sorry also blueberry 99p each hey come on even if you have to wait a couple of years value for money compared to your kenmuir and garden centres

NSBL , I asked about names due to the fact that some grow to be six feet tall and a little too big for my garden. I surpose trimming is always an option
Jax

[suee]

NSBL and Jaxom - could you plant two varieties together in one very big pot as I'm having to buy ericaceous compost?

[Nicos]

suee - depends on the variety as to what size they will grow to. It's always better to plant apart unless you have a very wide tub, otherwise they will crowd each other and one side of each won't develop. Some varieties can get pretty big...4ftx 4ft. Some of the catalogues sell a patio variety and you may get away with 2 together in a wide pot. I think you'd end up using just as much compost in 2 tubs compared to a large,wide one. You have also got the added bonus of less risk of cross infection if they are a bit further apart. The extra cost would be the second tub. Just think of how much money you will save in the long term with 2 healthy,heavily laden bushes each year!

[suee]

Thanks Nicos - will do. Just off to lift them back into the shed for the night before the frost sets in! I'm also planning to use droppings from some pine trees as I read that will increase the acidity. Sue (soon to be retired!!)

[Jaxom]

Thanks Nicos - will do. Just off to lift them back into the shed for the night before the frost sets in! I'm also planning to use droppings from some pine trees as I read that will increase the acidity. Sue (soon to be retired!!)

Suee, don’t put them in the warm. Blueberries need the cold or they will NOT produce any berries. The Blueberry centre here in Wales had to be move to Scotland so that the bushes could get enough hours below 8 degrees in order to thrive. These bushes thrive on mountainsides and in frost pockets. Some people here in the UK get poor results because their local weather does not chill for long enough during an extended period from autumn till spring.
Jax

[suee]

Oh my goodness - so even though they're in temporary small pots, just leave them out in minus temperatures?

[sewer rat]

Sue
They should be okay to be left outside, even in this weather.
Sawdust is another good mulch for ericaceous plants - and if you missed it, Starbucks chain of coffee shops have bags of used coffee grounds that they give away for free, which they promote as being good for mulching round acid loving plants.
Rat
ps - how soon is "soon to be retired"

[Jaxom]

I have four small pots of Blueberries, which have been sitting outside for a few months now. I have them sheltered out of the wind but that is to stop them drying out and getting blown over. The four bushes are just starting to come into bud now. Always keep your blueberries moist but not waterlogged as this makes them less liable to freezing soil, which will kill them off. Use Ericatious soil and feed in spring. When the berries have formed and are near to ripe, stop feeding and allow them to dry out a little between watering. This will give the bushes conditions similar to those found on high ground where it is slightly dryer at the height of summer and going into early autumn.
Berries that have been left alone tend to be juicer and stronger in flavour. Too much water and food in late summer leads to more leaf production on the plant and larger and plump but slightly less flavoursome berries.
If a plat thinks it is going short of water some will produce more flowers and seed to start the next generation. As you will be harvesting the berries grown from the flowers, then keeping it slightly pot bound and hungry will trigger this survival effect. In early spring and after harvesting is the best time to feed and water freely. You need to mimic heathland and areas where heather thrives.
Jax

[suee]

Hi sewer rat (hate that name!) - my last working day will be 30th March - can't wait!
Jaxom - many thanks - I've saved that advice.