Blueberries in containers

[monkeyboy]

I bought a blueberry plant from Homebase. Bluecrop. It's about six inches tall at the moment.

I've read about it needing ericaceous soil, monthly feeds to keep the acidity, and mulching to prevent drying out as well as maintaining acidity. I've read about how it's easier to maintain acidic soil in a container.

All good stuff.

But I can't find what size container is best. Or more accurately, what's the smallest size container I can get away with and still have a good harvest?

[nickdub]

I was in the same boat last year. I put mine in a deep 8" pot for the Summer and this Winter, now moved it a few weeks ago to a Morrison's black flower bucket as it obviously has got bigger - long term plan is to create a permanent bed outside walled off and filled with acid materiel, as my garden is limestone based this will need to have a semi-permeable barrier.

[Mudsweatandtea]

Had mine in a 50cm bell pot for the past few years and each year it's cropped better than the last (i think it was a little bigger than 6" at purchase though). Every year I give it a topdressing consisting of used coffee grounds and a little fresh compost and it seems happy enough. Ive been meaning to get another as apparently they crop better with two or more plants. It's gotten to maybe 90cm high and 80cm spread and I get a few punnets off it each year. Hope this helps

[Losos]

I use a 12 inch 'Airpots' and had three Blueberries bushes including one 'Bluecrop' they were doing well but last year the Bluecrop caught the frosts and has died. The other two were in less exposed positions, maybe Bluecrop is more susceptible to frosts. Something to think about when you are choosing a place for it to spend the winter. HTH

[Kirk]

I used the largest I could sensibly find, 50cm or 60cm, filled with ericacous compost and watered whenever - use rain water the chalk in tap water really upsets them.

Last year moved it to a bigger thing, stone edged rectangular "container". Either the blueberry didn't like the move or something. Removed some of the old compost and added a good helping of peat a few days back in case the old stuff was "worn out". Need to wait and see.