Blueberry watering

[tomb]

Hello everyone,

I have three blueberry plants (in pots) and I understand that I have to water them with rainwater. Unfortunately, due to the drought I have run out (I live in South London)
Can I use bottled water in preference to tap water? Or is there another solution?

Thanks
tomb

[pigletwillie]

Whilst they prefer rainwater, normal tap water will do. To be honest I have a forest of them and thats all they get water wise. In the Late autumn I just add a little sulphate of iron to help keep the soil acid. You could add a pinch to yours in pots as well if required.

Just keep them well watered.

[User Removed]

Hi, Blueberrys need to be kept watered if you don't have rain water try leaving a few buckets of tap water out for a few days as this can help take some of the nasties out that blueberrys don't like
Hope it helps
Adam

[WiZeR]

I have been watering my blueberry soley on tap water and it is doing absolutely fine, lots of fruit and new growth.

[nick the grief]

When My dad kept tropical fish he used to put peat in the water to neutralise the alkalinity. As most forlk here are peat free try some old tea bags instead see if that works. You ideally need some litmus paper or a ph meter, just a thought

[andrewo]

They say water blueberries with rainwater as to stop the PH of the soil being effected and to some extent the taste. To prevent the ericaceous compost from being neutralised just give them a feed during the summer months and top up the compost with an acidic mulch over Autumn and again in Spring.

However, tap water can effect the taste, making them bland but I have never had this problem and sometimes you have to use tap water.

[pigletwillie]

In reality it would take an awful lot of tap water to change the ph of soil, a little less so in pots perhaps but still lots. I grow my 20 odd bushes in the ground and as mentioned previously give them some sulphate of iron in the autumn and acidic plant fertilizer in the spring and summer. If you have soil in good heart it will hold onto moisture to lessen the requirements for watering. If required and there is no rainwater to hand, they get tap water.

Never add manure to your blueberries or add potash as you would other fruit bushes, the manure burns the roots and the potash is very alkaline which would change the ph drastically. There is a lot of nonsence and rot written about blueberries but if you keep to a few basic rules they will romp away and provide you with a bountiful harvest of tasty fruit.