Unhappy blueberry plant

[monkeyboy]

So I bought a small blueberry plant from Homebase last year. Planted it in a container filled with ericaceous soil. Seemed happy. Had some foliage. This year, I topped up with more soil and added granular feed. Whilst the branches have grown, there's still no foliage or fruit and I don't know why.

[ameno]

No fruit is probably normal for a small, young plant. They take a few years to become productive.

But you say that the branches have grown yet there is no foliage? I'm not sure quite how that could be possible; newly grown branches have leaves be default, after all. What exactly do you mean by that? Could you perhaps upload a picture?

[Plot70]

They hate most tap water.
I am very careful with mine. Some advice says that they are more productive if you plant two varieties for pollination.
Mine are in a brick built raised bed.

[nickdub]

No foliage is definitely bad - something could be eating it or the plant could have died. If it was mine I'd knock it out of whatever container its in and have a look at the roots. If the roots show no sign of life, its definitely dead and can be chucked - if the roots are growing I'd repot it in a new container of ericacious compost, move outside to a shady position where it gets indirect sunlight only, put a clear plastic bag over it for a week or so and see if it will grow new leaves.

[Plot70]

They hate most tap water.
I am very careful with mine. Some advice says that they are more productive if you plant two varieties for pollination.
Mine are in a brick built raised bed.

[Plot70]

Sorry about the dupe.
My browser times out and showed an error when I pressed send.

[Bex2012]

Ideally You need two plants to get a crop (thats what i read anyway). As for the tapwater/ rainwater thing, mine have only ever been watered with tap water, and they seem happy enough. My theory (not put into practice btw) is that they dont like change, so if youve always used rainwater then swap to tap water, thats when they sulk.

[Vince G]

You don't need 2 plants. I had one solitary plant at home in a container of ericacous which produced a decent crop of fruit. Planted her down the allotment when I built a fruit cage and created a pocket of ericaceous compost in it. She's had a (smaller) companion bush for 2 summers and there's not been any huge increase in fruit. I killed my first one by overdoing the specialist ericaceous food, so now I just water with rainwater and much with pine need;es from the year's Christmans tree and they seem fine.

[Plot70]

I mulch mine with rosemary clippings and have in the past used sycamore chippings when the council are clearing gardens of feral trees and a couple of shovels of horse manure every few years. Those industrial wood chippers certainly make a lot of noise about letting everyone know there is mulching material to be scrounged.
They die if you plant directly in the ground here in the foot hlls of the peak district.

[monkeyboy]

hopefully you can see the pic. The plant was about 6” tall when I bought it a year ago.

[nickdub]

Looks dead to me - just to repeat "If it was mine I'd knock it out of whatever container its in and have a look at the roots. If the roots show no sign of life, its definitely dead and can be chucked " - if I had to guess, I'd say it was in very sunny position, the compost dried out in the long dry spell we had and so your plant died from lack of water - other options include something like vine weevil maggots eating the roots.

[ameno]

Almost certainly dead, likely from lack of water, as said above.
Remember that in the wild blueberries grow in peat land and other damp acidic places. They don't like to be actively waterlogged, but they also don't like to dry out. The soil should ideally remain constantly slightly damp.

[goosander]

When is the best/safest time to cut them back. 2 of mind have grown massive this year and I do not want to waste them.
Thanks.
Bob.

[nickdub]

I'm no blueberry expert, but don't they bare most of their fruit on new wood ? If so then pruning it now will likely mean no fruit next year.

[monkeyboy]

Sadly all dead. No roots and the branches crumbled. Sad times.