Rooting a blueberry cutting

[Yorky]

Hello all,

I took some blueberry cuttings in August and they all appear to have died. I did everything 'right' according to the RHS book:

Took 4 -6 inches cuttings of soft, healthy growth in August. Trimmed off the lower leaves. Inserted the cuttings into pots of one part compost and three parts coarse sand , inserted metal hoops in to the pots, covered with a plastic bag and secured with an elastic band. They were placed in to lean-to greenhouse and received no further attention.

Does anyone know why they might have died?

Is it too late to take new cuttings? Detailed instructions on how to take blueberry cuttings would be greatly appreciated. The resulting blueberry bushes would be grown in pots.

Thanks in advance.

[Geordie]

Its really spring time that you should propogate blueberrys.....everything else seems to be ok, except replace the compost for peat moss. This might be a daft question but have you actually checked they are dead and not just looking like it. Strip back some of the bark and check for 'green', sometimes woody cuttings die off only to return in the spring.

[Two_Sheds]

Its really spring time that you should propogate blueberrys....

like this: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tion_4317.html

[Yorky]

Its really spring time that you should propogate blueberrys.....everything else seems to be ok, except replace the compost for peat moss. This might be a daft question but have you actually checked they are dead and not just looking like it. Strip back some of the bark and check for 'green', sometimes woody cuttings die off only to return in the spring.

Thanks - when you say 'peat', would ericaceous compost be alright?

[Two_Sheds]

Peat is ericaceous (acidic), yes