Any Blueberry Bush Recommendations?

[Jono]

I'm thinking of buying some blueberry bushes after a chat with a friend. Would grow in containers to get the soil acidic enough, but does anyone have any suggestions for good varieties?

Going to put them in the garden, so won't get as much sun as the allotment.

And is it true that if you grow a couple of varieties together they'll fruit more?

Thanks a lot,

Jono.

[fruitylou]

Hi, my family's mad on blueberries so I have a few types, rubel is a strong plant and very vigirous, bluecrop is slower growing and a smaller plant and patriot is somewhere inbetween. I keep mine in pots and they are doing really well. You can get self fertile varieties but if you mix varieties you get heavier crops. Also this year I am trying to propagate cuttings which seems to be going well so they are good value if you plan to do that. Good luck, blueberries were my first venture into growing my own and are such beautiful plants especially in the autumn which makes it less painful that they take a year or two to fruit. I will also be interested in what other people say as I want to invest in a few different varieties this year

lou

[FB.]

Darrow.
The fruits are large, making them difficult for blackbirds to steal; netting not usually required.
My other blueberries (Patriot and GoldtrauBe) are almost completely stripped by blackbirds, long before the berries are ripe enough for human consumption.

[sarahspatch]

I was wondering the same question!

I bought a lovely pot about 2 years ago for a blueberry, and its still empty!!

If I bought 2 small plants, can they be planted in one large pot (about 12 inches diametre)?

I read somewhere that they like a bit of chipped bark mixed in the ericaceous soil, has anyone else heard this?

[northepaul]

My largest are chandler and duke - one (chandler) has bigger fruit and later cropping (august.) The other (duke) is smaller fruited, earlier but very prolific (from late June). Chandler's flavour is more intense.
Hope that helps

[fruitylou]

Darrow.
The fruits are large, making them difficult for blackbirds to steal; netting not usually required.
My other blueberries (Patriot and GoldtrauBe) are almost completely stripped by blackbirds, long before the berries are ripe enough for human consumption.

Can i ask if darrow taste as good? as i have always found with shop bought berries that the big ones have less flavour but they are the best for muffins yum

[FB.]

Darrow are perhaps a little less flavoursome than average and maybe a hint sharper. But if left to fully ripen, they are fine for eating.
Better to have a good crop of average fruit than no crop at all!
That's one thing that I soon discovered as a spray-free grower - often what tastes nicest is also most attractive to the pests. I use a bit of companion planting to try to attract pests towards just a few types of fruit.

[gillian62]

I got some from 99p shop to give them a try. The box suggests adding pine needles to the soil - an excuse for a walk around the park with an empty carrier bag.

[Creemteez]

I give mine a heavy mulch of pine needles every year and they love me for it.
I am wanting to increase my stock and want to know what size plants these seed catalogue offers are. Anyone had experience?

[Jono]

I give mine a heavy mulch of pine needles every year and they love me for it.

I'm guessing this is because the pine needles are acidic?

Thanks everyone who's replied so far, its all really useful stuff.

[littleexperience]

i had one variety patriot which fruited fine with large sweet fruits but i bought another chandler the berrys on this one are even bigger and just as sweet you will get a far bigger crop if you plant two i did