Blueberry to prune or not.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I harvested my first dish of berries of the year today and there looks to be plenty more.

My question is this, the plant is now two years old and has put on plenty of top growth this year. Do I have to prune, if so when and how.

Thanks in advance Colin

[VirginVegGrower]

Colin,

just looked in my book as your post has prompted me to look at mine. It says to prune in Winter, now I have no knowledge of blueberries, given that I am growing them for the first time this year. Cut damaged or dead branches and a few old stems that have borne fruit. In Spring feed with blood, fish, bone and mulch.
Hope this helps.

[Potstubsdustbins]

VVG,

That helps thanks very much.

Colin

[BUFFS]

our first year with blueberries,we have a total of 8 berries,i think the birds have been testing them for me,so next year will be netted

[VirginVegGrower]

VVG,

That helps thanks very much.

Colin

You are very welcome!

[cptncrackoff]

I'm sure i heard bob flowerdew on GQT once say dont prune very much at all for the first three years or so, just keep them tidy.
After this when they have finished cropping cut back all dead wood as well as any canes that produce little or no fruit to allow new strong growth to come on.

Saying that I have never grown one!! lol
jon

[piskieinboots]

I've had blueberries for several years and I don't prune as such - all I do is tidy up any branches that cross over to prevent rub and then cut out any old/dead wood.

Works for me

[Aberdeenplotter]

Mine don't seem to have grown enough to need pruning. The most unproductive things in my plot. There is presently a picking ready which may or may not fill one of these tiny plastic tray supermarkets sell them in but definitley not worth the space for me.

[cptncrackoff]

I dont actually like blueberry that much, the kids love them and i did look at getting a bush, probably wont until i get the allotment...or should that be if!!? lol
i read that they need a really really wet acid soil, i'd be interested to hear if anyone has had a massive crop, and under what conditions.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I tidy my blueberries in early Spring and use any viable cuttings for propagating (nip out growing tip of any cuttings, cuttings should be a min of 4". Soak coir pellets and remove mesh. Fill a pot with coir mush, pop in cuttings, keep moist and warm - in my kitchen under a translucent bread bin lid. Will take a couple of months to root. Pot up in ericaeous compost)

[northepaul]

It depends which sort of blueberry you have - some are taller and some are compact bushes. If its the compact types, they will need a winter prune (otherwise the branches become congested and this can lead to lack of fruit and also disease spreading) BUT not until around 5 years old. The taller ones only need puning if you find them too tall.
Hope that helps

[pebble]

Another job in caring for the blueberry bushes - each year, once all the leaves have gone, remove the top 2" of your compost, and replace with new ericaceous compost