Which Blueberries to grow ?

Cant remember my variety but cost a quid each in poundland. Big plants but could do with a new variety to cross with so looking on with interest.

 

We bought 2 of these collections some years ago, gave fair crops, but here up north they all came ready at the same time, rather than spread apart.
Buy Blueberry - All Season Collection | J Parker Dutch Bulbs

Smallish plants, so the first year or so were in 12" pots but then moved into 40 ltr tubs, and probably the second to third year before any sizeable crop.

You need a good 3ft sq for each plant to grow without the branches tangling with each other.

 

I bought from Mr. Fothergills seeds and plants. Good size plants and ready to fruit next year, they do a offer of buy 2 get the third free. I have to have them in containers also.

 

I bought mine several years ago from Parkers and they grew well with very little attention needed they were also an attractive plant but after five or six years I lost a little interest because the birds seemed to be eating many more berries than I was so I gave them to a local primary school, I don't know what they did with them.

 

I have to cover mine with fleece when the fruit is ripening, the black birds love the early varieties but take no notice of the late ones. Usually i keep it on until i pick them all but this year i got fed up with them being covered because i had to keep taking it off when i had to water them.

 

@JWK I grew 'Chandler' and 'Earliblue' and they both did really well, but I'm getting rid of them to make way for more ornamentals. A lot of people on my allotment grow 'Bluecrop' and always seem to get a good crop. 'Chandler' is definitely the one I favour most because of flavour, fruit size and amount of berries.

Nick

 

I think i will try growing from seed next spring. Will be looking for large fruits in supermarkets. Thinking Polish as they get some cold winters and produce large fruits.

 

I've collected seed from my blueberries so that i know they'll do well in my garden. I've put them in the freezer for 3 months then sow them in spring.

 

I've been looking at blueberries for a while and these two are the ones that I'd been thinking about getting (specifically for the birds) so I'm very happy I'm on the right track, I have my eyes on some on eBay, 2 yo plants around 35-45cm so I'll see how that goes.

 

I didn't buy mine for that purpose @mazambo, but the blackbirds certainly seemed to think I did!

Nick

 

I hope I'll get the same reaction when I grow them.