Forum:

berries

Planting blueberries in 6a

Joshua States

pollinator

Posts: 335

Location: 6a Alpine Southwest USA

174

I like...

posted 1 year ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

OK hivemind......any advice?
We would love to put in some blueberry plants (young starts) and get them soon. My only question is the timing. I see several nurseries selling 4" and 1-gallon potted plants right now. The only thing is right now, our average highs are in the 40's F and lows are in the teens.
Do I have to keep these plants indoors for the next 4-6 months before planting them in the ground? The info from the nurseries is conflicting. Some of them say to go ahead and plant them. Others have a system of hardening them off for a few weeks, inside and outside in small doses, yada yada yada, until average temps are in the 50's. Well, that's next spring, so what do you think?

We have already had two snowfalls of 2-5 inches. It's all gone after a few days though.......

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

Joshua States

pollinator

Posts: 335

Location: 6a Alpine Southwest USA

174

I like...

posted 1 year ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Bump

Evan Morgan

Posts: 19

Location: Central Maine (5b)

I like...

posted 1 year ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Yea, go ahead and plant them now. Literally anytime the ground isn’t frozen is a fine time for nearly any perennial, fall or early winter better than spring imo. There are a few exceptions where planting in spring or when leafed out is better (like with cold climate tropical relatives like pawpaw)

greg mosser

gardener

Posts: 1824

Location: the mountains of katuah, southern appalachia

595

I like...

posted 1 year ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

in general, i’d agree, get them in now. the only possible caveat involves where you get them from. if they were outdoors and facing similar weather to what they’ll see at your place, no problem, get them in, but if the supplier does all their propagation and growing out in a greenhouse, i’d want to harden off the plants more before subjecting them to repeated freezing.

Joshua States

pollinator

Posts: 335

Location: 6a Alpine Southwest USA

174

I like...

posted 1 year ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Thanks for the advice.
Blueberries have been ordered. I will set up a temporary station inside and harden these off over the first two weeks.

Joshua States

pollinator

Posts: 335

Location: 6a Alpine Southwest USA

174

I like...

posted 1 year ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Well, they went in the ground two days ago. I dug some holes about 10 inches deep and 2 feet in diameter. I removed all the rocks that wouldn't fit through a 1/2" screen, laid some oak leaves and other organic material on the bottom, mixed up some fresh compost with the remaining soil, filled the hole back up and nestled the roots in the last 3-4 inches. The site gets about 8 hours of sun per day and the soil tester said ph of 5.
Wish me luck.

V2-Blueberries-(10).JPG

Joshua States

pollinator

Posts: 335

Location: 6a Alpine Southwest USA

174

I like...

posted 1 year ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Any advice on how often/how much to water these over the winter?
We are getting minimal to no precipitation so far. Average daily high temp is 48F and lows are in the teens or single digits.

greg mosser

gardener

Posts: 1824

Location: the mountains of katuah, southern appalachia

595

I like...

posted 1 year ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

i wouldn’t water them much at all while they’re dormant.

I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com