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Fruit & Orchards

Is it too late to move blueberries with fruit buds?

15 years ago

I have just learned that a new building, starting to be built next October, will mean 14 of my bluberry bushes will have to be moved. Six already have fruit buds about to open, none have very visible leaf buds. The best are Darrow, Coville and Bluejay. Ages range from 2 to 5 years. I'm in S.Korea and the weather is warming up; probably no more serious freezes.

Is it too late to move them (or even those without fruit buds)?

I'd prefer to move them now, as I have an alternative site. Otherwise, could they be moved in October; would this be preferable? I'll still have the other site then, but it will probably be overrun with weeds! (I do have some big jars some of them could be transferred to).

Thanks for your advice, blueberry friends.

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Comments (5)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
15 years ago
mishko:

As I understand you, the new site will be overrun with weeds in October. Could you spend the summer tending the new site, keeping down weeds by mulching or spraying and adjusting pH as needed? I think your plants would be better off moved in October. You could prune some at moving or the following spring. This would provide a better crop this year and still a good crop the following year.

I think waiting to move would provide more fruit and be easier on your plants. However if your winters are severe, it might be better to move now and take most of your fruit loss this year.

The Fruitnut
mishko_2006
Original Author
15 years ago
Many thanks for this fruitnut - my concern is: will those plants with fruit buds die if I move them now? As some of my best bushes have buds, I don't want to lose them.
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fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
15 years ago
mishko: I doubt your plants will die if moved now. That's assuming you move a good sized rootball and you irrigate if needed until they are established in their new location.

But if they were mine, I'd probably prune them pretty hard if moved now. I'd also strip off most of the flower buds that remain. That means very little crop this year. Whereas if you move in October, you probably won't lose as much fruit next year.

The Fruitnut
mishko_2006
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Fruitnut - I'll follow your advice and keep them in for now. In early October I can prune them back and by then I'll have shifted most of my pH 4.5 soil to the new destination, ready for their transplanting at that time.
franktank232
15 years ago
Mishko-

I'm digging up 5 blueberries, 4 cherries, and 7 arbor vitae once the ground softens up (right now its rock hard frozen). My plan is late March if this stupid snow ever melts. I also have some small peach seedlings that need to come out of the ground.

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