Blueberries for first time - please advice!

17 years ago

Hi,

I'm living in Seattle, WA, and thinking about growing blueberries for the first time!

I picked out 3 plants : Reka, Toro, and Elliott for all summer harvest. I found out that Toro grows upto 5'-6', but haven't been able to find how tall and wide the other two (Reka & Elliott) would grow.

The reason I'm concerned their size is to decide the location to plant them. If anybody know their growing habits, and how far I should plant them each other, please advice!

Also, I found local berry nursery has 2 sizes for each plant: 2 year-old or 3 year-old plants, and their are $11 & $13. Would it make sense to get 3 yo plants for $2 more? Since I haven't had blueberries before, I don't even know if I can get the fruit for the first year... ;(

I would appreciate any of your tips and advise!

Thanks!

-b

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Comments (6)

jellyman
17 years ago
bonzgirl:

I am not familiar with Reka and Toro, but have grown Elliott, and it is a Northern highbush type. If you bought them all from the same source, the other two are likely Northern highbush as well, which would be fine for your climate.

Bearing in mind that blueberry bushes grow up fairly slowly, and you probably won't see bushes 5-6 feet tall for eight or ten years, I would space them at 3 feet apart. Make sure you work in plenty of peat moss and compost or other organic material to lighten the soil, and plant where drainage is good. Unless your soil has a naturally low Ph, I would also add a couple of handfuls of garden sulphur when you dig the holes and prepare your soil mixture.

Advice is the noun. Advise is a verb.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
gmason
17 years ago
Drainage is important. Also don't let Northern Highbush dry out. Your ph should be fine in Seattle. You shouldn't need sulfur.
I hope you have tried these varieties. Toro tastes like Bluecrop, just doesn't produce as well. Bears about the same time. A little shorter season. Not quite sure why they developed it cause it doesn't seem better than Bluecrop and seems a little prone to poor air drainage.
Haven't tried Reka. I would like to try it. It's from New Zealand. It is supposed to bear very well and have superior plant habits. Where in Seattle are you getting it?
I am partial to the flavor of Earliblue, Bluecrop, Blueray etc. With Elliot you want to wait longer after you think it's ripe for its flavor to improve.
Unless you have tried these varieties and are sure the flavor and everything else is what you like I would recommend going to as many different U-pick places as you can and trying out some different varieties.
Chandler, for example, is a huge berry that bears over a long season. If you like to go out in the morning and pick a bowl of berries for breakfast, it is great. On the other hand, if you prefer berries in muffins and pancakes you may want Jersey or Rubel.
Definitely go with the 3 year old plants if you can.
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gmason
17 years ago
Here is a link that may prove helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: jrtnursery
macoun23
17 years ago
you will also want to take the buds off the first two years. it will help the plant in its new environment.
chiaki0730
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks all for your comments and advices!

jellyman - it's really helpful to know the planting them 3' apart will be good since I was considering spacing more (5-7').

gmason - thanks for your info and link! I'm getting bluberries from Sakuma Brothers. They are in Burlington, WA, and will mail you their catalog of berries. Contact info is available at http://www.sakumamarketstand.com.

I would love to have Chandler! Do you know where I can find them in Settle area?

macoun23 - thanks for your tip! I'll try to do that when I got the plant established.

Hopefully I will get good healthy plants soon!

Thanks again for your help!
-b
gmason
17 years ago
Thanks for the link.
Here is a link to Burnt Ridge. They are up by Morton. They state that they go to the Farmers Market in Olympia each weekend starting in April, if that's any help. I got several blueberry bushes from them last year and was impressed with their knowledge of berries. They have burlap size.

Here is a link that might be useful: Burnt Ridge Nursery

Blueberries for first time - please advice!

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Blueberries for first time - please advice!

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