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Fruit & Orchards

How do I pot a bare root blueberry bush?

edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28

12 years ago

I just received a 2 year old bare root blueberry bush, and I'm looking for suggestions, hints, tricks, etc. about potting it. It was originally in a one gallon pot, and it was bare rooted for shipping. I've got a good mix to plant it in, but my main concern is the stability of the bush once it's planted. I've never planted a bare root one before. Thanks.

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Comments (12)

bamboo_rabbit
12 years ago
I think the bare root BB do better and take off faster than the potted plants that are often root bound. Just pot it up and use a couple of stakes to stabilize the plant so the wind does not move it. It will take several months for it to tighten up and then you can remove the stakes.
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
Original Author
12 years ago
bamboo, thanks. Putting in a couple of stakes had crossed my mind but I wasn't sure. Thanks again.
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The plants would be crammed if you use the troughs you've suggested which would stunt the plants growth overall. Then, when you put them in the ground, they would have to recover before they could begin to grow. I suggest you do yourself a favor. "gift" those plants to someone then wait until you move to obtain more which will go directly into the ground. Here's some info about growing blueberries successfully: http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/12202/ec1304.pdf Here is a link that might be useful: growing blueberries
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I would pot them up as soon as possible. The size of pot I used would really depend on how large the bareroots are. I typically use the potting mix with fertilizer in it but I just make sure that it doesn't have a ton of nitrogen (first number in the list of three on the bag) so that the plant won't bonkers putting out green growth. If I use potting mix with continuous release fertilizer I typically don't add anything else, especially the first few months or so since it is already in the mix. Too much fertilizer is not good for clematis--they just need a constant supply. If later in the season, they seem to flatten out growthwise I sometimes will give them a monthly drink of fish emulsion in water. I typically don't add any other nutrients like bonemeal either. The plant is going to let you know if it needs something so until it does, my opinion is to leave it alone. As to what you use for support in the pot, that is up to you. The plant may outgrow the drumsticks by season's end but you can always put something else in the pot later on. I would encourage you to periodically pinch out the growing tips as the plant grows to encourage the development of axiallary buds so that you will get two stems where you once had one. This will give you a bushier plant with more vines versus one with one long spindly vine. Also plant the crown several inches (3 or so) under the soil level to bury dormant nodes that will eventually develop into new stems.
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With some good luck your Lowe's babies will fill the 1G pots with roots by fall. Overwintering 1G containers takes some extra efforts. I used MiracleGro with moisture crystals mixture. Worked well for me. I also learned that protection from heavy rains helps because showers wash out nutrients from containers. My potted Clematis became chlorotic after 2 weeks of rainy weather. As for bareroot, soaking them in tepid water for several hours or overnight helps to hydrate them before planting. Keep pinching new growth this year. That will stimulate root growth. It will also help to avoid forming a 1 vine leggy plant.
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I would keep them in shade and cooler. Roots probably have enough moisture to last for a while since you washed them. If for more than few days, maybe you can lay a sheet of kitchen towel over the roots and spray it with little water. Over all, they should be OK for a while without soil or water. More drainage holes - better. 2-4 per pot perhaps? Glazed ceramic pots - they won't breathe same as terracotta would, so I would put in more. In general, succulents don't have huge roots, many recommendations I have seen are not much more than 1-2" wider than root ball - that is sometimes hard to determine. If you keep the mix very well draining, they could be potted in larger pots because there would be less chance of overwatering it than moisture retentive mix. And think of aesthetics - small plant in huge pot probably won't look that pleasing.
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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
12 years ago
Agree with bamboo, it will root up fine. DON'T let it get dried out, that will be fatal. Just be sure you're using an acidic potting mix, like Azaela/Camellia mix or compost, or a combo of both (which is what I use). Toss in a handful of soil sulfur. Check your pH and if you need to, you can use a little aluminum sulfate watered in well.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dave Wilson Nursery: Blueberries in Containers
Bradybb WA-Zone8
12 years ago
I've read it's a good idea to soak the roots for about an hour before planting. Brady
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be getting down to business this evening. I'm comfortable with my acidic mix of screened pine bark mulch and peat. I grew some blueberries in it last year and they did fine. I'll check out the roots before I plant it. The shipper said that she wrapped them in wet paper towels and put them in a plastic bag. Hopefully the roots are good and moist since it's only been about 3 days since they were packed.
bamboo_rabbit
12 years ago
Sounds good Ed. What variety did you buy?
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
Original Author
12 years ago
Actually I have 3 now. 2 more came today. I have a Sweetcrisp, and the other 2 are a Patriot and I'm ashamed to admit it....yes...a KaBluey from Gurneys. I had a $50 credit from Gurneys, figured 'what the heck' and decided to use it. I found out that the KaBluey, even though the name is silly, is A-257 selected at the University of Arkansas, so I'm optimistic that it will do well. I just took a look at the roots of each. The KaBluey looks healthy but was so root bound that the roots were a solid mass of very fine hairs. The plant looked like it came out of a pot 4" wide and about 10" deep. I had had to loosen up the mass of roots a little and chunks of the stuff came off in my hand. I'm assuming that's a good thing. I reduced the mass of roots to about 1/2. I've got them soaking in water now and will go back out and pot them in a little while. It's amazing how few real looking roots there are on a small blueberry bush.
Bradybb WA-Zone8
12 years ago
Ed,
Did the Sweetcrisp come from Gurneys?I've read good things about the KaBluey. Brady
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
Original Author
12 years ago
No, the Sweetcrisp came from a wholesale grower. With a minimal amount of begging they agreed to send me one. I will call them soon and ask them if I can mention them on this forum. I had to sign a non-propagation agreement.

BTW all three plants are potted up. We shall see.
northwoodswis4
12 years ago
I have three KaBlueys. They don't seem as hardy as most of my other varieties. I haven't seen comments on them, so will be curious to see how you like them. Mine have only had a few berries on them, which seem about like the other berries, nothing that unusual. We'll see how they fare after the past mild winter. Northwoodswis
riverman1
12 years ago
A good video on how to grow blueberries in a container:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnbYI4zaR48
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
Original Author
12 years ago
BradyBB, The Sweetcrisp came from Horner Farms in GA.

http://www.hornerfarmsinc.com/

Connie Horners email is horners@dishmail.net

northwoods....how long have you had your KaBluey? What are you growing it in? Mine is the "jumbo" offer. It's at least 2 years old now, but I just got it and it hasn't budded yet so I'm not sure if it will have berries this year.

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