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Fruit & Orchards

Should I prune new blueberries now?

16 years ago

Hi,

I got six beautiful blueberry plants from Raintree, and planted them temporarily in a container with a mix of compost, peat moss, top soil and a generous serving of Holly-tone. The plan was to plant them out in a permanent raised bed not long after, but I got a problem with my back so it's taking a little longer. They are in an unheated greenhouse, with higher than normal temperatures because of the sun, and now they are sprouting really well and look really great. However, I don't this can be good.

I got them bare root from Raintree, it was the best bare roots I have seen, but bareroot never the less, and the literature says I am supposed to prune bare rooted plants heavily, like 40-60%. Is it too late to prune them like that now that they are sprouting out? Or should I wait to prune them when they are planted in their permanent spot? How do you think they will adjust to being planted outdoors? Should I start with putting the container outdoors during the days for a week?

Grateful for help!

Hilde

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:91926}}

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Comments (5)

floridatransplant
16 years ago
Good morning! You might wait for the temp to warm up before transplanting them. Here in SC is already time to
set them in ground. I have 6 plants also!
John
hilde_wny
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi John,

I will wait. Which blueberries do you have? I have Elizabeth, Chandler, Birgitta, Jersey and Patriot. :-)

Thanks!

Hilde
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anniew
16 years ago
I would think that their recommendations to prune was for before planting...greenhouse or not.
After planting, you normally don't prune blueberries for a few years.
jellyman
16 years ago
Hilde:

Wait? Why would you wait? We are long past the ideal time to set dormant blueberry plants in the ground even in zone 5, which would be about mid-April. Here on the northern edge of zone 7, I plant mine in mid-March. Blueberries are not particularly cold sensitive, and can take night temperatures down to slightly below 30 F with no damage at all. Below 25 F there could be some damage.

The principal problem you are facing now is possible transplant shock, and the risk grows with each passing day. Blueberries are easy to transplant during the dormant season, but the success rate declines dramatically when the are in periods of active growth. Yours are in active growth in those buckets, and unless you can get them in with minimal disturbance of the roots and the soil around them, they will suffer quite a setback. They may recover and grow on, but if they don't you will know why.

I think Raintrees pruning recommendation is excessive, but pruning them some when you set them in the ground could help to lessen the shock of leaving their buckets when they are at this advanced state of development.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
hilde_wny
Original Author
16 years ago
I will try to have them planted within the next couple of days! They were dormant when I got them two weeks ago. Raintree didn't recommend that kind of pruning, I have read it in some gardenbooks! This is how I pruned my Patriot and Jersey when I got them, and I was very sad.

I will cross my fingers and hope for the best this time!

Thanks!

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