Reddish leaves is a common complaint and apparently harmless. However I'd lay off the aluminum sulfate. Could be all wet on both counts but that's my take.

Your plants are growing nicely. I think you are in good shape.

In the early spring, the first leaves to emerge will often have red or red-brown color. The soil is cold, and certain nutrients are not taken up by the roots. I think magnesium is one of the nutrients that is not taken up in the early spring. If the pH is low enough, in the range 4 to 6, the condition will correct itself in about two months. By mid-June the leaves should green up, at least, that is how this works out here in Madison, WI. Recent blueberry transplants can be damaged by too much sun, too soon. I think it can take 3 or 4 months for the roots to become established and 100% effective at taking up water and nutrient from the soil. If the shrub gets too much steady sun, too soon, the leaves will brown and curl at the edges, and eventually, the entire shrub will die back. If you can catch this in time, it is possible to shade the shrub from intense sunlight, and give it a chance to recover. Another way to deal with this issue is to plant in the fall, preferably in overcast weather.

ths for replies. The plants doing well are shaded in late afternoon so that dovetails nicely with the suggestion that the stressed plants need some shade. I will erect some shade for the less healthy plants and hope for the best.

thx again for help.

I don't think they need any shade at this point. That is when you first get them and they have been in the mail or inside a store. I usually set them in the shade for a day or two, then gradually move them to full sun before I plant them. That goes for any kind of plant when you first move them outside. I don't think your plants look that bad. You might sprinkle a little sulfur around the plants for long-term future acidity. Some iron sulphate will green them up better, too, but I had to order it on the Internet, as it was hard to find. Northwoodswis

As was said, no more aluminum sulfate. better to apply acid-reacting fert such as ammonium sulfate in split doses.

I also would agree with fruitnut and jean on no more applications of aluminum sulfate. Use garden sulfur for long term dropping of the ph. Vinegar water for the short term. Be careful not to get any of the leaves or rinse them off.

I put in 30 new blueberry plants last spring (In your zone - just a little north. Also have the same soil mix) and most of them had a reddish tint on the leaves most of the year. Didn't lose any of the 30 but 1 was on the brink. This year I started the fruitnut fertilizer program (1 tbls of ammonium sulfate dissolved in 2.5 gallons of water). The plants have great color this year. I don't reccomend that rate on newly planted bushes though. I'd go 1 tbls in 4 or 5 gallons for year 1.

I think the improved color is the result of both the garden sulfur finally getting the ph below 5.5 and the fertilizer program. Garden sulfur is very slow at becoming effective in our zone. The soil is cold or frozen 8 months of the year.

Hang in there... Keep your soil moist... I think you will be OK.

I planted 2 and 3 year blueberries in the fall, my best 2 year are about like your best, and my weaker ones are about like yours. I am happy with the progress of them, my weaker ones are a little less red than yours. I am using amonium sulfate, my local places only had al sulfate but I read that amonium sulfate is best for blues, so I had it shipped in.

thx for replies. I have ammonium sulfate on the way.