WOW, sorry guys! This is the first time ive posted pics before and I botched that one!!!! From the top then right to left is Bountiful Blue, Becky Blue, Brightwell, Woodard, Sunshine Blue, Gulf Coast, and Emerald. I also have a Powder Blue that I failed to take a pic of. On a bad note I lost a Southmoon and Premier due to steam blight.

Great looking blueberries!! I've lost about four plants in the last year to stem blight. It's probably related to pushing them with water and fertilizer. But by pushing I probably gained a year on tasting my new varieties. Now I'm getting set up to start more of the best ones which for me are Emerald, huge yield and berry size, and Sweetcrisp the best I've ever eaten by a country mile.

I'm cutting back on water on new plants to no more than every other day hoping to avoid stem blight on the new Emerald and Sweetcrisp.

Let us know what you like when you've tasted yours. Should be a good crop on those babies next year!!

Thanks Fruitnut, you are the man though! Im pretty sure that all of my plants are 2 year old stem cuttings except for the Brightwell. I think it was a 3 year old when I bought it. Ive been watering the ones in the raised beds every day and the ones in the pots everyother day. Would you suggest watering the raised beds every other day as well because this is the first year they were transplanted or are they old enought to continue every day? Im in Houston tx and its been in the upper 90s every day. Your thoughts would be appreciated. I went to everyother day on the potted ones because they were getting alittle cloratic from being too moist but have greened up nicely since.

blueboy:

I'd only water as often as needed to keep them from wilting at midday. I check during midday and use that as a guide.

It's brutally hot and dry here as well. I've kept mine in the greenhouse because it's actually cooler and more humid in there. The wonders of evaporative cooling. They will make it outside with proper care.

setup looks great! love your raised beds

Beautiful plants, very healthy.

I'm curious, what is your soil mix?

The raised beds are 3ft X 3ft X 10in high with a mix of mostly peat moss with 2 1/2 bags (50lbs each) of Natures Way Resources Blue Berry Mix and little bit of pine bark mulch. Its also topped with 3in or so of pine bark mulch. I also added sulfer and cottonseed meal when mixing it all together. 2 of the potted plants have 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 soil conditioner (composted pine material), 1/3 pine bark. And one potted plant has all the same plus some perlite I had laying around that needed to be used. They all seem to enjoy there home for now. I have some burnt tips on the new growth on all the plants at one time or another. Not to sure whats its from either. Was thinking maybe lack of water or water quailty? Im using municiple city water acidified with sulfuric acid to ph5. I have noticed that some of the new tip growht that gets rubbed other branches from the wind will get this burnt look to it. Attached is a picture that was caused from rubbing against another branch untill grew past it. Some other ones though Im not to sure about.
{{gwi:116854}}

blueboy:

Let us know how pH 5 water works out. My latest thinking is that 5 may be too low. I wish we had something more to go on here than hindsight. I don't know what's right. If it ever rains again I'm going on straight rainwater and ammonium sulfate when growth is needed. That has worked in the past. I suspect our rainwater is more like pH 7. But I don't know if well water acidified to pH 7 would be equal to rainwater at pH 7.

Blueboy,

I too am curious about the water you are using. The plants definitely look to be getting enough nutrients, lots of new growth. I have six potted plants in a soil mix of either peat or fir bark that are on their third year now and doing great. I add sulfur once or twice a year and my water has a pH of 7. It seems to me that if you were to top dress each spring with some new peat, add a bit of sulfur, and use acid encouraging fertilizers you would be ok without acidifying your water but that's entirely a guess on my part. Again, I am three years into watering my potted plants with a pH 7 water and they are doing fine.

Fruitnut,

About the ammonium sulf, I have been adding one ounce to my potted plants once per month and the growth this year has been spectacular. They are in large pots so I would use less for smaller pots. The leaves are dark green and there is new growth everywhere. I have done this twice now and I don't think I will do it again this year because I'm worried it will be too much of a good thing.

RM

I too am on the Ammonium sulfate kick on Fruitnut's recommendation and am seeing similar growth in my 5 varieties. I will end the regiment around mid august to prevent any winter damage and hope for the best in the spring.