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Tall shoots on blueberry bush

5 years ago

I have a blueberry bush that I planted a few years ago. It's really not that big. Anyway, in the past couple months, about 3 shoots have appeared, and they're towering over the rest of the plant. Should I just leave them alone, or eventually trim them? Thanks for any info.

Featured Answer

BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA

5 years ago

It would be helpful to know your approximate location/climate and the variety of blueberry bush (northern/southern, highbush, lowbush, rabbiteye ... variety name if you have it, but type is more important). How you have it planted (in ground (garden or wooded), raised bed, container) and pictures would also be great, if you have them.

In general, summer is not an ideal time to do pruning unless it is dead or broken stuff. I prune my northern highbush blueberries at the end of winter/beginning of spring before they come out of dormancy but after the snow around them melts, but depending on your variety and zone, that might not be practical advice for you. I prune out things that are crossing, things that are broken, and I go for less than 10 canes, taking out weaker ones and ones that are no longer producing well (usually these are at least 5 years or older). I tend to be rather conservative when pruning, though ... others will prune out considerably more.

On another note, if you don't already, having multiple blueberry bushes, particularly of different varieties, it will increase your yield from each bush considerably due to cross pollination.

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Comments (6)

neptune25
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
BlueberryBundtcake wrote:

It would be helpful to know your approximate location/climate and the variety of blueberry bush (northern/southern, highbush, lowbush, rabbiteye ... variety name if you have it

I live in Northeast GA, Zone 8A. It's a rabbiteye blueberry—I think the variety is Climax.

How you have it planted (in ground (garden or wooded)

It's in the ground with full sun.

I tend to be rather conservative when pruning, though ... others will prune out considerably more.

Based on what I've written so far, would it be advisable to trim these shoots? If so, about how much?

On another note, if you don't already, having multiple blueberry bushes, particularly of different varieties, it will increase your yield from each bush considerably due to cross pollination.

Yes, I have 5 total, including 2 TifBlues.

Here's another general question: Are blueberries bushes slow-growing in general?
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bibbus 7b
5 years ago
Blueberries are slow growing. I have left the tall shoots on mine before and they bend over the next year rather gracefully. But hopefully someone will know the "correct" answer and provide it to both of us!
neptune25 thanked bibbus 7b
Kevin Reilly
5 years ago
Rabbit eye are vigorous plants by year three you should see significant growth. Did you have your soil tested? Since you are in Georgia like me I suggest you follow UGA advice on rabbit eye care. http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C946&title=Home%20Garden%20Blueberries
neptune25 thanked Kevin Reilly
BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA
5 years ago
I'm not super familiar with the rabbiteye variety, but my understanding is that it gets to be a larger bush than other species. I believe is fruits on old wood, so those new canes won't be able to bear fruit until next year. You can prune them down a bit if they are getting too tall or crowded, but it's not usually required.

Here's another source that talks about pruning, growth, etc.

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/fruit/blueberry/blueberries.html
neptune25 thanked BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA
neptune25
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your help, bibbus, melikeeatplants, and BlueberryBundtcake.

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