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Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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Posted by rickrock (My Page) on Tue, Mar 15, 05 at 12:04
| Hi I have some blueberry plants which came ready potted however I wish to transfer them to larger pots and need some very low pH soil in the 4-5pH range. Down my local supermarket I found some ericaceous compost however it doesn't state which pH it is if indeed this is the correct one (I assume it is?!?!). Basically can anyone advise as to what type of compost I need and where I can get it? Thanks in advance. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| Any good ericaceous compost will be fine, but you need to feed with a similarly ericaceous product. You can always acidify your water with vinegar if you have a supply that is slightly alkaline. Rain water is best. Mulching with bracken or pine needles also helps if you are pushed. Brian |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| The Dorset Blueberry Company do a compost specifically for blueberry plants. It's quite pricey when you add on the postage, so perhaps if you live nearby you might be able to collect it! |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| Brian, I've been round the garden centre looking for the right kind of food for a blueberry - but all the specialist acid-lover foods are labelled for rhododendrons etc. Would that be okay? I was reluctant to buy something which is designed for an ornamental plant with no reference to use on fruit. |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| Any of the acid-lover foods would be fine. A common one seems to be Miracle Gro Ericaceous, but there are at least a couple of others that are very similar. Ericaceous compost pH varies quite a lot. Seems like the more expensive ones have the lowest pH :( Any quality brand should be OK for blueberries. Pure rainwater (or distilled water left open for a few days) pH is perfect for blueberries. You can use vinegar to acidify alkaline water or soil, but be very careful in a pot because you could easily overdo it. You could also add sulphur to the soil, but with the same proviso. If you start playing with chemicals and pots, you should probably get a pH test kit to make sure you end up with the right thing. You could also use it on bought soil, just to check. |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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Shrubs answer has all you need, although I expect there is a Chempac equivalent. A product with sequestered iron in will help if you have to use tap water that contains some lime (Calcium) but it is not a permanent fix. Avoid lime all together if you can.
Brian |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| Thank you! I hadn't been to this forum for some time, and you lot are reminding me how friendly and helpful it is. |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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How about adding regular peat moss to your reg compost --that is what we have done --ours look happy -they are newly planted --but growing very nicely now
Good luck
Can never have enough Blueberries !!!!!!!!!
Janice the Brit |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| How are blueberries doing now, rickrock? I would like to add that the water you use for irrigation has an effect on the pH of the compost. If you're always using hard water, the pH is bound to climb in a short time. But soft water will have the effect of keeping it low. You will also get a lowering as the compost decomposes. It is a good idea to occasionally measure the compost's pH through the year and make adjustments accordingly. With blueberries, the pH really does seem to be the key to success. BTW, how's Shaggy? |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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Be very careful if using Bracken,
it is known to cause cancer.
Best wishes, Gerald. |
RE: Where can I get Blueberry compost?
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| I see on GW last night 1st July good old Monty Don was at it again-this time with blue berries- We cannot use peat here at Berryfields he said-(well you can Monty just go and buy a bag)so we are going to make our own compost. I switched off at the part about using one third COMPOSTED BRACKEN yes right I will just nip down to my local DIY for a bag of it. |
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