How To Care For Blueberries

 

Informative graphic from Allotment Life For Beginners UK Posted by Keith Wheeler

I had my 6 monthly PET Scan at St Georges today in two very cold shipping container constructed outbuildings connected by a bridge on the ring road, that goes around the hospital. 

It's hard to keep still whilst they scan you when you are shaking with cold. 4C Today but felt like -1C according to my phone and body.  

Home and warm and I could finally eat and catch up with breakfast and my morning medication about 11 ish and then as when I was having radiotherapy back in November 2023, an afternoon nap was in order.    

The fact I was cold this morning and have been informed to use factor 50+ Sun Block following my cancer treatment and now I'm on Methotrexate medication that warns "Avoid exposure of skin to direct sunlight, sunlamps or tanning beds" I thought I would look for some long sleeved T-shirts.

I've bought a couple with my "manvslug.uk" domain on and will see how good they are before buying more as come Spring / Summer when I'm no longer wearing a fleece I will need them to keep my arms covered when on the allotment working.

Blueberry 'Trio Collection'

Dobies Blueberry 'Trio Collection' contains three high-yielding varieties that will supply your garden with delicious berries and good looks! Both ornamental and productive, they will be equally at home in your shrub borders, veggie plot or allotment. The Duo Collection was on offer for £10 and when I went to buy it suggested upgrading for another £5 and this collection normally sells for £44.97 so to get it for £15 was a no brainer, I've bought enough £1 shop ones that are dead before you plant them. 

Dobies Trio Collection includes both early and late varieties, so you can feast on a succession of sweet, juicy berries from July to August. Blueberries are packed with health-boosting compounds and are especially delicious in pies, muffins and jams. These sturdy shrubs not only produce high crops of berries, but make attractive features for acidic borders or large patio containers filled with ericaceous compost. In spring they bear masses of sweetly scented creamy white flowers, followed by fiery foliage in the autumn. 

Blueberry 'Trio Collection' comprises the following varieties: 

Blueberry ‘Bluegold’ - Mid to late season (late July- August). High-yielding, vigorous, upright bush bearing large clusters of dark blue, medium-sized berries. Very sweet flavour and a good shelf life. Golden autumn foliage and yellow stems.

Blueberry ‘Osorno’ - Early to mid-season variety (July). Vigorous, highly productive variety that is popular with commercial growers. Medium-sized, light blue fruit with good flavour and firmness. Very heat tolerant.

Blueberry ‘Draper’ – Mid to late season (late July to mid-August). Another popular commercial variety. Very large, medium-blue, firm fruit with a longer shelf life. Upright, branching growth. Good winter hardiness and late to flower, so buds are less susceptible to frost damage.

Self-fertile, but like all Blueberries they will produce their best crops if grown with another Blueberry to increase pollination.

Height: 1.8m (6ft). Spread 1.5m (5ft).

Estimated time to best yields: 28-32 months (16-20 months for 3l potted plant).

Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only.

Blueberry 'Trio Collection' contains three high-yielding varieties that will supply your garden with delicious berries and good looks! Blueberries require a well drained, acid soil in a sunny or semi shaded position. In areas where acid soil does not naturally occur, grow blueberry plants in patio containers using a mix of ericaceous compost and John Innes No. 3.

Getting The Onion Sets In

The aim today was to go the allotment in the morning, find as many of the 105 hole planting membrane sheets as possible, plant the Blue Suede Blueberry (Vaccinium) plant, come home for lunch and then return in the afternoon with Emma to plant as many beds of onions as we could. 

Ericaceous compost used for Blueberries, tamped down into a square flower bucket with drainage holes made with a soldering iron 10mm up from the bottom so it can hold water at depth. 

I used a pot the same size to form the perfect hole in the compost for the plant to be placed in. 

Plant firmed in then a covering of more Ericaceous compost. I have 3 more blueberries ordered and they will be going behind the climbing frame greenhouse.

Emma and I got the first two beds of Onions in before the rain started this afternoon, Strawberries Covered with debris netting, this morning Blueberry plant potted up, and rubbish taken to the skip.

Thanks to Wally for his assistance this morning getting the old rusty incinerator with a broken chimney and no bottom anymore and all the contents into the skip, in the drop off and pick up area. (aka the Car Park)

Beds 4 5 & 6 had been ear marked for the onion sets, however two Daleks were placed on bed 5 last year and both were filled to the very top as the vegetation of the allotment was stripped back.

Photo of Beds 5 last year. These two Dalek were continually topped up with greens and browns including coffee grounds and comfrey and were topped off with shredded paper.

Note to self

Always top of with greens as the the very final layer had not completely decomposed but both bins are now only half full showing that nature has done it's magic and I have some nice compost to extract from these bins to be used on the potatoes in buckets this year.

As a result of Bed 5 still having the Daleks on, an alteration to the plan in that beds 11 to 14 will now be Onion Sets and the brassicas planned for those beds will now go into beds 4 to 6 and possibly 7.

With the change in plan Beds 14 & 13 both now have 105 Red Baron Sets in each bed and I need to clear bed 12 ready to get another beds with in, plus I need to make two more 105 hole Planting Membrane sheets.

The beds in the greenhouse climbing frame need weeding and the return bed needs completing before the need to plant in there is with us so that's a job on my to do list. The mesh panel was put in place as Mr Fox had been in there and dug in the bed.

The area behind the greenhouse climbing frame needs to be cleared of weeds and a floor of woodchips needs to go in as that will be where the Blueberries will go so that I can net it to keep the birds off them.

Wally took the Rhubarb from the bed that I have now planted strawberries in and have put some netting over to keep the squirrels out off because last year they ate and dug up my plants.