I planted two last year.They don`t seem to have any new growth at the bottom to become a bigger bush.How long does it take for them to start growing into a bigger bush?I read how to plant them and followed that and all but can not find any info on how fast or slow they grow.

I planted 3 about 7 years ago and two of them didn't grow much the first couple years then they really bushed out on the 3rd year, they were all 3 different kinds. Didn't matter though because my dad accidentally bushhogged them up

Sometimes it depends on what age bushes you planted. I still follow the premise of roots, shoots and fruits- which means the first year, the planting establishes roots, then the second year, new growth (shoots) are to follow, and hopefully the third year, some fruit occurs.

Sometimes a step takes longer due to environmental condition or seasonal changes. A very hard winter might stunt a young plant, a very dry summer might lengthen the "root" part, deficiency in nutrition in the soil will hamper all three.

I planted a dozen plants 2 years ago (this summer will be the 3rd for them in the ground). They were 2 year old when purchased. All of these plants are still pretty small compared to my "old" bushes (12 years?). Some of these new plants fruited last year, while even this year, some are still just putting out decent shoots, while others just seem to sit there, alive, but not doing much.

Biggest lesson for me and blueberry growing was to keep the deer off of them, especially in the winter. Deer will browse all of your new shoots, which are next year's fruit. Once I put up a solar fence, I wondered why I planted new plants- my old ones give more than I need.

It is said that transplants sleep(get established and grow roots), creep(add a little top growth) then leap(start growing a a good pace).

1st year-Sleep, 2nd year-creep, 3rd year-leap. That's pretty much how it goes for everything we transplant in our orchard.

I have about 25 bushes-just picked about a gallon this morning- About half were just some "whips" I dug that were growing from the base of some established bushes. They were literally just switches. They are about 10 years old and are pretty large and produce a bunch. They other half I bought from a nursery and they are three years old and haven't done a thing. I fertilize in the spring and that's it. I'm disappointed in the bought plants and surprised how slow they are growing. I have taken some cuttings from the old plants to root and plant. I guess you'll just have to be patient. The comment about the deer was interesting. We are covered up in deer and never have a problem with them. I have pear trees nearby and they eat all they can from them...browse and pears.

Coffee grounds are good for your blueberry plants.
Our blueberry plants are about the only thing the deer leave alone on our place.

Deer and blueberries: I learned from a local U pick grower who "enlightened" me on this.
This isn't the guy, but if you watch at least the first minute, you can decide for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbRRgIbYKgw

my niehbour ran a fertilzer distrubition and he gave me a pail of 20-30-45 So off i went to my favourite wild patch for a little push .Well the plants grew from 12 inches to 36 by fall. Come November in deer season the acre was eated down to the ground

please send your deer my way. our deer eat everything except for poison ivy!

Thanks for all the info.I got these two years ago at the district 3 trapping dinner so maybe they just need some time.I have done everything I have read to do to help them.I have no idea how old the plants where when I got them.Do you guys mulch them with pine needles or pine bark to help keep the acid up for them?

My soil runs on the sour side anyway, so I don't add much. A few years ago someone told me that oak shavings were good for blueberries- adding acidity, but also the tannin was supposed to help.

I make oak shavings constantly, so I added some a few years ago. Can't say one way or another, since I don't have a "control" group, but it didn't seem to have any harmful effects.

I've read in several places that you should remove blooms from a young plant. The reasoning is that the plant will put energy into growing and not fruiting

I have always used pine saw dust, it has worked well for me and keeps weeds down too.

Do you know the variety? Some dont get as big as others.

Clint had a good show on blueberriers a while back. http://www.thefarmersgrove.com/growing-b...den-podcast-25/

blueberry bushes have very weak roots, if you want them to grow fast and produce early you should mix 3/4 peat moss with 1/4 compost. dig a big enough hole, put in mixture and water heavy. we fertilize with 10-10-10, add sulphur pellets every other year. we have 20 bushes they do very well. we got this recipe from a grower that has over 200 bushes. can't say enough about how much water they need, in the wild they are in bogs, their weak roots grow well in bogs.

Thanks whiteotter I didn`t really know they needed lots of water or that they grew in bogs.

Well New Years eve dinner the blueberries are sure good for desert, and pancakes for breakfast next year.

How is yours ?

We got 11 gallons from the 8 plants we have that are big enough to fruit. Still lots in the freezer and I'm glad this post was brought back up to remind me to get some out today.

BTW, saw dust and coffee grounds mulch seem to work really well for us.

I had miserable luck with blueberries until I started mulching them heavy with bald cypress needles. They have done well ever since.
I rooted some 3 inch cuttings last winter and transplanted them last spring. Several grew very slowly, but 2 grew like rockets . Those 2 are nearly 2 feet tall in one year. They are not bushy, just tall. Since I planted all of them the same, with all the same soil, mulch, etc., not sure why those two grew so well.

Never heard of using coffee grounds on them.Some of the slow growers are going to get the Folgers treatment this spring. Thanks gryhkl.

Yep,

wrong thread.

don't know how that happened.

thanks for the heads up , Lug.

w