Blueberries in Brane

Plant container-grown blueberries at 14th December - 23rd April in a large pot filled with ericaceous compost. Set the crown at the same level as the compost surface and water in thoroughly straight away.

Keep the compost evenly moist from 17th February through 16th August, especially in dry spells. Use rainwater if possible, because tap water can raise the compost pH over time.

Top-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch from 25th December to 24th January. Repeat every 365 days to keep the root zone moist and support fruiting.

Put bird netting over the plants from 25th March before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.

Pick from 3rd June to 23rd June once the berries are fully blue and come away with a light pull. Harvest over several weeks as the fruit ripens unevenly, and handle the crop gently to avoid bruising.

From 25th November to 25th December, remove weak, dead or crossing stems and shorten a few older shoots if the bush is crowded. Blueberries need only light pruning, so avoid hard cutting back.