blueberry weak-green color problem solved

[Phisherman]

My blueberry leaves were turning a light green, showing their veins.
The blueberries were fed cottonmeal and given a thick mulch of old
sawdust. I decided to give the plants a (half) dose of Miracid three
weeks ago, and the bushes have responded with a deep green color and
loaded with berries. Wow! The change was amazing. I was a bit leary
of fertilizing the bushes due to damaging the delicate root system
they have, but now I now better. Perhaps the sawdust drew up all the
nitrogen, I don't know.

[Beecrofter]

Phisherman > wrote in message >...
> My blueberry leaves were turning a light green, showing their veins.
> The blueberries were fed cottonmeal and given a thick mulch of old
> sawdust. I decided to give the plants a (half) dose of Miracid three
> weeks ago, and the bushes have responded with a deep green color and
> loaded with berries. Wow! The change was amazing. I was a bit leary
> of fertilizing the bushes due to damaging the delicate root system
> they have, but now I now better. Perhaps the sawdust drew up all the
> nitrogen, I don't know.

TEST THE SOIL pH

[V_coerulea]

Sawdust will do that. And be careful that it's not treated-wood sawdust.
While cottonseed meal is a good source of nitrogen, it's fairly slowrelease
and very low compared to what the sawdust can soak up. I'm not positive
about this but I know I read it somewhere, that blueberries are plants that
cannot distribute fertilizer to the whole plant if applied only to one side
whether foliar or root feeding. And if you have a good mulch on them,
ammonium nitrate is a good nitrogen source and not too strong (if used
properly -1/4 to 1/2 cup per plant I believe depending on size). Blueberries
are wonderful stuff.
Gary

"Phisherman" > wrote in message
...
> My blueberry leaves were turning a light green, showing their veins.
> The blueberries were fed cottonmeal and given a thick mulch of old
> sawdust. I decided to give the plants a (half) dose of Miracid three
> weeks ago, and the bushes have responded with a deep green color and
> loaded with berries. Wow! The change was amazing. I was a bit leary
> of fertilizing the bushes due to damaging the delicate root system
> they have, but now I now better. Perhaps the sawdust drew up all the
> nitrogen, I don't know.

[Phisherman]

On 16 Jul 2003 15:38:57 -0700, (Beecrofter) wrote:

>Phisherman > wrote in message >...
>> My blueberry leaves were turning a light green, showing their veins.
>> The blueberries were fed cottonmeal and given a thick mulch of old
>> sawdust. I decided to give the plants a (half) dose of Miracid three
>> weeks ago, and the bushes have responded with a deep green color and
>> loaded with berries. Wow! The change was amazing. I was a bit leary
>> of fertilizing the bushes due to damaging the delicate root system
>> they have, but now I now better. Perhaps the sawdust drew up all the
>> nitrogen, I don't know.
>
>TEST THE SOIL pH


It is acidic, like my entire property. I have dumped 500 pounds of
lime over my lawn over the past 10 years and it still shows a pH
ranging from 5.8 to 6.3. I'm thinking about using compost instead of
the old sawdust, but old sawdust on blueberry bushes is what many
books recommend.

[Martin Jensen]

Could try using pine needles as a mulch. I put pine needles on my mom's and my
blueberries every year and both of us have had pretty good results. I also
Miracid them once or twice a year in the spring. My soil was kinda neutral to
start with now it is on the acidic side, where it should be for blueberries.

Marty

On 7/16/2003 7:32 PM, V_coerulea wrote:
> Sawdust will do that. And be careful that it's not treated-wood sawdust.
> While cottonseed meal is a good source of nitrogen, it's fairly slowrelease
> and very low compared to what the sawdust can soak up. I'm not positive
> about this but I know I read it somewhere, that blueberries are plants that
> cannot distribute fertilizer to the whole plant if applied only to one side
> whether foliar or root feeding. And if you have a good mulch on them,
> ammonium nitrate is a good nitrogen source and not too strong (if used
> properly -1/4 to 1/2 cup per plant I believe depending on size). Blueberries
> are wonderful stuff.
> Gary
>
> "Phisherman" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>My blueberry leaves were turning a light green, showing their veins.
>>The blueberries were fed cottonmeal and given a thick mulch of old
>>sawdust. I decided to give the plants a (half) dose of Miracid three
>>weeks ago, and the bushes have responded with a deep green color and
>>loaded with berries. Wow! The change was amazing. I was a bit leary
>>of fertilizing the bushes due to damaging the delicate root system
>>they have, but now I now better. Perhaps the sawdust drew up all the
>>nitrogen, I don't know.
>
>
>

[simy1]

Phisherman > wrote in message >...
> On 16 Jul 2003 15:38:57 -0700, (Beecrofter) wrote:
>
> >Phisherman > wrote in message >...
> >> My blueberry leaves were turning a light green, showing their veins.
> >> The blueberries were fed cottonmeal and given a thick mulch of old
> >> sawdust. I decided to give the plants a (half) dose of Miracid three
> >> weeks ago, and the bushes have responded with a deep green color and
> >> loaded with berries. Wow! The change was amazing. I was a bit leary
> >> of fertilizing the bushes due to damaging the delicate root system
> >> they have, but now I now better. Perhaps the sawdust drew up all the
> >> nitrogen, I don't know.
> >
> >TEST THE SOIL pH
>
>
> It is acidic, like my entire property. I have dumped 500 pounds of
> lime over my lawn over the past 10 years and it still shows a pH
> ranging from 5.8 to 6.3. I'm thinking about using compost instead of
> the old sawdust, but old sawdust on blueberry bushes is what many
> books recommend.

5.8-6.3 is too alkaline for blueberries. you may run into the same problem again.