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Originally Posted by Craig
Hi Everyone,
I just bought a blueberry plant, a raspberry plant, strawberry plants, and
an apple tree online. The small blueberry 8 inch plant arrived today. My
plan is to grow them all in containers out on the deck in the back. I assume
I plant them and keep them in the house until when? The blueberry is dwarf
northsky and very hardy. When should I bring it outside - at the same time I
plant my regular garden seedlings or sooner? I'm in zone 6 NYC.
I read that the blueberry soil should be acidic and sandy. I haven't really
ever had to mix a soil up before. What should I add to make the soil acidic?
I have Cactus/ succulent mix, sphagnum peat moss, regular potting soil and
seed starting soil, what kind of mix should I use for its soil?
Thanks
Craig K
Staten Island
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Hi Craig,
I'm thinking that since you are in zone 6 and purchased online, that they came bareroot and with instructions. They are probably dormant, but you will still have some freezes, so you may need to start them indoors. They should send them at the proper time for planting outdoors. The directions should tell you what to do. Next time you mailorder, check references here.
http://davesgarden.com/gwd/
As to the soil, peat moss is acidic, but doesn't have very many nutrients. Potting soils are peat moss with some perlite and maybe vermiculite mixed in. I would suggest that you use the potting soil. If you can get a bag of compost, mix 60% potting soil with 40% compost for your fruit, including your tree.
Here's some sites you should find helpful. Read all the way down to include 'Characteristics of Blueberry Cultivars for Minnesota' at this site.
http://www.sln.potsdam.ny.us/blueberries.html
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardand...-July0101.html
http://www.inberry.com/blueberry.html
Raspberries:
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/fruit/raspberries.html
Strawberries:
http://www.gardening-guides.com/arti...berry-pots.htm
http://muextension.missouri.edu/expl...ort/g06135.htm
Apple:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1401.html
"All apple cultivars are considered self-incompatible, meaning that they cannot pollinate themselves or any flowers of the same cultivar. You will need to plant at least two different cultivars of apple trees together in order to achieve maximum fruit yield and quality. In addition, the two cultivars selected need to have viable pollen and bloom at the same time to ensure successful pollination. Some nurseries also offer apple trees that have two or more compatible cultivars grafted on the same tree."
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/planti.../PPApples.html
http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/librar...p?linknum=1914
http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/CPTFP_7.htm
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplo...ort/g06021.htm
I realize that I have given you many sites, but I feel they all have useful info you will need.
Newt