I've got blueberry bushes 10 plus years old and have never debudded
them, first year or not. Right now they have fruit set and are
absolutely loaded. There are a number of blueberry "orchards" around
here and AFAIK none of them were ever debudded the first year. What
earthly purpose could that serve? Even if you buy blueberry plants in
one gallon pots they are, at the least, one year to two years old when
you get them at the nursery. These are southern rabbiteye blueberries
that I grow.

George

Tim Stoner wrote:

Hey I would like the answer on this one too. We had two of our four from
last year that survived the Minnesota winter.
We are really not to certain how to care for these up here.

Tim

"Tim B" wrote in message
.. .
I have some new blueberry bushes, covered with blooms, very pretty. I
read
somewhere that I should not allow them to set fruit the first year, but
should pinch off all the blooms instead. So I've been out to do it
several
times and every time I see how pretty they are and how many berries there
will be and I leave the blooms on. I'm presuming they'd fruit next year
if
they spend this year growing. But ... they seem perfectly fine and I
hesitate to de-bud them unless I really should. Advice?