starting fruit trees and bushes...
 

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

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

Newt,

Thanks all your info was very helpful. I ordered all this stuff I've never
grown before and feel a bit overwhelmed like I'm going to kill all the
plants soon after they arrive.

Unfortunately, The instructions were very generic and didn't say if I keep
inside or go straight outside with the blueberry and raspberry. Since it was
very cold and there was still snow and I all around, I planted the blue
indoors and am storing the raspberry in the fridge as they suggest until I
can plant it.

Thanks again...

Craig
"Newt" wrote in message
news:1110053429.4c8f6bf4a94729dc119e48063528765e@t eranews...

Craig Wrote:
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



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://tinyurl.com/5sprm
http://tinyurl.com/4wjvl
http://www.inberry.com/blueberry.html

Raspberries:
http://tinyurl.com/6ovnn

Strawberries:
http://tinyurl.com/3t4bs
http://tinyurl.com/5lg3u

Apple:
http://tinyurl.com/4pa7t
"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://tinyurl.com/6hlwv
http://tinyurl.com/4anqc
http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/CPTFP_7.htm
http://tinyurl.com/632ze

I realize that I have given you many sites, but I feel they all have
useful info you will need.

Newt


--
Newt

Craig,
You are very welcome! Sorry, but I don't know how to cut and snip all this stuff and still have all the colors. I'm posting from a forum and not usenet.

Best of luck,
Newt