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Blueberries Drowning

16 years ago

I have a blueberry patch with 2 and 3 year old plants. It is just sitting in the water due to the rains. Last year same thing. On the 3-year old bushes I have very few canes and very few berries. I am wanting to raise the bed once the berries are harvested. Is it possible to just add a couple inches of soil around the bushes and then mulch or do I need to lift them out and put in the soil and replant? Can I do this after harvest or should I wait until fall or spring? They are runts because of this condition.

Comments (4)

  • 16 years ago

    Don't put soil around them...that is just making the problem worse. I'd wait until they are dormant and then move, but i guess if your careful and get most of the roots, you could move them now... Blueberries have a shallow root system so its not tough moving them. I moved 5 large plants back in March and all of them bloomed heavily and have plenty of fruit.

    If you move them, wait for a cloudy/wet day if you can or do it in the late evening. I once moved a bunch of large arborvitae this time of year and i did it during a rainstorm. They did fantastic and are huge now.

    I'd raise them maybe a foot or so. They do like to be on the wet side of things (moist).

    What kind of soil? Why doesn't it drain?

  • 16 years ago

    Hmm! It is my understanding that blueberries do not like waterlogged soil, so I would definitely replant them in a raised bed. I've read that their shallow root systems should be exposed to as little sunlight as possible--- hence moving them during a rainstorm or evening! I would wet them and wrap them in burlap or something if you are going to uproot them and build a bed on top of their old location while they are waiting.

    Taylor's Guide to Fruits and Berries (Editor Roger Holmes, 1996) says that small, stunted growth and few berries are often signs of nitrogen deficiency, something that blueberries are prone to. They need a lot of nitrogen in small doses from a fertilizer that doesn't affect the pH... that might be another factor inhibiting growth.

    Hope this helps!

  • 16 years ago

    For a few berries you might loose the plants; worth it? If water is standing by the plants you are in danger of loosing them, and adding dirt will just mask the problem. I would either get busy building a raised bed or dig a hole nearby to divert the water. Yet a third option may be to pot them up and proceed with the raised bed.

    In any matter, I think you would be better served moving them ASAP. Unless the water has subsided and bought you a temporary lull.

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks to all. I think I will raise them on a cloudy day. If I lose one or two it would not be a great loss as they are runts and produce little. I will let you all know how they do.