Blueray, Bluecrop and jersey. I just remembered. One Of which I have 2 of. I will try to get some pics posted of the affected plants.

If you are watering these blueberry plants with tap water that contains dissolved calcium and/or magnesium, that is "hard water," the shrubs will yellow and die off. Have you had your water tested for hardness?

Are you kidding me?? I have well water so yes. But actually I only watered them a few times when first planted. The rain has taken care of the rest.

Is there anything that can be done to bring them back??

billinpa:

Your problem doesn't sound like a disease. It could well be high pH. But I won't think a couple waterings with hard water would be the cause. More likely just the general growing medium. Check out the current post on vinegar and blueberries. Maybe that will give you some ideas. If you replant have the soil checked first if you haven't done that. You ought to be able to grow bb in PA.

The Fruitnut

I would have the medium tested but I didnt think they could test suck course medium. Its pretty chunky. I followed all the potted blueberry recommendation to a T. They are in raised beds. 1/4 potting mix, 1/4 shredded pine bark/straw, 1/4 peat moss.
Fertilized with Acid loving fert. only one dose in the spring about 4 weeks after planting.

I have 4 plants
1 is almost dead. Showed good growth for a few months.
Started yellowing. Leaves got red spots and then wilted. I removed them. They sprouted new leaves which yellowed and turned brown before fully opening. now nothing just a green stick. I does have a few buds left on it though.

2 has already yellowed and is now showing red spots.

3 is starting to turn yellow no red spots yet.

4 is growing vigerously dark green growth. Already put on several inches of soft wood growth. Tipped the leaders back and it has really bushed out. Shooting up new canes from the rootstock.

But all 4 showed really vigerous growth in spring.

I guess I should add. 2 plants are from last year and 2 plants were bought this year.

Nutrient def from what I have read usually starts at the bottom of the plant and works its way up. these have started yellowing and dieing from the top down?

I've only been growing blueberries for about a year now, so please take these remarks with a grain of salt. But I've noticed a couple of things that might be relevant. First, in the same soil conditions different varieties respond differently. While Patriot and Blueray have grown well with dark green leaves and a good crop, Jersey has light green leaves and a poor crop. Light green leaves seem to indicate a nutrient deficiency, as my Patriot and Blueray also had this issue but perked up when I added a few handfuls of sulphur and iron sulphate around the plants. Incidentally, these plants were planted in almost pure peat moss and covered with wood chips, but even then I have had to work hard to keep up an acidity level that keeps the plants happy. I would try a few handfuls of iron sulphate for each plant and see what happens. You can get it in bags from a good garden store.

Billinpa:

My only concern with your setup is that maybe your beds are too course. What is good in pots can be too course as a soil media, pots just don't drain as well. You need something in that soil media that will hold water. Is it possible that what you are seeing is drought stress?

With bb high pH is always the likely culprit. And probably is in your case. But if the growing media is too course for a soil test, that causes some concern on my radar.

Hope you get things going right!!

The Fruitnut

It sounds to me like your 'soil' is all coarse organic material and no soil. I know that a lot of people recommend highly organic mixes for growing blueberries, but I have grown them in PA directly in the ground and generally have had lots of success. I am not sure what to do with the plants you already have, but I think I would try some directly in the ground. If you create a bed of perhaps 1/3 the materials you used for the raised bed and 2/3 soil, with perhaps some sulphur if you have high pH, I think you'll do fine. If you have acid soil, which is common in much of PA, you could probably just plant in the ground and mulch.

Good advice from ladyslppr. I read once about a grower in NC growing bb in the course material billinpa describes. But he was watering several times a day with drip. That won't be good with hard water.

The Fruitnut

jersey blueberry leaves turn red. I have six plants & only jersey turn red?

Im going to try some acid water mix and see if it helps. we have had a lot of rain this year. the bed is mulched heavy to hold in the moisture. I really dont think its a water issue as every time I have checked the media it has always been damp. Not soaking just damp.

I origanly had the first 2 planted directly into the ground. After the first year they hardly grew. Leaves pale green. Held the leaves but hardly grew. My soil is extremely hard hard clay. I did amned well with shredded pine bark, pine straw and compost. They were not growing as well as I had expected. So I decided in the spring to get 2 more plants dig up the 2 already planted and put them in raised beds with the recommended mix.

I do have a stream that runs through my property. Maybe I will grab a bag of Sulphur or iron sulphate on my way home and water with creek water as needed. I think I have a Ph test kit for water form my aquarium days. I do have a bottle of unused battery acid in my garage. I can use that to adjust the pH more acidic if need be.

I was really hoping for a berry crop next year. :(

I do have pics but cant upload them. If someone would volunteer to post them I can email them. I will also take some pics of the media this evening as well.

I've had 100% success rate so far with this method here in southwest WI. I did plant mine directly in a garden bed that had good soil and just dug nice wide holes maybe a foot or so deep and filled with peat moss. Covered everything with a thick layer of wood chips (i used wood chips on everything, when you get them for free, its hard to beat). I fertilize with that blue/green water soluble acid fertilizer that miracle grow makes and water with rainwater only. Mine have been growing like crazy.