Yes, pine bark beds are the deal for BB, acid soil is the necessity. I made a raised bed of pine bark and peat moss. Mine have been very productive. Emerald is the best variety I've seen in central FL.

Gary

Gary, I was told some time before that you need at least 2 different varieties of blueberries for them to pollinate, is that correct? Also, do you use shredded pine bark or the kind that Lowe's has? If you use the shredded, where do you get it? I'm not going to Jacksonville to buy 100 yards but I would sure like to get some.

Try Walmart for the pine fines. It's labeled pine mulch and they recently had lots of it in Brevard Co.

You can buy pine fines at some stores or you can buy pine bark mulch and make it fine yourself..it is all the same stuff. You can use a lawn mower on it to grind it smaller or back over the bags multiple times with your pickup truck and screen the small stuff out and use it and continue to run over the course bark...it all works. Frankly I much prefer to use peat. The commercial growers use the pinebark fines and make them basically raised beds because it is faster, easier and cheaper to do it that way than to dig a big hole and amend your local soil with peat. It is much better for the plants to be in the ground with peat and mulched. The mulching breaks down and yes you have to add some sulphur but it is much better for the plants long term unless you are going to get multiple soil tests a year and give the plants what they are missing as the commercial growers using pine fines do.

Just my two cents but I have been growing these bushes my entire life.

Thanks, now, is it true that you have to have more than one variety? Or am I confused and you just have to have more than one plant?

It is true, and false:) When talking blueberries here in Florida you have to specify if you are talking about southern highbush or rabbiteye. Both grow here though they say the rabbiteye is only from Ocala north....not quite true as they produce here every year though I am not that far south of Ocala. With the rabbiteye BB you need to have at least two different varieties that flower at the same time. If you only have one variety you will still get some fruit but not much. The southern high bush BB are not nearly as dependant on cross pollination BUT you will get more berries and the berries will be larger if you have at least two different types so it is in your best interest to have 2-3 different varieties that flower at the same time. Btw even though they flower at the same time some take longer to ripen the fruit so it spreads out the season.

I heard Rabbiteye was from Sebring north. Anyway, I have a blueberry I bought from Lowe's that says it doesn't need a pollinator, so I'm hoping it's that bushy one. It's in a 15 gallon pot, and I put my coffee grounds around it every morning, and pour my leftover coffee around it every night.

It will like the grounds, black coffee is about a perfect 5.0 ph.

Lowe's sells high bush and rabbiteye so not sure.......do you remember the variety? You planted it in a pot? That is a much easier way to keep them alive. Just don't use animal manures on it as they are all alkaline. Like I said it does better with a polinator but will do fine without one. If you don't know the variety and want to post a picture of it I can probably tell you what variety it is (as long as it is a high bush).

Far as the Ocala or Sebring rabbiteye line who knows. The University of Florida says Ocala but that is just their opinion and the actual line would vary yearly depending on the severity of the winter. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg359

I believe Aliceblue and Brightwell are two Rabbiteyes which are low chill, probably lower than their listed value. I spoke to a guy who grew them around Sebring. EDIS sometimes generalizes, and is not always correct, and some data is old. I have about 5 SHB vars to ensure cross pollination, and 3 rabbiteyes, so far all are doing ok.

Gary

What about that pine shavings bedding that you use for pets? I have a bunch that is composted with oak leaves and chicken manure. Would that work okay for blueberries?

Sultry,

The pine shavings would be fine as would the oak leaves. I am not a fan of animal fertilizer on BB as they are most all alkaline. You could test your compost and see what PH it is.

I don't think anyone here mentioned Sunshine Blues. They are a tasty berry and don't need a second variety to produce. I'm in South Florida and am glad they don't require very many chilling hours. Sheri