Blueberry bushes from plugs?

12 years ago

Hi all, I am a relative newbie to propagation, so I need a lot of advice. I want to establish a bed of lowbush (wild) blueberries. I have access to wild blueberry fields at my parent's place about 150 miles north of my home, where they are still mostly dormant because of the late spring. My plan, such as it is, is to drive up, take several different plugs from as wide a variety plants as I can, and put them in the prepared bed about 6-10 inches apart. Here where I am it is still cool, although we are probably past our last significant frost - no guarantees on that, though.

I need advice on how best to dig the plugs, and any additional information you may have about how to increase my no doubt dismal chances of success. Should I use any rooting hormone?? The bed has been prepared by loosening the soil, fertilizing lightly, and adding some sulfur for acidification. Any other things I should do?

Thank you in advance!

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Comments (5)

gardenper
12 years ago
You mean "cutting" and not "plug", though you can turn the cutting into a plug.

Otherwise, your idea should work and is a great method to increase the number of plants you have.

Just be cautious not to take from a diseased plant.

How will you transport them back to home?
lilyd74 (5b sw MI)
Original Author
12 years ago
Now I'm confused. I thought a cutting was a living branch snipped off and being used to grow roots. I'm planning on digging small sections of roots and soil, about 3-4" diameter, with the branches attached, and trimming the branches down a bit so the roots have time to regenerate this year in the soil. I've read in a couple of places on the net that this can be a successful way to propagate wild blueberries since they have rhizomes.

I have shallow plastic tubs for transportation.

Again, thanks for all of your help -
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2ajsmama
12 years ago
UNH and U of Maine have info - UNH below, U Maine in link (sorry I don't know how to put more than 1 clickable link). Also called "sod"

https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource001686_Rep2265.pdf

Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: U Maine
gardenper
12 years ago
Oh I see. Thanks for the clarification. The way you described, could have been meaning a cutting, and then when you mentioned the rooting hormone, that helped make it sound like even more of a cutting.

We can call it as a "sod" based on the description in the link provided by ajsmama.

Some people do add rooting hormone or nutrients to a transplant but I think that is not as urgent as using it for a cutting.

Transplants have a much higher success rate than cuttings do.

Since they are dormant then the transplant may be even easier for the new plants to adapt to their new home.
nandina
12 years ago
Lily, use a serrated knife to dig down into the soil, cutting square plugs about 3"x3". Pack these tightly together in a flat bottom container and water gently. Don't flood the plugs. Remember to fill the holes remaining with soil to encourage strong regrowth in the blueberry patch.

Once home, dust roots with a bit of rooting hormone. Plant following U of Maine directions and plan to water/fertilize per its instructions. Best that you use a liquid fertilizer that contains Humic acid due to the acidity needs of blueberries.