Knowledgebase
Amend blueberry soil #870273
Asked May 27, 2024, 12:49 PM EDT
I planted several high bush blueberries here in minneapolis from bare root and amended the soil with sulphur. Problem is I didn’t amend it early enough. The blueberries bushes look pale and anemic. Should I just wait for the acid levels to drop or dig them up and add peat moss? Its late May.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Those plants look like early edema from over watering. Notice the engorged veins and early necrosis. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-gen-18.pdf
Are they in full sun? Blueberries are a woodland plant. Later in the season, you might consider UV filtering garden cloth.
I do not suspect soil alkalinity at this time but go get a cheap soil pH monitor at a garden center and write back to me.
I purchased two ph testers. One said 6 and the other said 6 1/4 -1/2. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was both issues. Kicking myself for not tilling up the whole area and amending with sulphur magnesium peat moss. (Pine roots were a pain to work around with kids help )
That side gets easterly light with a fence and two pines on the west side. So not too much light. And, we have had an incredible amount of rain this spring.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://hort.cornell.edu/gardening/soil/blueberries.pdf
Blueberries take several years to begin seriously producing. Read this.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-blueberries-home-garden#:~:text=Quick%20facts%20about%20growing%20blueberries&text=Plants%20won't%20have%20much,old%2C%20weak%20and%20dead%20wood.
Thank you!! . Yes, they’re new so you probably have the problem pegged. I’m assuming once the rain abates the issue should go away? And within a few months the ph should balance.
