Red blueberry bushes, please help!

cheyannarach 6/3/2012, 4:35 pm

I have never done raspberries before I have 3 of them all different varieties and when I planted them the leaves turned red. They look like they think it is fall. The leaves are not falling off or drying out, I don't know if it's stress from the transplant or getting used to all that sunshine (I did have them outside before this and brought them in at night but they are getting more sun now than when I had them on the deck). Two are planted in peat and compost and one is planted in mm.

Anyone ever see anything like this before? Would love some input!

Red blueberry bushes, please help! Dsc_0115

Red blueberry bushes, please help! Dsc_0115

Red blueberry bushes, please help! Dsc_0116

Red blueberry bushes, please help! Dsc_0117

Red blueberry bushes, please help! Dsc_0119

Red blueberry bushes, please help! Dsc_0120

**camprn** 6/3/2012, 4:39 pm

I am assuming you mean blueberries and not raspberries. You posted photos of blueberry shrubs. According to this source it could be that the soil pH is off and the plants need nitrogen. You may want to do a soil test to determine exactly what the problem is, so you can treat appropriately.

cheyannarach 6/3/2012, 5:53 pm

Haha, yes, I must have raspberries on the brain, lol, thanks Camprn!

malefacter 6/3/2012, 6:10 pm

they turn red during winter is it cold there?

FamilyGardening 6/3/2012, 6:44 pm

some of our blueberry leaves have a tint of red on them.....our huckle berries have a lot of red on them......does your plants have any fruit?......yours do seem to have a lot of red to them.....have you looked up the type you have to see if its normal for them....seems like each differnt kind of berry has a bit of a differnt type of color to them.......they look pretty though....they seem healthy?

if they are healthy i wouldnt worry to much......you may not get very many berries this year....it could be that you may have planted an early type and missed the time they went to berry......we didnt get much with our smaller plants last year....i remember the leaves turning color when they were done fruiting....but next year you should get tons....this is just my two cents....this is only the second year for us to grow blueberries..... Embarassed

hugs

rose

cheyannarach 6/3/2012, 10:18 pm

I am going to test the ph tomorrow!

Malefacter, it was nice a few days after I planted them then we had a cold spell for about a week (even a little snow) But it has been really nice the last few days. That might be it, the frost and snow.

Rose I didn't really expect to get any berries the first year, the pink lemonade says it produces from May to mid fall, The top hat produces from early summer to midsummer, and the Dwarf Northblue came with blooms on it and it produces from May to fall, They all seem healthy just turned red, hubby doesn't think I can grow blueberries so I am determined to figure this out and prove him wrong Laughing

.

I also wonder about adding some native soil, I wonder if the peat will be sufficient for letting the roots anchor or if with so much peat it will be to soft, does that make sense?

**camprn** 6/3/2012, 10:25 pm

Peat/sphagnum moss, really it has no nutritional value in it... After doing the soil test may want to top dress with compost... if that's what one does with blueberry shrubs Very Happy

cheyannarach 6/3/2012, 11:09 pm

I have it about 50/50 compost and peat. I also have some azalea food (thanks to the kids for throwing it in the cart, lol) but I read that it's also good for blueberries, I also have some blood meal (to scare away the deer). Odd, all these things I ended up with for some other reason will be handy for the blueberries.

littlejo 6/3/2012, 11:51 pm

Don't add the nitrogen til soil test is done. The acid soil is what is needed the most.

Peat moss is good, pine straw chopped up or as mulch is good!. If any fertilizer is needed you can use the azalea food or use food for tomatoes(they like acid too)

The peat will not stay soft, but I would mix in a little compost too.

probably the cold snap you had after planting caused a brain freeze, making the plants think it was winter, (red color) maybe this will cause them to bloom and give you some good fruit this yr!!

FamilyGardening 6/3/2012, 11:56 pm

berries like the soil to be on the acidic (SP?) side

i would test your native soil and then add peat moss if needed or some compost that has a lot of peat in it.....

when they were in containers when we planted ours we did 50/50 with native soil & peat.....then when we transplanted them into the ground we added compost that had a lot of peat in it......our native soil is already on the acidic side....

hugs

rose

cheyannarach 6/4/2012, 12:58 am

Good to know about the peat not staying soft, I don't have a lot of options for planting shrubs in the ground because we live on a giant rock, so raised beds are optimal, there is just so many different suggestions for how to plant them I read then I just dove in and planted, all this news makes me optimistic and I am hoping that it was the cold confusion that caused this. I will update when I get the ph tested! Thanks so much for all your help!

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Red blueberry bushes, please help!

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Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!

Re: Red blueberry bushes, please help!


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