Grow Your Own Magazine

Just treated myself to some Lidl fruit bushes (4 for £5 - they had gooseberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants in my local store) and wondering how best to treat them - should I get them in pots (I grow all mine in pots) asap and into the greenhouse for a bit of protection against the cold or leave them as it and gradually harden them off before planting?

thanks

I bought some the autumn before last and put them in pots over the winter. To be honest they weren't that great in quality and didn't have much in the way of roots and therefore wouldn't have stood up to planting straight away outside. As I remember they didn't have much soil with them so would be better into pots as soon as possible. Shouldn't need to be in the greenhouse though as they are hardy although they'll probably need hardening off as they've been in a warm shop.

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

I have had "expensive" ones from well-known companies and had very mixed success with those but for a fiver I thought they are worth a try!

OK, I'll pot up and maybe leave in the greenhouse for a few days before putting them out - we are still having a few heavy frosts down here so want to give them the best chance possible!

thanks

Oh yes, it's definitely worth having a go. The gooseberries I bought have done very well but the blueberries did nothing and then died .

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Soak them in a bucket of water before planting.

My blueberries have had loads of new growth on them since Autumn, I got them last year some time! They've done the best out of the lot haven't got a clue what type they are though!

My goji berry also went mad with growth, not sure if that is such a good thing or not

Cranberry plants... well one has green leaves and the other has red leaves! Not so sure what happened there!

My fig and grapes all died and I can't remember where my gooseberry bush is to comment! Must find it!

definately worth it for a fiver!


I'd put them in bigger pots and harden them off

Thanks for this becs

I've just hot-footed it up to Lidls at dinnertime and bought one of each.

The Council managed to kill some of my existing ones as they are on the edge of the plot and got sprayed when the Council put weedkiller on the verge.

Just had a peep and started to sort them out... The blueberries are literally just a stick with a few branches at the top - no root to be seen! There are tiny buds at the top. The gooseberries had a more substantial root system. So we will see what happens!

i also just bought some blueberrys from lidl today (hinckley branch) they where just a stick with buds and NO roots whatsoever, ive repotted and crossed my fingers,
can i recomend morrisons for good gooseberry plants i just bought 3 last weekend they had resonably good roots and once potted up looked no different (in size) to some of the £9 ones you see at garden centers, i had a look at the tonight and they buds are sprouting like mental! not bad for £1.50 a go! they also have fruit trees for a £5 with lots more roots than the aldi ones!

oh no! i bought 2 lidl blueberries after work (7pm) so just dunked them in some rain water after slitting a bit of the plastic they were wrapped in. fingers crossed.

Popped into Lidl last night, no Blueberry bushes though so I bought myself a Blackcurrant instead, looks nice and healthy.

I bought 3 Goosberry (Hinnonmaki Yellow) and a Blueberry (Patriot). All had a good root structure and are now in pots.

Im sulking now :-( I want a couple of Lidl Blueberry bushes.

Were they from Lidl? Definite progress if they're selling named varieties now

__________________

Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Yes from Lidl.

The variety name is printed on the packaging that has been standard with Lidl.

Good stuff, the ones I had last year were simply green gooseberry and blueberry

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

I've just been out, checked they are in stock... then got a panic of "are they rubbish varieties?" so have come back, looked them up and they all seem good...
...now I'm desparately trying to figure out which ones to get before closing time in 20 minutes! Haha.

Oh and just for reference. The varieties are (at least in my local one)

Raspberry "Malling Promise"
Blackberry "Black Satin"
Redcurrant "Jonkheer van Tets"
Blueberry "Patriot"
Gooseberry "Hinnonmaki Gul" (aka "Hinnonmaki Yellow")

Dunno if that'll help anyone, but it's up now.

The Blackcurrants are Ribes Nigrum "OJEBYN"

Blackcurrants?
I didn't see any blackcurrants!
Oh no! I'm going to have to go back and spend MORE money now! Haha.

Hi for anyone that can't get hold of the blueberry 'patriot' plants at their local Lidl, I bought the same plant at my local B&M Bargain store yesterday. They are identical to the ones they sell in Lidl and are priced at £1.49 each. However, will have to go back and buy another one as following some research (after I bought the plant!) it is recommended to buy at least 2 so they can cross pollinate. You will still get a crop but not as great. Sometimes it can take a few years for them to crop heavily. I have planted mine in the soil just yesterday as they are very hardy but think I will transfer to a large container as they can grow quite large and I don't think I have picked a good spot for it where it is now. There wasn't much of a root system but the plant looked quite healthy. They prefer an acidic soil and rain water rather than tap water. B&M bargains have lots of other fruit bushes at the same price but they are quite small and it may well be some time before you get any return on your investment!!
Good luck to everyone who has bought them. I will be interested to hear any other advice or tips as it is my first time trying to grow them.

Rachel... "ericaceous compost" is, I'm told, what you want for blueberries. I've found an organic one by a company called Vital Earth. You'll find your local stockists on Peat Free Organic Compost | Leyland | Preston | Southport though you'll need to check as not all of them will sell that stuff.

Of course, if you're not fussed about organic gardening (and I know plenty of people aren't) any ericaceous compost will do.


I don't suppose you noticed any of the Blackcurrants in B&M did you? My local Lidl had completely sold out of them when I got there so I've only got the blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants and blueberries. I did get two blueberries though so that's OK.

Good luck with them.


EDIT
I just noticed that Barton Grange, Preston is on that page. The one in Bolton does sell the Vital Earth ericaceous compost... they have it in 60 litre bags (about 2 grow-bags worth) for £6. Whether your local one will have it too, I don't know. But a few phonecalls to places on that page should turn some up.

Rooter, I am sure they had the blackcurrants at B&M...they are packaged exactly the same as the ones in Lidl. I went to the new store on Ringway Preston, but there is also a smaller one on Ribbleton Lane too. Thanks very much for your advice re the compost I will be buying some this weekend!