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  • Blueberry death and other things

    Hi Grapes!

    I've had a bit of misfortune lately as my brand new and expensive blueberry has died. It was planted back in autumn and took off really well, with fruit and flowers last month. I had planted it in Erin ericaceous compost in a large tub, standing in an inch of soft water to simulate natural growing conditions. All of a sudden, just before the fruit turned blue, the leaves turned brown crinkled up and the bush has died. I found the best website for disease identification: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/departme...c/Berrydoc.htm ...using that and my background in plant science I am almost certain it was due to either a canker or boron deficiency. Although I think the latter is less probable, given the fast decline. I think the compost is to blame because the plant was healthy when I got it and similar diseases are not endemic to Buckingham. So there is my heads up!

    Everything else is going a bit to pot... Only one truss has formed on 5 currant bushes that were planted 2 years ago. I know the early drought was to blame and the same has happened to my enormous peach tree that normally throws out 10lb fruit. But never mind, I'll know to water more in future and the roots should have pushed down a bit deeper

    I've also noticed red spots on the lower leaves of my goosegogs and certain plants! These are not aphids because we do spray but are some fungal/bacterial problem. Does anyone know what this might be?

    The kiwi from Woollies has officially died. I think it was a bacterial/fungal infection.

    The good news is a massive bed of rasps, strawbs and some healthy currant growth. My fig has had it's first two fruit and I didn't even notice them as embryo fruit. The grapes are going from strength to strength, as is also my tayberry. But the passifloras are so enormous that I may have to get them off the sitting room windowsill and plant them out!

  • #2
    Contrary to popular belief blueberries do not like to sit in soggy ground. As yours have been sat in an inch of water it may have rotted off their very fine root root structure, hence the sudden collapse.

    Jenifer Trehane, the owner of the Dorset Blueberry company quotes

    "A gentle watering every few days is not the best way to treat a blueberry, especially in hot weather. Soak them well, checking that the water has penetrated well into the soil or pot. But dont keep them flooded! A happy medium must be sought at all times!"

    I picked their brains before planting out my blueberries as they were a significant financial investment when purchased (15 of them) and I wanted to leave nothing to chance.
    Last edited by pigletwillie; 20-06-2007, 07:10 AM.

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    • #3
      Hi Simon, this has happened to 2 of my 6 plants. I'm not convinced it was the compost becasue mine were all planted in the same compost in separate pots and put inthe same location. I would be really interested to know what does cause canker and how to treat it. Really REALLY don't want the others going the same way.

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      • #4
        Have you fed them with anything at all?

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        • #5
          I didn't feed them. I thought they would be ok they wee only in the new compost 3 months before they died and they did die very quickly

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          • #6
            Could the sudden death be vine weevils?

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            • #7
              my blueberries have died as well - I had three in an old wine box and they've been doing well for several years. I was getting excited as this year I was going to get a huge crop and then all of a sudden one plant just went brown and withered and died...so I dug them up and there was vine weevil. so I cleaned the roots of the other 2 plants and replaced the compost with new and replanted them. A week later another one went brown and withered and died. Dug that up, but found no new vine weevil, so think it might have juts had a shock. I have 1 left and that seems to be doing OK, but not going to get much of a crop now. Very disappointed.

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              • #8
                Could the sudden death be vine weevils?
                There are no obvious marks on the stem or leaves, but I will go through the soil to check.

                Have you fed them with anything at all?
                No, I'd have guessed that the compost would meet it's needs for the first year.

                By the way, I'll take your advice on watering Piglet.

                I can truly sympathise with everyone whom has had similar problems. I can understand a problem with new plants as being due to the stock or compost, but it's strange that your older plants have died eskymo. There is a possibility it may be due to frost damage because canker would have happened sooner. I hope it's just the lesser of two weevils.

                xspye: I think you've had the same problem. I don't know of a cure. Keep me posted on how they’re doing and I hope they prevail!

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                • #9
                  One of my blueberries in a pot is looking a bit sad as the leaves have been nibbled, probably due to adult vine weevils.I'm now going to tip it out of the pot & check for the grubs due to reading this & repot it with some fresh ericaceous compost, hope it's not too late! Whoops, just started tipping down with rain here, might wait till later to repot!
                  Into every life a little rain must fall.

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                  • #10
                    I have planted 7 blueberries in the past 2 years. Only one has died in that time: this year. It's in the middle of the plot which is heavy neutral soil enriched with loads of compost and given ericacious fertiliser in spring.
                    It died after a period of two weeks torrential rain was followed by warm weather... buds had set fruit. All the rest look OK .. even those closest to the fence and partially eaten by the cows!

                    I dug it up and the roots had not penetrated further than the original compost it was planted in when it was in a pot.

                    So I suspect mine died because it had not formed a new root system and was unable to cope with the changes in temperature and humidity.

                    (We had hardish frosts for two winters and the odd 10-20cms of snow.. but quite mild winters by "normal" standards)
                    Last edited by Madasafish; 21-06-2007, 01:30 PM.

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