Blueberry companions?

[Victoria26]

Hey guys and gals,

I have a large blueberry bush in a big container. Does anyone have any suggestions what acid tolerant companions I can plant in alongside the ericacious compost??

Someone told me lettuce and bush beans will grow... in acid soil?? really??

Any advice?

[chris]

Are you after an edible companion?

[Victoria26]

Are you after an edible companion?

Ideally yes, However i'd consider some pretty trailing flowers etc.... Basically it's been repotted into a larger vessel and given new acidic compost and it looks a lil bit bare in the pot! Lol

[Nicos]

How about cranberries?

[scott78]

i have stuck strawberries around mine, i read that they love acid soil, too early for my to give my own findings.

[chris]

I was going to suggest cranberries too - but most berries can cope with acid (I think they prefer it slightly anyway?) Other than that I was going to suggest the usual rhododendrons, etc!

[Victoria26]

Yeh, I like the idea of cranberries but I really disslike Rhododendrons and azaleas.... I think they're too big and retro - also ugly - like pampass grass *shudder* .... (This is possibly a very controvertial comment)

LOL! Each to their own x

[chris]

I dunno what they look like Just see them on eracious feed etc mentioned. Sounds like they were around in the jurrassic period though with that name

[Croila]

i have stuck strawberries around mine, i read that they love acid soil, too early for my to give my own findings.

I have four blueberries in pots and would really like to shove strawberries in there too, but I'm not sure if the pot-to-plant ratio might be compromised? I bought the blueberry plants at the end of last year so they've never fruited yet, and I'd be wary about crowing them out with the strawberries too.

I wonder if anyone can tell from my photo whether I could a strawberry plant in with them or not? I'd be really grateful for some advice as this strikes me as a really good idea, thank you!

[Victoria26]

Sorry Croila but I would leave yours as they are - it took me 3 years to get berries from mine however now I get lots of fruit...

persevere x

[Croila]

Noooooo! Three years?! Oh dear!

Can I ask, what do you feed them with, and how often?

Thank you

[Victoria26]

Last year I fed them once a month with an ericaceous feed as they've started to come back to life after winter up til they have fruited then i leave them to their own devices.

As yours aren't very big i'd give them a boost with some liquid food now and moniter them. Also put them in full sunshine as I found mine done a whole lot better.... hope this helps

[Potstubsdustbins]

I bought a blueberry plant in spring last year and collected a handfull of berries in the autumn. I know we are a few weeks in front of you Croila but my plant as just started to grow very quickly in the last 2/3 weeks so its already had its first feed of the year.

Colin