Allotment.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I hope that you get some of the fertiliser that allows you to grow blueberries, they are really beneficial to health and they taste good too.

[taddy]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I hope that you get some of the fertiliser that allows you to grow blueberries, they are really beneficial to health and they taste good too.

Thanks Marge, when I used to wander the fells around Clitheroe with dog, gun and ferrets forty odd years ago, (with the local farmers permission) I might add, in the spring and early summer I used to leave the said gun and ferrets at home and just take "Rags" one of the best little rabbit hunting dogs that I have known and sadly missed, and we would wander across "Birdy Brow and Longridge Fell picking Billberries/Whinberries, which Mrs Taddy would turn into tarts. Blueberries are of a similar species and probably the nearest that I could artificially Cultivate, if you don't try you won't succeed is a mantra I have Always believed in.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Bilberries are a bit more tart….and I remember going up over the tops of Todmorden…..towards Gaddings dam…over the moors.
I took a jam jar but ate as many as I collected….as my blue tongue and teeth would confirm.
You could not eat those in secret.
I saw some punnets of these delights recently…priced at £7.50.

[shillelagh]

Originally Posted by taddy

Blueberries are a bush that I would love to grow but I believe they need an acidic soil, I have tried to introduce composted leaves into the soil but it does not seem to have any effect, I have been told that by adding a cup full of vinegar to a gallon of water over the whole bed is a quick way of making the soil acidic, I would love any advice on the matter.

i grow my blueberry bush in a pot .. its got ericaeous compost in it and its grown plenty i get a bag of it from wilkos. according to what ive read .. if you can grow azaleas then you've got the kind of soil to grow a blueberry bush ..

[shillelagh]

Originally Posted by taddy

Blueberries are a bush that I would love to grow but I believe they need an acidic soil, I have tried to introduce composted leaves into the soil but it does not seem to have any effect, I have been told that by adding a cup full of vinegar to a gallon of water over the whole bed is a quick way of making the soil acidic, I would love any advice on the matter.

taddy this is my blueberry bush .. now there is quite a lot of new growth on it .. if you want you can try to take a cutting and grow it on .. and at least ive found some tomatoes on the seeds i threw in some of the pots ..

[taddy]

Shillelagh, why are the "Blueberrries" in picture three "Green"? (only jesting). as for taking a cutting, I do have three blueberry bushes on the allotment but they are not very healthy because of the soil but thank you for the offer.

[shillelagh]

Originally Posted by taddy

Shillelagh, why are the "Blueberrries" in picture three "Green"? (only jesting). as for taking a cutting, I do have three blueberry bushes on the allotment but they are not very healthy because of the soil but thank you for the offer.

you could maybe try this

[taddy]

Originally Posted by shillelagh

you could maybe try this

Thank you for that, it is really informative, as it happens I have a friend who is a tree surgeon so I have no problem obtaining differing kinds of woodchip, I shall certainly try turning over one of the allotment beds and adding pine tree woodchip this autumn and planting my blueberries into it this, watch this space next year for an update. again, Many thanks.

[shillelagh]

good luck taddy xx

[taddy]

Oh dear, nearly September, for the next couple of months I will be turning over all the beds (vegetable I may add), with a garden fork, with me being a high priest of the "tight arses" religion, there will be no mechanical cultivators involved. I will then have to spread a liberal amount of what is ejected from the rear of farm animals that has been quietly steaming away since March/April and then cover all the beds in black plastic in order to allow the worms and other beneficial organisms to do their work.

[DaveinGermany]

Originally Posted by taddy

Oh dear, nearly September, for the next couple of months I will be turning over all the beds (vegetable I may add), with a garden fork, with me being a high priest of the "tight arses"

Good for you Farmer Piles! No doubt thirst quencing Ale will be on hand during your endeavours?

[taddy]

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Good for you Farmer Piles! No doubt thirst quencing Ale will be on hand during your endeavours?

Oh, you had better believe it, I am already on my 3rd pint just thinking about it.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by taddy

Oh dear, nearly September, for the next couple of months I will be turning over all the beds (vegetable I may add), with a garden fork, with me being a high priest of the "tight arses" religion, there will be no mechanical cultivators involved. I will then have to spread a liberal amount of what is ejected from the rear of farm animals that has been quietly steaming away since March/April and then cover all the beds in black plastic in order to allow the worms and other beneficial organisms to do their work.

I do not envy you that task Taddy….

[taddy]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I do not envy you that task Taddy….

Any time you fancy putting your "wellies" on and getting your hands dirty whilst bending and exercising your back muscles, just give me the word and I will pick you up and you can "Assist" me.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Taddy, I can sure you that I would be a hindrance.
I have not got Green thumbs….in fact I can make silk flowers die.