Blueberry bush is just a stick

[Anonymous]

So I bought a blueberry plant from Home Depot, but it's just a stick right now. I planted it but wondering how long till it flowers. I know it takes a few years for it to fruit. How do I know if the blueberry plant is still alive or dead since it's just a stick?

[Anonymous]

I tend to pot these small ones up and put them in a shady spot for a year so they can get established. Blueberries love acid soil, so any food that feeds camellias is good for a blue. Make sure you protect it from the hot sun mid-day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tend to pot these small ones up and put them in a shady spot for a year so they can get established. Blueberries love acid soil, so any food that feeds camellias is good for a blue. Make sure you protect it from the hot sun mid-day!

I thought they needed full sun! It's planted in an area that gets a lot of sun. Oh darn it!

[Anonymous]

I have mine planted in full sun, and they love it. You can even use large containers.
OP, did you get a bareroot or a potted plant? Bareroots will take a while to leaf out.
My blueberries took about 3 years to fully establish, planted as bareroots.

[Anonymous]

Full sun. Can tolerate shade, but won't fruit as well.

OP -- cut off the first cm. Is it green inside? It's alive. If it's brown, cut another cm. keep doing that until you get to green. Then you just wait. Remember that blueberries have a shallow root system, so don't let them dry out, don't let other plants compete for nutrients. They are not good sharers!

[Anonymous]

I don't know much about this topic, but I can tell you that I put in two blueberry bushes last spring (partial sun, they made tons of berries - again, I know very little about this, just winging it), and they are still mostly sticks so far this season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Full sun. Can tolerate shade, but won't fruit as well.

OP -- cut off the first cm. Is it green inside? It's alive. If it's brown, cut another cm. keep doing that until you get to green. Then you just wait. Remember that blueberries have a shallow root system, so don't let them dry out, don't let other plants compete for nutrients. They are not good sharers!

OP here. Thanks for this. Very informative. I will check.

[Anonymous]

Variety matters. Look up the type. A southern blue can take the fu sun and heat here

[Anonymous]

I have Northern varieties and they do perfectly well in full sun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have Northern varieties and they do perfectly well in full sun.

Again, I would not take the risk. They do have issues around August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have Northern varieties and they do perfectly well in full sun.

Again, I would not take the risk. They do have issues around August.

What issues? My plants are 7 years old and going strong.

[Anonymous]

Mine not only have green leaves but flowers too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have Northern varieties and they do perfectly well in full sun.

Again, I would not take the risk. They do have issues around August.

What issues? My plants are 7 years old and going strong.

This area can get very dry and very hot. It's always best to give some protection. This is my opinion. You clearly have yours. Why is this so important to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have Northern varieties and they do perfectly well in full sun.

Again, I would not take the risk. They do have issues around August.

What issues? My plants are 7 years old and going strong.

This area can get very dry and very hot. It's always best to give some protection. This is my opinion. You clearly have yours. Why is this so important to you?

You're the one harping on it. I simply said that my plants do perfectly well in full sun. That may help someone if that's the only spot they have. In fact I have container blueberries in full sun which thrive without protection even through the past few winters. Blueberries are quite sturdy, not delicate wallflowers. I'm just stating facts, not opinions.

[Anonymous]

Op you should be able to pick up a larger plant in a container at Home Depot or a nursery for about $12-25 and get blueberries this year.