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Newly planted fruit bushes

Last post 07-01-2009 8:00 PM by LovelyHelen. 5 replies.

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  • 06/01/2009 05:15 PM
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    Hi all

    Just need some advice.  I planted my blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry bushes on the day before Christmas Eve.  I had enough rain water to water the blueberries in and watered the raspberries from the tap.  My worry is that we have not had a drop of rain since then - should I water them or are they dormant?  If I do need to water them I have a problem as I have run out of rain water - is there an additive I could put in our local alkaline water?

    many thanks

    LH

  • 06/01/2009 06:08 PM
    • sue1002
    • Ipswich, Suffolk
    • 06 Sep 2005
    • 5,145
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    As they are still newly planted, I think it would be a good idea to give them some water to help settle them in.

    I asked a similar question last year on what water to use when the water butts ran dry and was advised that tap water is ok to use.

    http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/forums/p/18218/20754.aspx#20754

    sue1002
  • 06/01/2009 07:32 PM
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     Thanks Sue

    I've read the thread and have a water jug too so i'll use that.  Should I try and water them in the middle of the day so that it's as warm as poss as I presume when I do the damp soil will then freeze?

  • 07/01/2009 08:33 AM
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    You might be surprised to know that plants lose water from their leaves and as your plants, with the exception of cranberries, are deciduous (lose their leaves in winter) they won't be losing any moisture. 

    Also their roots won't be growing, so if you planted bare root plants they won't be able to pick up any water until their roots grow.

    Therefore assuming that you planted in the approved way in moist soil and firmed the soil to make sure there was good contact between root ball and soil there should be no need to water until the foliage grows, which generally happens in spring ( March/April in the British Isles).  Roots will begin to grow at this time too.  Thereafter you would be wise to water in dry spells for the next two summers.

    Cranberries are evergreen (don't lose their leaves in winter) and therefore can lose moisture.  However because the weather in winter is cold and nights long, little water is in fact lost, so again watering is unlikely to be required.

     If the soil has frozen around your cranberries, moisture will be unavailable to plants and they will in effect be vulnerable to drying out if the wind picks up.  You can avoid this by protecting the plants with a cloche, double later of fleece or digging them up and keeping in pots in a greenhouse or similar until spring.

    You might have planted your fruit in containers - the same applies but the potting medium is more likely to freeze, so group the pots together for mutual protection.  If you can put the pots in a shed so much the better - in future winters the pots can be left out as the roots will be acclimatised to freezing. Potted cranberries could have the pot wrapped in bubblewrap to prevent freezing of the potting media, but bringing into shelter would be best.

    As there is no need to water your blueberries there is no need to add anything to your water supply.  In summer you should water with rain water from your water butt.  However any water is better than no water and in the absence of sensible additive for gardeners, just apply tap water when the water butt runs dry.  If you have an acid soil it will be fine, if you don't have an acid soil the blueberries might not thrive anyway and you will have to consider pot cultivation.

     

    Boggy

     

     

     

    Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
  • 07/01/2009 10:47 AM
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     Thanks Boggy

    They are in a raised bed filled with ericacaeous compost (with a liner) as there is no way they'd thrive in the soil around here. I did plant them as you described and watered them in well when it was quite mild so I'll let them be for a bit - we are forecast rain next week.  I will however cloche the cranberries - the others are all bare root and at the moment just expensive twigs - can't wait for them to start growing!

    LH

  • 07/01/2009 08:00 PM
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     It's raining hurrah!- I've realised that if I ask you guys about a problem (ie non appearance of orders and then rain) it seems to get resolved.  You must be magic!  Thanks

    LH