Growing Blueberries In Queensland

Alex S. starts with ...
HI there

I was wondering whether anyone in QLD has had there blueberries flower/fruit. I am thinking about getting a 'Sunshine Blue' blueberry for a container. It is suppose to only need 150 chill hours. By the way I’m located in the south western suburbs of Brisbane. Also would it be colder up on my verandah or at ground level?
Any other advice on growing blueberries would be much appreciated.

Also does anyone know the chill hours for 'Nellie Kelly' Blueberry and if its suitable for growing in pots

Alex

Alex S. says...
Is that what the variety ('High Bush') is called or is it a Highbush blueberry(just like sunshine blue). If they are two different varities how od they compare and where did you buy both from?

Sorry if this is confusing.
Alex

Tanya says...
In the Redlands grow Sunshine Blue and Sharp Blue. Some are in the garden and 2 are in hanging baskets. The ones in the garden have more blueberries at the moment, but the plants in the hanging baskets have grown larger.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

Alex S. says...
Tanya which of the two pictures is the Sunshine blue.

I ordered a Sunshine blue in February and it is slowly becoming established.

Anyway this morning i cut off three of its flower buds to keep it concentrated on root/foliage growth.

My question is living in Brisbane and not getting any temps under 7 degrees since receiving the plant why has it gone to flower on branches that have only grown since I received the plant?

Could the very tips of the buds received enough chill hours while in Emerald, Victoria( in the Dandenongs) where I bought it from?

If not, does this mean it doesnt need any chill hours?

the first picture is the plant when I bought it and the second pic was this morning. Also if it helps Ive been fertilizing with an organic pelleted peat.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

Ellen says...
Tanya,

The Blueberry which you've planted in the ground that in the picture is FRUITINGS, may I ask how old is that blueberry bush?

It's looks so INCREDIBLE BEAUTIFUL, SO FRUITFUL.

Nettie says...
Hi Guys
Iv'e thought of growing blueberries to sell at markets with our other produce. Could someone tell me where I get information on growing them in SE Qld (Sunshine Coast hinterland)and where to get best quality planting material??? Im thinking after reading your posts that it may be too difficult and that it may not be cold enough where we live??.
Cheers
Nettie

alex says...
http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/09/vegetable-gardening.html

shes in landsborough

kim says...
I bought a blueberries plant from bunning just over a year,dont remember what type, planting in pot and it had gave me a few berries and the plant look die hard at the moment (the old leaves looks sun burn and there r still new shoot and beautiful young new leaves!). Just wonder if its worth keeping it as in Cairns our temparature is pretty warm almost all year round. Is it possible the plant will learn to adapt to the weather here and be able to grow and fruit better??

NQ Grower says...
Hi Kim,

I am in townsville and have two blueberry plants, sharp blue. Growing well and after 11 months have my first fruit growing (even if it's 4 berries :)) Mine looked shocking over winter but seem to have come back strong with lots of new growth.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

Wazza McG says...
Use pine needles as mulch to help acidify the surrounding soil. The school up the road has lost of pine trees.

I also use Azalea fertiliser as its designed for acid loving plants.

I found in Brisbane that they do better with some shade. I use to have them in the backyard and the afternoon sun knocked them around a fair bit the previous year - so I transplanted them along a fence line with a Easterly line and they have recovered marvelously.

KrisArchie says...
I grow my blueberry "Ned Kelly" in the pot in Bundaberg for the last 6 years. Every year it gives me at least a kilo of fruit. Today 20 March 2014 , I still have fruits on the bush. This is the longest it gives me fruits, usually it finished fruiting around January and I find the plant very hardy as I often away and I re-pot the bush every 2 years.

Nardene says...
I have a few blueberry bushes, mainly the Nelly Kelly variety but also a couple of high bush plants. They have lots of water and pine needle mulch from our pine tree but keep dying from the tips of the branches downwards. Does anyone know what I may be doing wrong?