need help with blueberries

[megdesmik]

I have gotten 5 potted blueberry plants and I need to get them in the ground. My soil is neutral and I need to make it acidic and quick so I can get them in the ground. What's the best thing to use? I've read about gypsum, sulful, peat moss and mulching with oak leaves and pine needles. What's the quickest and most permanent?

[kawalekm]

Hi Megdesmik
Forget gypsum, that's neutral pH. I used elemental sulfur on our backyard soil. I dropped the ph from 8.6 to 6.5, which I think is perfect. I'd use the sulfur to drop the pH immediately, then maintain lower pH and organic matter with peat moss as a top dressing. Blueberries don't like to dry out, so the organic matter will help retain moisture.
Michael

[lostinthewoods]

How does one go about testing the PH of their soil? I have tried blue berries in the past but I killed it deader than a doornail, maybe it was the soil?


Thanks!
lost

[bee_pipes]

You can buy small, inexpensive test kits, use litmus paper, or get a multi-use meter. Most of this stuff can be found anywhere gardening supplies are sold. To sweeten the soil you use lime, to sour the soil you use sulfur. Moss on the soil is usually a good indication of acidic (sour) soil.

Regards,
Pat

[megdesmik]

I've used a whole bag of pelleted sulfar on mine. I had actually had the ph down to 6, but after a rain it was right back up to around 7.5. Was it because they're in pots and the sulfar is being washed out of the soil? I even tried dissolving the sulfar in a gallon of water and watering them with that, and it didn't work either.

[AlchemyAcres]

Hi Megdesmik,

What are you using for soil in your pots?

Good living soil is essential so that soil bacteria can convert the sulfur (preferably powdered) to sulphuric acid and lower the ph.

It's best to mix the sulfur thoroughly with the soil and allow several months for the ph to stabilize before potting up the plants.

Good warm soil is also essential, the bacteria won't act on the sulfur well if the soil is cool.


~Martin

[MooseToo]

if you are in the process of going from pot into the groung with your berries, and, if you do as so many and use straight peat in the holes around the root ball, make absolutely sure that the peat is well soaked before doing the transplant - peat for some reason can maintain pockets of dry matter no matter how much you water after transplanting -

[sbemt456]

Maybe some one can answer a question for me as well, will used coffee grounds add some acid to the soil. I received my little blueberry plants from Michigan Bulb on Saturday, it was too cold for me to dig holes and plant them outside so I put potting mix in some pots and planted them in there till I can get their permanent home fixed. In 3 days in the pots they have perked up and even have more leaf buds starting. I did give them a bit of coffee grounds this evening, please help before they have a caffeine heart attack.

[Florida_boy]

You might try transplanting by the signs as well. you might as well keep everything you can in your favor.