Hello,

My question is...

I recently purchased the Earth's Finest because i am going to pot a Vaccinium Corymbosum (Highbush) in a 4 cu. ft. Whiskey Barrel, both pics attached. I am wondering if the soil I purchased is suitable even though it doesnt specifically state that its for potting. My plan is to add a bag of pebbles for drainage, 3-4 bags of the soil mixed with some pine bark. I understand the points of acidity and ph.

Any advice would be well appreciated.

I am not familiar with that particular soil but you already know that blueberries thrive in acid soil. When I put my first blueberry plants in (20-25 gal. pots), the grower said pot/plant them in pure peat moss. He specifically said, other than a handful of Osmacote mixed in well, don't add anything else to the "soil", just 100% peat. That's what I did and the plants grew well. Just be sure the barrel(s) is well draining.

Yes,
I drilled 6 - 3/4" holes in the bottom of the barrel and I hope that should be sufficient enough. I guess only time will tell.

That should work, Bobby. The pebbles should keep the holes from clogging.

to ATP Bobby! I think that soil should do just fine. Go for it!

So heres what i ended up with. I mixed the soil with some pine bark chips and topped with about 3 inches of mulch...

Going to install a custom drip system on a timer within the next wee or so...

Looks excellent. I wish I had drip irrigation but it would take a mile of tubing to make it work.

Bobby83 said:So heres what i ended up with. I mixed the soil with some pine bark chips and topped with about 3 inches of mulch...

Going to install a custom drip system on a timer within the next wee or so...

Now you need to do it all again with a second plant to fertilize the flowers.

Well... Im not sure if my thinking is correct, but just about 5' to the right of the plant are about 16 bottlebrush bushes... Filled with hundreds of bees... I was thinking i wouldnt need to plant a second plant...

If i did, i was thinking of some creeping phlox around it...

Suggestions?

I think Greene may mean pollinate, not fertilize. I only have a single blueberry bush, and it is loaded with berries. It either is self-pollinating or there are other blueberry plants somewhere close by. I am not aware of any though.

@drdawg, thanks for making that correction. I must be hot and tired. Some blueberries are self-pollinating, but many need another type to complete the picture.

Did @Bobby83 say which type he has?

Also, the soil in containers tends to deteriorate into mush over a few years time, so he will probably need to dig them up and replace the soil in a few years.

Vaccinium Corymbosum (Highbush blueberry)

You are good to go. Self-pollinating, whether it is the Northern or Southern varieties.

Yes a single plant will make some blueberries, but it would make more and larger berries if a cross-pollinator is available.
There is a link to About.com Gardening that lists some pollinators.
http://gardening.about.com/od/...

I did not know that, Greene. Good information. Now I need another blueberry bush! I started with three varieties, five years ago, but ended up killing two of them (they drowned!).

This may sound dumb... But in order for cross pollination.. Do the bushes need to be a different kind of bush? Because i have so far only been able to find this one type of blue berry bush...

Which why i was thinking of adding some hydrangeas, camellias, foxgloves, bleeding hearts or even zinnias as they are all acid loving plants...

Different varieties of blueberry. Blueberry plants should be readily available, even at several big-box stores. My Lowe's has them right now, but I don't know the varieties.

On this thread I can only give general answers since I do not know @Bobby83's location nor the exact plant he has. (Keep in mind we do not know if any of his neighbors 'as the bees fly' already grow the needed 'second' plants.) More information is available; I provided one link which has lists of some recommendations for a second plant to increase production for the highbush blues. More specific information is also available from local County Extension offices.

Good luck and I want blueberry muffins when the harvest comes in!