I've got some raspberries and blueberries in my backyard that just aren't thriving the way I hoped. They get morning sunlight but are shaded in the afternoon by a maple tree. The soil is quite acidic, around 4.5 pH, and it's a bit heavy with red clay. I've heavily mulched with wood chips and regularly dig in bokashi compost along with fresh compost every spring. They're currently in their third year; however, my two rabbiteye blueberries have only produced one or two new branches last year and have yet to bear fruit—though one did bloom a few flowers that never developed into berries. My raspberries have produced some fruit, but they stay quite short at only around 2 feet tall, even sending out some shoots that also seem small compared to those I see online. I'm looking for tips to ensure they thrive this year. I'm considering ideas like replanting the blueberries on mounds, planting comfrey around them for nitrogen, adding more compost, or perhaps even lime for the raspberries. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
From what you're saying, you're doing a lot of the right things. But yeah, replanting blueberries to catch more sun could help. Maybe grow some comfrey around them to boost nitrogen as well. I’ve read that letting them have nutrient-rich soil and good sunlight makes a huge difference. Adding lime to the raspberries can also help if you're sure of the acidity being an issue. Just keep an eye on watering too, especially with clay soil—it can hold a lot of water!
It sounds like your blueberries might just be slow-growing based on their variety. Some blueberry types, especially non-highbush, take a while before they really kick into gear. As for your raspberries, they might be suffering from the shade—both berries really prefer full sun to hit their growth potential. Also, double-check they're safe from deer or rabbits; if those critters are munching on them, that could stunt their growth too!
That makes sense! I guess waiting a bit longer could be the way to go. Maybe I should consider moving them to a sunnier spot. Do you think they’ll bounce back if I do?
Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely try the comfrey idea and check how the watering is going, especially with drainage. I want to make sure I'm doing everything right!