07-10-2019, 07:31 AM
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#901
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Franchise Player
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Does any grow blueberries? I have two plants in one of my garden beds. I previously had 4 but three died, one survived and one was replaced. The original survivor looks healthy and is quite large and about 5 years old. It has never made fruit though. The second plant is two years old and also looks healthy and might actually produce fruit this year.
Is there anything I should be doing to try to get fruit from my blueberry bush? I use fertilizer and aluminum for acidity and it gets the appropriate amount of water. I'm stumped.
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07-10-2019, 07:34 AM
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#902
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Franchise Player
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No. My wife tried for years. One time she talked to the old guy at the garden centre who knows everything, and he kinda laughed. "No, you can't grow blueberries here. We sell them if you want, but good luck." She bought them anyway, and failed one last time, using every tip in the book.
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07-10-2019, 08:56 AM
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#903
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Memento Mori
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calgarygeologist
Does any grow blueberries? I have two plants in one of my garden beds. I previously had 4 but three died, one survived and one was replaced. The original survivor looks healthy and is quite large and about 5 years old. It has never made fruit though. The second plant is two years old and also looks healthy and might actually produce fruit this year.
Is there anything I should be doing to try to get fruit from my blueberry bush? I use fertilizer and aluminum for acidity and it gets the appropriate amount of water. I'm stumped.
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Blueberries require acidic soil. Virtually all of Calgary has alkaline soil. No go.
A very good alternative is honeyberry (haskap). Tough as nails, you can have ripe berries in June sometimes.
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Last edited by Shazam; 07-10-2019 at 09:05 AM.
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07-10-2019, 09:42 AM
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#904
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Franchise Player
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Ya, my friend grows those with no problem. Yummy berries.
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07-10-2019, 12:18 PM
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#905
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shazam
Blueberries require acidic soil. Virtually all of Calgary has alkaline soil. No go.
A very good alternative is honeyberry (haskap). Tough as nails, you can have ripe berries in June sometimes.
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The acidity is why I use aluminum sulfate. Maybe I don't use enough though? I haven't actually tested the ph of my blueberry bed soil though.
I'll look into those honeyberries though. Maybe it will be a good alternative.
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07-10-2019, 12:35 PM
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#906
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Scoring Winger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calgarygeologist
The acidity is why I use aluminum sulfate. Maybe I don't use enough though? I haven't actually tested the ph of my blueberry bed soil though.
I'll look into those honeyberries though. Maybe it will be a good alternative.
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I bought 6 haskaps this spring for my back yard. They seem to be doing well so far, expecting berries in 2 years or so.
Keep in mind you need at least two different types to pollinate. I got 3 Boreal Beauty and 3 Boreal Beast plants.
https://research-groups.usask.ca/fru...ops/haskap.php
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07-10-2019, 12:46 PM
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#907
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Memento Mori
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calgarygeologist
The acidity is why I use aluminum sulfate. Maybe I don't use enough though? I haven't actually tested the ph of my blueberry bed soil though.
I'll look into those honeyberries though. Maybe it will be a good alternative.
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There is no hope in getting Calgary's soil acidic enough. The subsoil constantly leeches limestone up. Blueberries prefer a soil pH around 4.5-5, Calgary's is around 8.
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07-10-2019, 01:12 PM
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#908
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Franchise Player
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Even better to stick to fruits/veggies you know they grow commercially nearby. Good indication of what works and what doesn't. Blueberries do fabulous way out east and the west coast, but their climates and soils are so much different than here.
While you seem like a knowledgeable gardener, I always caution people that while the garden centres might sell them, doesn't mean the climate or soil will let it do well.
(looking at you Hydrangeas....)
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07-10-2019, 01:51 PM
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#909
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Memento Mori
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Eh there's lots of hydrangeas that do fine here (I have four). You can even grow mopheads here if you have the right exposure. McInnis and Holloway have some beautiful huge ones in front.
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07-10-2019, 01:55 PM
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#910
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Powerplay Quarterback
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I gave up on blueberries and grow haskups and raspberries instead.
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07-10-2019, 02:21 PM
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#911
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shazam
Eh there's lots of hydrangeas that do fine here (I have four). You can even grow mopheads here if you have the right exposure. McInnis and Holloway have some beautiful huge ones in front.
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I figured someone would mention that. I'll concede the point that it's possible (like blueberries are) but it takes such a specific exposure and placement (and over-winter care) that its nearly impossible when compared the sheer volume that garden centres sell.
Same as cedars - I'd suspect less than 5% survive longer than 2 years in Calgary, but you'd think they work great given the volume moved at garden centres.
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07-10-2019, 02:41 PM
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#912
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Memento Mori
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The hydrangeas I'm referring to are cultivars of hydrangea paniculata, which are very hardy. Mopheads like "Annabelle" are cultivars of hydrangea arborescens, which are much fussier.
Take a look at ones like 'Firelight', 'Quick Fire', 'Limelight'. These do very well here.
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If you don't pass this sig to ten of your friends, you will become an Oilers fan.
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08-03-2019, 06:30 PM
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#913
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Franchise Player
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I had this space between the house and garage that needed filling. I built the planter box in the spring, which my wife has turned into a veggie bonanza. I just finished the flagstone today, came out pretty nice, I think! Will close it off with a 4 foot fence to keep the rabbits out.
If anyone needs flagstone, this guy is great. He's just getting started here, his dad has a quarry in BC so he brings out a big truck and sells it here for less than half the price of everywhere else. Will deliver directly to where you need it. His name is Daniel.
https://www.stoneone.ca/
Last edited by Fuzz; 08-03-2019 at 06:32 PM.
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08-05-2019, 03:11 PM
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#914
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First Line Centre
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pseudoreality
I gave up on blueberries and grow haskups and raspberries instead.
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Do you get any haskcap berries?
I planted six plants (four of them pollinators) a couple years ago, and nothing. I'm thinking either the blooms get decimated by late frost, or the plants just need more time to get established.
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08-06-2019, 06:52 AM
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#915
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Scoring Winger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sr. Mints
Do you get any haskcap berries?
I planted six plants (four of them pollinators) a couple years ago, and nothing. I'm thinking either the blooms get decimated by late frost, or the plants just need more time to get established.
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Haskaps needs two different types of plants to cross pollinate. That might be your issue?
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10-15-2019, 10:48 AM
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#917
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Calgary
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Hoping to do one more mowing this week with the mulcher.
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10-15-2019, 10:55 AM
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#918
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Superflyer
Is it to late to do a last lawn mowing? I neglected doing my last one and now after the snow and frosts, is it to late to do one?
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Naw, it's fine, just don't cut it to short. I usually do mine with raking leaves around now.
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10-15-2019, 11:38 AM
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#919
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Franchise Player
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATCO Field, Section 201
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Finally pulled the last of my veggies and winterized my garden. Feelsgoodman.
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10-15-2019, 11:41 AM
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#920
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Calgary
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When the snow is completely gone, I am going to run the mower again... even though there are so many shocked leaves still on the trees.
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