I planted 12 different varieties for the first time in newly prepared soil, no soil test. I used peat moss mixed with coco coir and some native soil in raised beds about a week before transplanting blueberries. I water with a cup of 45% vinegar to 5 gal water, and they all look great. I may have planted some of them too close together, but I’ll transplant in late fall or early winter. Lots of vigorous growth for me, I live in northern Maine.
After my first planting of 4 blueberry bushes failed miserably (zone 10) in a raised bed, I decided to plant in pots to better control the pH. I purchased a 2 cu ft bag of acidic potting soil ($15), and filled each 15-gal grow bag with this soil in which to surround each of my new 6 blueberry plants. Before planting, I added sulfur and organic slow release acidic fertilizer to the bottom of the hole mixing and watering well before planting the bushes. Worked like a charm and my 6 blueberry plants adjusted well. I did add iron later to the bushes that indicated chlorosis, and continue to supplement each pot with sulfur and acid fertizer during the growing season. I also used this soil for blackberries, strawberries and azaleas which gave them a strong and healthy start. Thank you for your excellent presentation!
I really appreciate this video, because my experience is very similar. It makes me glad that we can learn from each other. It takes a lot of learning. I am in zone 10, and my first mistake was buying a northern Highbush. It did not fair well. Thank you for sharing this.
The sulfur takes months to acidify the soil because it has to be incorporated by the microbes in the soil. Your berries need emergency help or they will die pretty fast. I faced the same issue and what I did was water the berries once a week with 2 tbsp of vinegar in a gallon of water. It isn't a permanent solution but it let me keep them alive during the winter. I found that fertilizing with ammonium sulfate fertilizer helped a lot. Pine bark and pine needles lose their acidity very quickly and don't acidify the soil.
They’re looking pretty good! They have berries on them and I just got a soil sample back and the pH dropped, so that’s good. I’m planning on doing an update video in the next week!
@@TXgardenandhome sweet good deal! I have 8 Blueberry bushes that I want to plant. (They’re In my greenhouse) I know my soul is high. I have red clay soil with very low drainage. You have any tips specifically for that situation?
@@speculate6719 Yes! I’d recommend pine bark compost if you can find that. I’m not sure where you live but pine bark mulch and compost is pretty prevalent here. I’d plant them in all pine bark compost. It’s acidic and the blueberries should like it!
At least your blueberries have leaves! Mine don't..7 ph here too. But I tried to amend my soil when I planted them with allot of pine tree amendments.. I wish I had purchased rabbit eye blueberries but I couldn't find and most of mine say vaccilium on the tag..
Your initial soil mix and raised bed looked great. Acidified water and some ammonium sulfate were all you needed. I’d guess your water source had too many carbonates, and your ph slowly crept up each time you watered. Best of luck. The birds are depending on you to find a solution!
I like you planted my blue berries before I got my soil right. I have been using elemental sulphur since (for one Year) and this spring I was shocked when my ph was 6.8. Did you find a way to save your berries? I am very afraid of losing mine and am trying to lower my ph before this upcoming growing season.
Thank you for your video, however your measuring cup is nice to have but not very effective all the time because every situation is different . If you want this pH issue solved fast this is what I would recommend because you don't want to miss a harvest of those lovely blueberries because of improper care . While you have a raised bed the Acidity is constantly leashing out into the soil under the raised bed (1) Based on the size raised bed and the number of plants I would used a total of 8 cups . 2 cups sprinkled around the drip line of all 4 plants and then the remaining 6 cups sprinkled all throughout the raised bed and of course work it into the soil. (2) I would use a 1 cup of white vinegar mixed with 5 gallons of fresh water and water raised bed at least once per week for at least a month (i.e) 4 -5 times for the month. (3) You will need get a bag of AMMONIUM SULFATE ( Not Aluminum Sulfate ) . This Ammonium Sulfate will also acidify the soil and provide the blue berry bushes the right type of " Urea Nitrogen " that is needed to let the plants flourish . (4) Buy a cheap pH tester on Amazon , these are not 100% accurate as the labs are but it definitely helps to keep you in the right ball park in terms of pH levels . (5) After the acidity is brought back to appropriate levels , you can maintain this level with about 4 cups of sulfur fertilizer such as " HolyTone " of the one that you showed in this video , measured with your " fancy pansy " measuring cup . (6) Do remember the Ammonium Sulfate this is one of the silver bullets to a bumper harvest because blueberries loves the nitrogen and sulfur it provides, but please use the the Ammonium sulfate very sparingly its best to use too little than to use too much as its quite concentrated. (7) Add organic matter such as chicken or rabbit manure . If you follow the above info , you should be able to thank me in as little as 2 months when your blueberries start looking refreshed. Lastly its best to acidify the soil when its warm for it to work fast . Best of luck with your garden.
I'm not sure what the product you show is actually made of but Elemental sulfur is very yellow. I found Elemental sulfur in pellet and powder form for about a dollar per pound at a local hardware store. The powdered sulfur cost was slightly higher and also a little more difficult to work with; it's like yellow flour, blows around and gets everywhere and irritated my skin a little, so I recommend just using the pellets. My water supply has calcium in it so it's alkaline, about 8.1 as per my ph meter. If I add a cup of 5% kitchen vinegar (the kind you put on your salad) to a 5 gallon bucket of water the ph goes to a little bellow 6. I'm learning as I go.
I’m gonna last my blueberries here in Georgia this fall . I will put the sulfur in the soil this summer at least a month before I plant the blueberries maybe two months before . Soil bacteria have to break down the sulfur before it starts lowering the ph . It may take awhile before the necessary bacteria get into your raised bed soil . It’ll come down eventually.
@@TXgardenandhome Looking forward to them and keep up the hard work. I really like blueberries and the pink lemonade is by far my favorite. Havent started growing any of my own yet but i will soon.
Good info but I respectfully add that it’s quite pointless without a follow up. It’s been a year so how are the blueberries doing? Also I might suggest… Rode Wireless Mic with wind buff. Thanks!
Dark peat moss has a neutral pH. Light peat moss is more acidic. Your pH is either too high or there is not enough iron in the soil which causes the clorosis or yellowing of the leaves. Peat moss has few nutrients. Sulfur such as that will take a month or more to lower the pH. Quick drops can be had with vinegar or citric acid, but since these are plant-based, the pH effects will only last a day or two. Pine saw dust can help drop the pH, but any time vegetation decomposes, the nitrogen is used up. Check your water's pH, as well. Even if you get the soil pH down to 5 (a good number), if you water with a high pH, you'll cancel the acidic properties. However, rain water is mildly acidic, sometimes around 5.5, so this is optimal for blueberries. That second bush, the one with the reddish dots, may be sick. I'm struggling with mine in alkaline soil and water. I never thought this would be such a challenge. Good luck!
You look exactly like me last year. Same thing happened to me. Soil sulfur will take time but the best thing to do imo is while the soil sulfur does its thing take white distilled vinegar water n water them once or twice a week and it will bring acidity down so you plants can take up the nutrients while your soil ammenda
Can you tell me where you found the pine bark mulch? I live in California but have been unable to find it here. I saw some on Amazon but it was pretty costly
Dang that’s a bummer. You can find pine bark mulch at pretty much any nursery in Texas since pines are local to the area. I’m not sure what an alternative would be. I’m sure you can mulch with your regular mulch, but it won’t have the added benefit of acidification.
It’s 4 months later.....how are they doing? I’ve been prepping soil, exactly like you did, for my blueberries I’ve ordered for this year, but now I know that might not be good enough.
The blueberries are dormant right now so it’s a little hard to tell. The true test will be how well they do in the spring. I’ve been monitoring the soil pH and will continue to add acidified to the soil once it starts warming up again! I’ll keep you updated!
Hi from Ukraine! As i know, sulfur-isn't a quickly metod for lower PH( it will lower PH after 3-6month). For quickly lower PH you must use electrolyte solution (20-25ml/10liter water).
It also looks like your blueberry plants are getting too much sun. In general, blueberries like AM sun and PM shade. You should probably get a shade cloth--especially for the summer.
I planted 12 different varieties for the first time in newly prepared soil, no soil test. I used peat moss mixed with coco coir and some native soil in raised beds about a week before transplanting blueberries. I water with a cup of 45% vinegar to 5 gal water, and they all look great. I may have planted some of them too close together, but I’ll transplant in late fall or early winter. Lots of vigorous growth for me, I live in northern Maine.
Do you still water them with some vinegar even if it's snowed?
I am getting ready to plant blueberries here. thanks for sharing the info you learned
I'm glad it was helpful!!
After my first planting of 4 blueberry bushes failed miserably (zone 10) in a raised bed, I decided to plant in pots to better control the pH. I purchased a 2 cu ft bag of acidic potting soil ($15), and filled each 15-gal grow bag with this soil in which to surround each of my new 6 blueberry plants. Before planting, I added sulfur and organic slow release acidic fertilizer to the bottom of the hole mixing and watering well before planting the bushes. Worked like a charm and my 6 blueberry plants adjusted well. I did add iron later to the bushes that indicated chlorosis, and continue to supplement each pot with sulfur and acid fertizer during the growing season. I also used this soil for blackberries, strawberries and azaleas which gave them a strong and healthy start. Thank you for your excellent presentation!
Great video! Would love to see an update video on them.
Yes I am planning on making one in the spring!
I really appreciate this video, because my experience is very similar. It makes me glad that we can learn from each other. It takes a lot of learning. I am in zone 10, and my first mistake was buying a northern Highbush. It did not fair well. Thank you for sharing this.
The sulfur takes months to acidify the soil because it has to be incorporated by the microbes in the soil. Your berries need emergency help or they will die pretty fast. I faced the same issue and what I did was water the berries once a week with 2 tbsp of vinegar in a gallon of water. It isn't a permanent solution but it let me keep them alive during the winter. I found that fertilizing with ammonium sulfate fertilizer helped a lot. Pine bark and pine needles lose their acidity very quickly and don't acidify the soil.
I just planted 4 rabbiteye bushes the exact same way today. Starting at 6.8 ph. I am going to order sulfur now! Thank you for this video!
How do they look now? It’s spring right now
They’re looking pretty good! They have berries on them and I just got a soil sample back and the pH dropped, so that’s good. I’m planning on doing an update video in the next week!
@@TXgardenandhome sweet good deal! I have 8 Blueberry bushes that I want to plant. (They’re In my greenhouse) I know my soul is high. I have red clay soil with very low drainage. You have any tips specifically for that situation?
@@speculate6719 Yes! I’d recommend pine bark compost if you can find that. I’m not sure where you live but pine bark mulch and compost is pretty prevalent here. I’d plant them in all pine bark compost. It’s acidic and the blueberries should like it!
So interesting. Im ready to plant some blueberries
They are the best!!
At least your blueberries have leaves! Mine don't..7 ph here too.
But I tried to amend my soil when I planted them with allot of pine tree amendments.. I wish I had purchased rabbit eye blueberries but I couldn't find and most of mine say vaccilium on the tag..
Your initial soil mix and raised bed looked great. Acidified water and some ammonium sulfate were all you needed. I’d guess your water source had too many carbonates, and your ph slowly crept up each time you watered. Best of luck. The birds are depending on you to find a solution!
I like you planted my blue berries before I got my soil right. I have been using elemental sulphur since (for one Year) and this spring I was shocked when my ph was 6.8. Did you find a way to save your berries? I am very afraid of losing mine and am trying to lower my ph before this upcoming growing season.
Thank you for your video, however your measuring cup is nice to have but not very effective all the time because every situation is different . If you want this pH issue solved fast this is what I would recommend because you don't want to miss a harvest of those lovely blueberries because of improper care .
While you have a raised bed the Acidity is constantly leashing out into the soil under the raised bed
(1) Based on the size raised bed and the number of plants I would used a total of 8 cups . 2 cups sprinkled around the drip line of all 4 plants and then the remaining 6 cups sprinkled all throughout the raised bed and of course work it into the soil.
(2) I would use a 1 cup of white vinegar mixed with 5 gallons of fresh water and water raised bed at least once per week for at least a month (i.e) 4 -5 times for the month.
(3) You will need get a bag of AMMONIUM SULFATE ( Not Aluminum Sulfate ) . This Ammonium Sulfate will also acidify the soil and provide the blue berry bushes the right type of " Urea Nitrogen " that is needed to let the plants flourish .
(4) Buy a cheap pH tester on Amazon , these are not 100% accurate as the labs are but it definitely helps to keep you in the right ball park in terms of pH levels .
(5) After the acidity is brought back to appropriate levels , you can maintain this level with about 4 cups of sulfur fertilizer such as " HolyTone " of the one that you showed in this video , measured with your " fancy pansy " measuring cup .
(6) Do remember the Ammonium Sulfate this is one of the silver bullets to a bumper harvest because blueberries loves the nitrogen and sulfur it provides, but please use the the Ammonium sulfate very sparingly its best to use too little than to use too much as its quite concentrated.
(7) Add organic matter such as chicken or rabbit manure .
If you follow the above info , you should be able to thank me in as little as 2 months when your blueberries start looking refreshed.
Lastly its best to acidify the soil when its warm for it to work fast .
Best of luck with your garden.
Thank you! This is all very helpful! Appreciate your response!!
@@TXgardenandhome Your welcome, thank you for your video.
@power sonic how often do you apply the amonium sulfur for your blueberries?
@@powersonic6255 how often do you apply amonium sulfur?
I'm not sure what the product you show is actually made of but Elemental sulfur is very yellow. I found Elemental sulfur in pellet and powder form for about a dollar per pound at a local hardware store. The powdered sulfur cost was slightly higher and also a little more difficult to work with; it's like yellow flour, blows around and gets everywhere and irritated my skin a little, so I recommend just using the pellets. My water supply has calcium in it so it's alkaline, about 8.1 as per my ph meter. If I add a cup of 5% kitchen vinegar (the kind you put on your salad) to a 5 gallon bucket of water the ph goes to a little bellow 6. I'm learning as I go.
I’m gonna last my blueberries here in Georgia this fall . I will put the sulfur in the soil this summer at least a month before I plant the blueberries maybe two months before . Soil bacteria have to break down the sulfur before it starts lowering the ph . It may take awhile before the necessary bacteria get into your raised bed soil . It’ll come down eventually.
Thank you! I just sent in a soil sample so hopefully I made some progress.
you should post more, really enjoy your videos.
Thank you! I have two planned that I will post this coming week. I've been really busy at work so it's been harder to post consistently!
@@TXgardenandhome Looking forward to them and keep up the hard work. I really like blueberries and the pink lemonade is by far my favorite. Havent started growing any of my own yet but i will soon.
Not a full year yet, but as the growing season kicks off, how is your soil PH now?
I just got my soil sample back and the pH lowered! I am putting together an update video and hope to have it up in a week.
Good info but I respectfully add that it’s quite pointless without a follow up. It’s been a year so how are the blueberries doing? Also I might suggest… Rode Wireless Mic with wind buff. Thanks!
Planted mine in containers. I use Miracid once a week. Good results.
I'll have to look into that. Thank you!
Miracle Grow's Miracid wanna be contains iron, as well. I use it one a week too. Mostly, mine are in half drums, about 25 gallon size.
Dark peat moss has a neutral pH. Light peat moss is more acidic. Your pH is either too high or there is not enough iron in the soil which causes the clorosis or yellowing of the leaves. Peat moss has few nutrients. Sulfur such as that will take a month or more to lower the pH. Quick drops can be had with vinegar or citric acid, but since these are plant-based, the pH effects will only last a day or two. Pine saw dust can help drop the pH, but any time vegetation decomposes, the nitrogen is used up. Check your water's pH, as well. Even if you get the soil pH down to 5 (a good number), if you water with a high pH, you'll cancel the acidic properties. However, rain water is mildly acidic, sometimes around 5.5, so this is optimal for blueberries. That second bush, the one with the reddish dots, may be sick. I'm struggling with mine in alkaline soil and water. I never thought this would be such a challenge. Good luck!
Thank you for the help and advice! I am trying out the vinegar method this week and will keep y'all posted.
Dark peat moss is just damp, while the light is dry, the moss will be 3-4 PH, never ever seen a neutral peat moss.
Best soil mix for blueberries is 50% peat moss and 50% ericaceous compost and the blueberries will love it.
You look exactly like me last year. Same thing happened to me. Soil sulfur will take time but the best thing to do imo is while the soil sulfur does its thing take white distilled vinegar water n water them once or twice a week and it will bring acidity down so you plants can take up the nutrients while your soil ammenda
I'll have to try this. Thanks for the suggestion!
How much vinegar how much water for a 50 l pot ?
I think lemon juice works better cause vinager is too volatile . I used lemon juice with good results
Lemon juice worked for me but i believe is just temporary until the sulphur kick in caise it takes months
Can you tell me where you found the pine bark mulch? I live in California but have been unable to find it here. I saw some on Amazon but it was pretty costly
Dang that’s a bummer. You can find pine bark mulch at pretty much any nursery in Texas since pines are local to the area. I’m not sure what an alternative would be. I’m sure you can mulch with your regular mulch, but it won’t have the added benefit of acidification.
@@TXgardenandhome Thank you
My bb leaves turned dark blue? I feralized and added acid 2 weeks before
It’s 4 months later.....how are they doing? I’ve been prepping soil, exactly like you did, for my blueberries I’ve ordered for this year, but now I know that might not be good enough.
The blueberries are dormant right now so it’s a little hard to tell. The true test will be how well they do in the spring. I’ve been monitoring the soil pH and will continue to add acidified to the soil once it starts warming up again! I’ll keep you updated!
How much sulfur per cup was used around blue berry plants
Hi from Ukraine! As i know, sulfur-isn't a quickly metod for lower PH( it will lower PH after 3-6month). For quickly lower PH you must use electrolyte solution (20-25ml/10liter water).
Thank you so much. I will look into that!
It also looks like your blueberry plants are getting too much sun. In general, blueberries like AM sun and PM shade. You should probably get a shade cloth--especially for the summer.
Interesting. I haven’t thought about that. I’ll look into it. Thank you!
Try iron sulfate to give more iron?
You are absolutely gorgeous 😍
yes, I was thinking that too
Thank u
You’re welcome!
Don’t use compost is alkaline . on any acid plants
watch Gardening with Leon videos on youtube he is very knowledgeable and has a video on blueberries.
Awesome. I will check that out!