Blueberry lots of blooms little leaf out.

[mac1911]

So here in the northeast zone 6b its been on the colder side of temps for this time of year. My 3 blueberry bushes all have alot of blooms/buds but the leaves are small and sparse: Is it to early for the leaves? I did a garden revamp last year , soil test and amending the soil .
I can take pictures tomorrow if needed.

 

[YumYum]

Im in 6b but far from your area and my blueberry bushes already leafed out and blueberries set in. Sounds normal to me. Here is some info you might like to see:

Critical Spring Temperatures

Michigan is a leading producer of highbush blueberries, with millions of pounds harvested for the fresh and processed fruit markets.

www.canr.msu.edu

 

[mac1911]

Im in 6b but far from your area and my blueberry bushes already leafed out and blueberries set in. Sounds normal to me. Here is some info you might like to see:

Critical Spring Temperatures

Michigan is a leading producer of highbush blueberries, with millions of pounds harvested for the fresh and processed fruit markets.

www.canr.msu.edu

They have had a tough last few seasons. Between deer and deteriorating soil conditions. Soil has been improved per soil testing . Plants where 2 years old when planted and are now 6 years old
Year 3 they did very well, this season has the most flowers I have ever seen.
Did a complete garden over haul last year with soil test and amending.

 

[mac1911]

Here is my soil test results from my “berry field” which is 20’x3’
80 sqft

 

[YumYum]

I don't see any soil test results. They didn't post.

 

[mac1911]

 

[YumYum]

The PH is fine with blueberries but as you go to adding things it can get changed a bit.

Blueberries do not like nitrates as a source of nitrogen. It is toxic to them is what I've read. Look on the fertilizer and if it says nitrate/nitrates anywhere avoid that kind. Ammonium or urea is fine to use as a source of nitrogen.

It doesn't say if the results are in ppm or lbs/acre. It looks like ppm. Do you see where it states that anywhere?

 

[YumYum]

Looking here, the results are in ppm.

 

[YumYum]

So according to that you need about:

25 ppm N = 50 lb/acre N
30 ppm K = 60 lb/acre K
11 ppm S = 22 lb/acre S
0.3 ppm B = 0.6 lb/acre B

The fun part is trying to figure out what fertilizer to use without adding things you don't need.

 

[YumYum]

Can't use potassium nitrate because it contains nitrate so that is out of the question.

If you use the Expert Gardner Azalea, Camellia, & Rhododendron Plant Food 10-8-8 from walmart (miracle gro has the same version),
and use 1.5 cups of it and spread it out in 80 ft2 area evenly. That will provide equivalent of:

50 lb/acre N (25 ppm)
40 lb/acre P (20 ppm) Going to raise phosphorus to high.
40 lb/acre K (20 ppm)
25 lb/acre Sulfur (12.5 ppm)
0 lb/acre Boron (0 ppm)

 

[mac1911]

Can't use potassium nitrate because it contains nitrate so that is out of the question.

If you use the Expert Gardner Azalea, Camellia, & Rhododendron Plant Food 10-8-8 from walmart (miracle gro has the same version),
and use 1.5 cups of it and spread it out in 80 ft2 area evenly. That will provide equivalent of:

50 lb/acre N (25 ppm)
40 lb/acre P (20 ppm) Going to raise phosphorus to high.
40 lb/acre K (20 ppm)
25 lb/acre Sulfur (12.5 ppm)
0 lb/acre Boron (0 ppm)

I used espoma version of above , I will be doing another soil test end of season anf see who things look. Like I said last 2 season they where much worse so Im atleast happy to see new cane growth and lots of buds. So hopefully they are on the mend.

 

[YumYum]

How much did you put down on that 80 square feet?

 

[mac1911]

How much did you put down on that 80 square feet?

Dont know if I did this right but I used about 3lbs per plant lightly worked in around the “drip line” very early spring.
Like 1st day of spring
I figured each area around my bushes are 9-10 sqft
Theres not much in those bags percent wise.
Im still unsure if I understand the soil sample instructions and fert application rates. My calculations came up much higher than the 3lbs I applied ?
Any how we will see. Garden got so out of whack I dont expect rapid change.
Seems for the past 5 years I have not been adding enough amendments and or the compost I have been getting is not very good either. Soul test before the ground freezes this season and work at again next year

 

[mac1911]

Test says 2.5lbs/100sqft
.025lb/1sqft

9sqft of plant space x .025= .225lbs

4lb bag 4-3-4 = .16lbs nitrogen .04lb per 1lb
.225 lbs needed /.04 = 5lbs per 10 sqft
I applied 3lbs was not sure I did this right.

When I do it this way
.04% / 2.5lbs N needed its 62lbs / 100sqft?

 

[mac1911]

Test says 2.5lbs/100sqft
.025lb/1sqft

9sqft of plant space x .025= .225lbs

4lb bag 4-3-4 = .16lbs nitrogen .04lb per 1lb
.225 lbs needed /.04 = 5lbs per 10 sqft
I applied 3lbs was not sure I did this right.

When I do it this way
.04% / 2.5lbs N needed its 62lbs / 100sqft?

Had a brain freeze for a moment.
I did not put down 3lbs per plant. I was on auto pilot I guess
I put down THREE CUPs …. Because nothing was making sense to me