I Have Gooseberries And Blueberries That Are Not Producing. I…
Margie Asked
I have gooseberries and blueberries that are not producing. I do not know why. I have had the gooseberry plants for about six years and the blueberries for two years. Is it the dirt? My gooseberries are at the back of my house (west side) and the blueberries are near the front of the house. Could you help me?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Margie: There are a few possibilities why you are not getting any fruit from your blueberries or gooseberries. First, it is a good idea to have more than one cultivar of both that will bloom at the same time of year. This will help increase pollination and quantity of fruit. If you only planted one kind of blueberry or gooseberry, this may be part of the problem. Both berries require annual pruning and full sun for the best harvest. They should receive six hours of direct sun each day. Pruning should be done in late winter before bud break in the early spring. Older canes will not produce as much fruit, so they should be pruned back. Blueberries require an acidic soil and typically lower than what we have in Kentucky, so if you did not amend your soil before planting you should have your soil tested through your County Cooperative Extension Service. The ideal soil pH should be between 4.5-5.2 for growing blueberries. For more specifics on growing blueberries in Kentucky, you can read the following publication: www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ho/ho60/ho60.htm
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