Question
We have begun to propagate blueberry plants....just starting a home business.  We have put them in beds with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite.  Have kept them well watered after using rooting compound.  Each spring as they leaf out, we have gotten great results with 95% leafing out well for about 1-1-1/2months, then some of the beds die off.  We thought it might be the different varieties (we have Blue Crop, Duke & Elliott), but all 3 are affected.  Some beds are completely full of leafs, one has 25% only and another a bit more....any thing you can think of that might affect some like this?   We've treated them all alike with watering, same soil, same conditions.  We've planted them in late March when we get our whips from a supplier, had them in our greenhouse -- perhaps the heat of one week in April scorched them, but why would it affect only some of them?  We take them out of the greenhouse after the last frost, some time in early May for our SW Michigan area.  Thanks for any help you might give us!

Answer
Hi Laura,
Thanx for your question.  You're right, scorching, should affect all the plants not just part of them.  Did you check the root systems?  Maybe the 1/3 that die off have not developed adequate root systems like the others.  I think you need to talk to your local county extension agent on this.  These people are associated with your state's agricultural college and they are set up to help farmers big and small with a variety of issues.

Here is an article from Michigan State University on growing blueberries in Michigan with links to other areas of interest, regarding blueberries.

http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/e-2066.htm

Below is al ink for the Michigan State University Extension.  

http://www.msue.msu.edu/portal/default.cfm?pageset_id=25744

I used to volunteer for the Kansas State University Extension - Wyandotte County Master Gardeners.  These people have a ton of free information and assistance and as a Michigan taxpayer, I advise you to take advantage of this service provided by your state's agricultural college.  I have found these to be wonderful, valuable and free resources.

From that link, you should be able to find contact information for your County Agent. S/he should be able to help you.  If not, contact me again and we'll see what we can do.

I hope this helps.
Tom