Question
QUESTION: hi
i would like to know how to raise blue berry plants from seed?
and any other info such as from leaf cuttings or stem cuttings
thank you

ANSWER: Hi Sonny,
Thanx for your question.  Unless you are growing open-pollinated or wild varieties of blueberries, it is not recommended to start blueberries from seeds.  The variation and low quality of the resulting plants is generally unacceptable to most growers.  It is much more efficient to grow blueberries from cuttings of tried and tested cultivars.  If you really want to grow from seed you must allow the berries to become fully ripe, soft and mushy and then remove the pulp from the seeds completely.  Allow the seeds to dry out a few days and then put them in a damp paper towel and place them in the refrigerator for 90 days.  After that, plant them barely pressed into soil in a pot.  Germination is sporadic over several weeks.  You'll have to gauge your time so that seedlings aren't ready before the last frost.

To grow blueberries from cuttings take 4-6 inch cuttings from the growing tips of blueberry shrubs in the spring.  Make sure these tip cuttings have no berry buds.  Take off all the leaves except the last two.  Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone.  Place the cuttings in a rooting medium or soil less mix and keep moist but not soggy.  Rooting should occur in a few weeks.  Keeping the bottom warm helps as does humidity.  You can place clear plastic over the pot or growing container or mist the cuttings 3 or 4 times a day.  I hope this helps.
Tom


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi tom
thank you for reply
was very good info which i will try.
but would very much like to try raising plants from seed as a challenge
i bought a small packet of seeds mixture of high bush and want to try.
please help me with instructions as to start them.
thanks a lot for all
sonny bain

Answer
Hi Sonny,
Thanx for your question.  If you have seeds, get a small plastic tray and put some potting soil in it (moist but not soggy) and then gently press the seeds into the top of the soil.  Place the tray inside a plastic baggie and place in the fridge for 30 days.  Bring the tray out into the warmth and if there is no germination in 30 days, return the tray to the fridge for another 90 days.  Return to warmth, under a 40-watt shoplight.  Germination should occur sporadically over several weeks.  When the seedlings are large enough to handle, you can gently prick them out and plant in separate cells.  After the last frost, put the seedlings outdoors in the shade for 10 days.  Then you can plant them in full sun.

Here's a link you may find helpful.  Good luck!

http://137.229.34.32/snras/gbg/pubs/Notes/34.pdf
Tom