Question
Hey mike,
I got 1200 blueberry bushes in new hampshire and this is the first year I'm going to propagate and start selling bushes instead of just berries. I've been doing a lot of research but my budget is minimal.  Is a heat pad necessary? Should I keep them indoors (under lights)until it warms up a bit?  IS it too late to do this (April) or should I just judge it by the maturity of the shooots? Do I need any root growth potion or should they take in a medium without it? help me out bud, I don't wanna screw this up!

Answer
Anthony, if propagating from cuttings, a heat pad is not necessary. Even with seeds, as long as the trays are kept indoors, they will germinate just fine.

I would highly recommend using cuttings. Just cut some 6" tender shoots with foliage. Avoid using cuttings with stems that are woody. Dip the cuttings in a rooting compound. This product is available at most nurseries and garden centers. Remove all but the top two sets of leaves, and stick the cutting in a moist potting soil. Cover the pots with clear light plastic to hold in the moisture. The cuttings should take root within a few weeks and can then be treated as any other seedling. Just be sure to keep the soil moist and the plants under lights 14 hours per day until they are ready to be moved outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike