Germinating Blueberry seeds
Any idea's on getting the little buggers to crack? I would love to know the temperature soil ect. Thanks in advanced...
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applestar
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I thought blueberries need cold stratification. Are you growing from store-bought blueberries? (What a neat concept. I've tried with strawberries but not with blueberries). Do you know where these were harvested?
Wondering if they are northern or southern variety blueberries? I suppose there would be no way to distinguish from Highbush vs. Lowbush, though I guess most commercial ones are highbush varieties for high-volume production. Are "rabbit-eye" yet another variety or is that synonymous with Southern? I can't remember off-hand....
Wondering if they are northern or southern variety blueberries? I suppose there would be no way to distinguish from Highbush vs. Lowbush, though I guess most commercial ones are highbush varieties for high-volume production. Are "rabbit-eye" yet another variety or is that synonymous with Southern? I can't remember off-hand....
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applestar
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- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Sounds like a "southern" - I.e. frost-free winter variety then. 
Hmm... I don't use peat moss on principle, but something high-acid is in order here, I guess. You have to realize too, I'm grounded in the NJ Pine Barrens blueberry growth habit and characteristics... so I might be off, but I guess I would mix 1/2 sand and 1/2 composted pine bark mulch fines (sifted out from the mulch) or -- more likely -- "under the pine tree" composted pine needle topsoil for seed starting mix.
Hmm... I don't use peat moss on principle, but something high-acid is in order here, I guess. You have to realize too, I'm grounded in the NJ Pine Barrens blueberry growth habit and characteristics... so I might be off, but I guess I would mix 1/2 sand and 1/2 composted pine bark mulch fines (sifted out from the mulch) or -- more likely -- "under the pine tree" composted pine needle topsoil for seed starting mix.
If you're talking about store bought blueberries that you squeezed the seeds out of vs. store bought blueberry seeds, yes they need to be cold stratified. You'd have to google it but I believe they need to be chilled for at least a month. I think it's about 800 hours. If not, you can try all you'd like, they just won't grow. I know that's not the exciting answer, 
but sometimes there's no shortcut. Good luck!
but sometimes there's no shortcut. Good luck!I found out they are sold by California Giant blueberries and there referred to as "DUKE" if that helps anyGardenRN wrote:If you're talking about store bought blueberries that you squeezed the seeds out of vs. store bought blueberry seeds, yes they need to be cold stratified. You'd have to google it but I believe they need to be chilled for at least a month. I think it's about 800 hours. If not, you can try all you'd like, they just won't grow. I know that's not the exciting answer,