'Liberty' Blueberry Bush
Antioxidants, pro-deliciousness!
Grown by John
South Downs National Park
Perfectly happy plants, or your money back
Specialist overnight plant delivery
The highlights
- Plump, firm berries with fantastic flavour
- Performs brilliantly in cooler climes
- Try your hand at a blueberry-packed pie
- Pick the berries in August and September
Description
- "Give me liberty (blueberries) or give me death!" - Patrick Henry, 1775 (via a slight Roots update...)
- A relatively compact variety, 'Liberty' is perfect for gardeners more limited on space (those who only have access to a balcony or paved patio, for instance) and will happily grow in a large container
- Why go through the pain of forking out a couple of quid (and the rest!) for a measly punnet of supermarket blueberries, when you can grow your very own delicious fruit, instead? Once it's established and starts fruiting in earnest, this variety can be reliably called upon to produce high yields of sumptuous berries year after year
- Boasting excellent natural sweetness, these blueberries make a great choice for fluffy muffins, thick smoothies and flaky pies (served with a fat dollop of cream, of course!)
- As autumn rolls around, the bush's foliage will undergo something of a fiery transformation, abandoning its green colour and instead adopting orange and red hues
- Recognised by the RHS as one of its Plants for Pollinators, this plant's irresistible fruits and gorgeous nodding flowers will attract bees in their gently-buzzing droves
What To Expect
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How To Grow
Good pest and disease resistance
Not particularly impacted by pests or disease, although it can be affected by powdery mildews, root rot and vine weevils. Placing grit on your compost or implementing a sticky barrier around your plant can help prevent the latter, and if you do see any then pick them off by hand (they look like black beetles with yellow on their wing cases, whilst the grubs are white and c-shaped). To protect against powdery mildew, make sure there's good air circulation between your plants and ensure that your garden hygiene is up to scratch.
Water well in summer
Blueberry bushes prefer consistently moist soil, so it's important that you ensure the soil doesn't dry out. If you can, use rainwater from a storage butt as this has a pH that's better suited to growing blueberry plants.
Full sun to partial shade
Best fruiting occurs when planted in full sun, however your 'Liberty' bush will be able to tolerate partial shade.
Any acidic, moist, well-drained soil
Blueberry bushes tend to grow best in acidic soil (roughly between pH 4.5 and 5). Soil testing kits are readily available to ensure your soil is suitable from an acidity point of view. If it isn't acidic enough, then you can incorporate some sulphur powder.
Feed in winter
Every winter, apply a nitrogen-rich fertiliser and then, in early springtime, apply a mulch of ericaceous compost that's suitable for acid-loving plants like blueberries.
Planting Calendar
- Best time to plant
- Harvest
- Flower
South Downs National Park
Meet John
110 years' expertise free with every plant
You simply can’t buy better fruit plants and here’s why. John grows them outdoors, just like his family has done since 1908, so they’re more than a match for the UK weather. John only has time for the top performing varieties, meaning that you can be assured of a successful (and blooming tasty) soft fruit crop.
What customers say about us
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Growing with Roots
Good to know
Our plants are grown in the UK
Specialist UK growers we know and trust grow your plants the traditional way, with organic fertiliser and biological pest control. They pick only the healthiest plants for you, professionally pruning them so that they’ll grow strong and well shaped.
Our plants are delivered overnight
Your plants are sent to you fresh from the field in our plastic free box that’s specially designed to hold them tight, then securely delivered by specialist plant couriers - straight from the grower to your garden within 24 hours.
We're here to help at every step
We want your plants to have a long and healthy life. Expect easy-to-follow grow guides and videos devised by our team of experts.
Perfect plants, guaranteed
We’re confident that you’ll be delighted with your new plants. Need help? Alice and her team are here to guarantee you’re perfectly happy.
From Plot to Plate
Blueberry, lemon & sumac compote
Got a glut of blueberries from your bush? Try Chef Jess's delicious compote recipe for a unique flavour.
Learn from our experts
How to Grow Blueberries in the UK
Digging deep to answer your questions
How do I know I'm getting quality plants?
All of our plants are grown in specialist nurseries with the highest standards of plant care and sustainability. We guarantee you'll love them as much as we do! Don't just take our word for it - we've got thousands of great reviews on Trustpilot.
When will I get my plants?
The delivery timescale for each plant is on the web page (near the 'add to basket's button). You'll receive a dispatch email with an exact delivery date once your plants are on their way, so you can get the garden ready.
How will my plants be packed and delivered?
We send all of our orders through a courier network designed to handle plants. Specialist equipment ensures that no plants will be damaged during the packing process and every order is carefully finished and checked by plant-loving humans. Your plants will arrive in the most sustainable packaging possible with minimal to no plastic used.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver to anywhere in Mainland UK for our standard delivery cost. We are able to deliver most plants to Highlands and non UK mainland however this will be at an additional cost. This will be calculated at the checkout. Please note, deliveries to these locations will take longer. Unfortunately, we are not able to deliver to Northern Ireland at present.
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