University of Maryland Extension: Garden Q&A
Q: Can I still plant the bulbs I bought last fall? They’ve been sitting in the garage, but most of them still look good. I did throw out a few that dried up.
A: Yes, because you left them in a cold place where they could fulfill their “cold requirement”, you can still plant them. Plant as soon as possible. They will probably bloom this spring, though later than normal. If they don’t bloom, they should bloom in subsequent years and at the regular time.
Planting now actually has one advantage over fall planting—you’ll be able to see the location of your current bulbs. Their foliage will already be peeking out of the ground and you can avoid injuring them with your shovel.
Q: Can I grow blueberries in pots? What kind?
A: Blueberries can be grown in containers. Plant highbush blueberries, whose roots will better withstand cold. Highbush blueberry plants normally grow 6 feet tall or more. A wine barrel container or at least a 30 inch deep pot should work. Some blueberry varieties grow much smaller than others, however, and we’d recommend you choose a smaller variety such as “Bluetta”. Blueberries are self fertile but produce more and larger berries when two or more different varieties are planted.
Blueberries like a low 4.2 - 4.8 pH. Add iron sulfate to a light soil-less growing mix before you plant. The root system is fibrous and devoid of root hairs, so the blueberry plant is sensitive to changing soil/water conditions. Make sure the roots stay moist throughout the year. Apply a 2-3 inch mulch of pine bark, rotted sawdust, or compost.
See our publication "Getting Started with Small Fruits" for more variety selections and cultural information hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/hg68_000.pdf.
