Abstract

A variety trial, a pruning trial and an experiment to examine methods of reducing soil pH are reported. In a 6-year old variety trial Ivanhoe and Heerma I were amongst the most vigorous varieties and produced the heaviest crops, but fruit was small. Three levels of pruning severity had little effect on vegetative growth of Earliblue although the more vigorous pruning treatments reduced yield. Preplanting soil treatments with peat and sulphur reduced the pH of a fertile sandy loam from 6.4 to a level suitable for the satisfactory growth of blueberries.