Question:  can I put 3 blueberry plants into one half whisky barrel, as your vendor said it would be ok?.they are a northblue, southmoon, sunshine blue. Thank You.

Gil - Coos Bay Oregon

Answer: Yes - but I wouldn't.

I like the idea of blueberries in large containers.  Here is what I like about the idea. You can control the planting media.  Blueberries love acidic soil in the 4.0 to 5.5 pH range.  Many of us have native high pH soils that make that difficult to reach.  But with proper planting media you have complete control over that.  I also like the ability to roll a container to different locations during different seasons - into the shaded areas for blueberries in our very hot summers (something you don't have to worry about).

Southmoon Blueberry

I also like your selections.  You have two mid-season ripening blueberries (Northblue & Sunshine Blue) and one mid to late season variety (Southmoon) giving you a range of ripening.  If the choice was available, I would have tried for an early season selection as well.  I also like that the multiple selections will cross pollinate each other which provides for an increased crop since those blueberries are only semi self-fertile.

The concern I have would be mature plant size of three plants in one whisky barrel.  Northblue is your smallest plant reaching 2-3 feet in size.  The Sunshine Blue is also a small grower of 2-3 feet (and it remains semi-evergreen).  Southmoon reaches a size of 5-6 feet.    You will be doing some creative pruning to keep them in balance without the larger plant taking over.  I might suggest using two barrels and put the two smaller plants in one the the larger growing blueberry in the other.

For further reading on blueberries: Success with Blueberries.

I hope you enjoy your delicious crops and save a blueberry muffin for me!

Ron L.