We are growing blueberry plants for past four years, in clay soil, in our front yard garden! So, we know a thing or two about how to grow blueberry plants & have successful harvests. We are delighted to share our experience with you.
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How to GROW blueberry plants?
Start with picking the right blueberry variety for your area (refer to the table at the end of this post). Once you have the plant variety sorted out, try to pick healthy plants if shopping locally, or place order with online nurseries.
Next you need to pick a sunny location to plant these bushes. You can prepare the location even before receiving the plants by amending the soil to make it acidic and full of organic matter. Scroll down to ‘how to plant blueberry bushes’ section for more details.
Once the plants are planted, you have to maintain them every year by fertilizing, pruning, watering and protecting them from pests. Keep reading this bog post for all details.
What is the BEST SOIL for blueberries?
Blueberries thrive in acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). It is a good idea to call your local agriculture extension and ask about the general soil type and soil acidity in your region. Alternatively, you can get your garden soil tested as well. Once you know your soil type, amend it accordingly.
HOW TO PLANT blueberry bushes?
In areas like Maine, blueberry grows naturally. But this is not true for every place. So how to grow blueberry in other places? This is how:
STEP 1: Amend your soil to make it acidic. Here is how we did it.
- We dug nearly 15 inches deep and 12 inches wide holes for each plant.
- While digging holes, we maintained a space of nearly 2 feet between each blueberry plant.
- Then we soaked a lot of Canadian peat moss in water (because it is more acidic, and easily available in big box stores).
- Next, we filled up these holes with this peat moss. Peat moss brings acidity and organic matter.
- We planted our blueberry plants in these peat moss filled holes. You can watch this process on YT as well.
STEP 2: You need to amend your soil annually to maintain the acidity. If the soil is not acidic enough, the plants won’t be able to absorb other important nutrient which are must for their growth and berry production. Since then, we follow annual maintenance to keep the soil acidic. Keep reading for more details. Scroll down to the ‘how to fertilize blueberries‘ section to know how to amend the soil annually.
- How to GROW blueberry plants?
- What is the BEST SOIL for blueberries?
- HOW TO PLANT blueberry bushes?
- How do I CARE for blueberry bushes?
- When is the BEST TIME TO PLANT blueberries?
- How much SUNLIGHT do blueberries need?
- What type of FERTILIZER should I use for blueberries?
- How often should I WATER blueberries?
- How long does it take for blueberry plants to produce fruit?
- How do I PRUNE blueberry bushes?
- How to GROW BLUEBERRY IN CONTAINERS?
- How do I know when blueberries are RIPE?
- What PESTS affect blueberries?
- Should I cover blueberries in winter?
- What VARITIES of blueberries are best for my region?
How do I CARE for blueberry bushes?
Every portion of this blog post answers how to grow blueberry & covers the steps that are necessary to care for blueberry bushes. So, I would encourage you to read it all the way. But if you need a short answer, to care for blueberry bushes you need to plant it in sunny area, water it regularly, maintain the soil acidity, prune it correctly, mulch it to retain the moisture, and protect it from pests.
When is the BEST TIME TO PLANT blueberries?
Fall and early Spring are the two best times to plant blueberries. We noticed that it is easier to dig ground in Spring, because it is wet from ice and rain. In Fall the ground is dry and difficult to dig. Deep water the ground before digging it and it may ease the process. We planted ours on 20th September 2020.
How much SUNLIGHT do blueberries need?
Blueberries need full sun, which means 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. They will still produce in partial shade (which is 4 to 6 hours of sunlight), but there will be less berries which may be smaller in size, and they will take longer to ripen.
What type of FERTILIZER should I use for blueberries?
It is important to maintain the soil acidity to grow blueberry bushes. Our how to grow blueberry guide will not be complete without this discussion.
I personally use this soil acidifier which is sold for Hydrangeas. I also add a balanced fertilizer to keep the plant healthy. But you need to follow a routine for fertilizing because fertilizing at the wrong time, or too much fertilizer can harm the plant.
Here is how I fertilize these plants. I begin in March, when the plants are about break dormancy. I broadcast (which means roughly spread) about half a cup of soil acidifier and half a cup of balanced organic fertilizer around the base of each plant. Thereafter, I repeat this every month until July. I do not fertilize after July at all, because it may encourage the plant to make new branches all the way into Fall. These branches won’t harden enough in time to handle the cold winter, and may get damaged, causing more stress for the plant.
How often should I WATER blueberries?
1 inch of water, once every week is needed for blueberry. Blueberry bushes have shallow roots, so they dry out easy. I did the mistake of relying on rain alone last year and lost many new twigs to heat. This year, I am more proactive about watering, and things are looking good.
Mulching helps a lot with keeping the soil moist. What is the best way to mulch blueberry bushes? For blueberries I use pine bark mulch which helps with soil acidity as it breaks down. Saw dust and pine needles can also be used.
How long does it take for blueberry plants to produce fruit?
Once you know how to grow blueberry plants, you would be eager to know when you will get those yummy blueberries.
It truly depends on the size of the plant. Bigger plants are more mature and may produce early. Irrespective of the size of the plant, it is important to let the plant establish. Do not let the plants go to fruit for first two years after planting. This allows for the roots to develop, which helps the plants grow faster.
Now if you really want a number, I will say it takes 2 to 3 years for a plant to produce any berry; and up to 5 years to reach maximum production capacity.
How do I PRUNE blueberry bushes?
Pruning can increase the overall fruit production when done right. For blueberries, do not prune in first 2 to 3 years after planting. Let the plants establish themselves. Thereafter, prune them in this order:
- Prune diseased, broken, and old, non-producing branches
- Prune inward going branches; these are the branches that are growing towards the center of the plant. Pruning these out will improve air circulation, and reduce disease spread.
- Prune for shape; these are the branches growing in awkward shape or direction, they stand out when you look at the whole plant.
How to GROW BLUEBERRY IN CONTAINERS?
Before you even think about how to grow blueberry in containers, I would like to share my two cents.
In my 5 years of gardening experience in containers as well as ground, I have realized that plants grow in containers; but they thrive in ground! I understand not all of us have access to an in-ground garden. I grow a lot of food in containers too, but I wanted to share my true experience here.
If you want to grow blueberries in containers, choose a larger container size, like 10 gallons or 15 gallons; strive to keep the soil acidic; choose a container-friendly blueberry variety such as Northblue, Top hat, Northland & North County; and above all, keep it well watered. Watering is tricky in containers which is why I use Olla spikes. You can watch this video on how to use olla spikes properly, and its benefits.
How do I know when blueberries are RIPE?
Just because a blueberry has changed its color from green to blue, does not mean it is ripe. If picked upon color change, it will taste sour. Blueberries needs additional 2 to 3 days to turn sweet. A blueberry is ripe when it has a gentle give upon pressing gently and comes off the branch with a gentle pull.
What PESTS affect blueberries?
Bunnies chew down my plants, especially in Spring, when there is nothing much to eat. As more vegetation grows, they leave the plants alone. But sometimes they have chewed the branches off even in summer. So I have made a temporary fence around my plants using bird netting.
Birds eat away the berries as soon as there is a hint of slight color change. I cover the green blueberry bunches with these organza bags. This keeps the birds from stealing the blueberries, and allows me to see when the berry is ready to harvest.
Should I cover blueberries in winter?
Blueberries are usually cold hardy, and if you grow the variety best suited for your region, as shown in the table below, you won’t have to cover the plants most of the years. It is still a good idea to mulch the base because blueberry plants have shallow roots, and mulching can protect it in winter.
If the temperature is going in extremes for your region, do cover them with towels or light weight blankets. I usually keep these row covers handy. These are light weight, allows light to get in, and provides necessary protection from cold.
What VARITIES of blueberries are best for my region?
Now that you know how to grow blueberry plants in your own garden, find the best variety for you planting zone and state.
Here is a table of recommended varieties of blueberries for each state. When you plant varieties best for your climate, the plants thrive; otherwise, it is a high maintenance job to just keep the plants alive.
For blueberries, the general rule of thumb is the northern highbush varieties do best in colder climates, while southern highbush blueberry varieties are suited for, do you want to guess? Well, for the south! Rabbiteye varieties can accommodate in a wide range of climate.
It is a good idea of call your local agriculture extension to get a list of varieties (for any kind of plant) that do best in your area.
| USA State | Plant Hardiness zone | Recommended Blueberry varieties for my state |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 7a – 8b | Climax, Premier, Tifblue |
| Alaska | 2a – 5b | North Blue, North Country, Viking |
| Arizona | 4b – 9b | Sunshine Blue, Legacy, Star |
| Arkansas | 6a – 8a | Premier, Tifblue, Brightwell |
| California | 5a – 10b | Bluecrop, Legacy, Duke |
| Colorado | 3b – 7a | North Country, North Blue, Top Hat |
| Connecticut | 5a – 7a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| Delaware | 6a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Florida | 8a – 11b | Rabbiteye varieties: Climax, Tifblue, Powderblue |
| Georgia | 7a – 8b | Tifblue, Premier, Climax |
| Hawaii | 9a – 11b | Sunshine Blue, Misty, Legacy |
| Idaho | 3a – 7a | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Illinois | 5a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| Indiana | 5a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Iowa | 4a – 6b | Bluecrop, Patriot, North Blue |
| Kansas | 5b – 7b | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Kentucky | 6a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| Louisiana | 8a – 9b | Rabbiteye varieties: Climax, Tifblue, Powderblue |
| Maine | 3a – 5b | Patriot, Bluecrop, Legacy |
| Maryland | 6a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Massachusetts | 5a – 7a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| Michigan | 4a – 6b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Minnesota | 3a – 5b | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Mississippi | 7a – 9a | Rabbiteye varieties: Tifblue, Climax, Powderblue |
| Missouri | 5a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| Montana | 3a – 6b | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Nebraska | 4b – 6a | Bluecrop, North Blue, Patriot |
| Nevada | 4b – 9b | Sunshine Blue, Legacy, Star |
| New Hampshire | 3a – 5b | Patriot, Bluecrop, Legacy |
| New Jersey | 6a – 7b | Bluecrop, Legacy, Patriot |
| New Mexico | 4b – 9a | Sunshine Blue, Legacy, Star |
| New York | 3a – 7a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| North Carolina | 6a – 8b | Rabbiteye varieties: Tifblue, Climax, Powderblue |
| North Dakota | 3a – 4b | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Ohio | 5a – 7a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Oklahoma | 6a – 7b | Rabbiteye varieties: Climax, Tifblue, Powderblue |
| Oregon | 4a – 9b | Bluecrop, Legacy, Duke |
| Pennsylvania | 5a – 7a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Rhode Island | 6a – 7a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Chandler |
| South Carolina | 7a – 8b | Rabbiteye varieties: Tifblue, Climax, Powderblue |
| South Dakota | 3a – 5b | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Tennessee | 6a – 8a | Tifblue, Climax, Premier |
| Texas | 6a – 9b | Rabbiteye varieties: Tifblue, Climax, Powderblue |
| Utah | 4a – 8a | Sunshine Blue, Legacy, Star |
| Vermont | 3a – 5b | Patriot, Bluecrop, Legacy |
| Virginia | 6a – 8a | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Washington | 4a – 8b | Bluecrop, Legacy, Duke |
| West Virginia | 6a – 7b | Bluecrop, Patriot, Legacy |
| Wisconsin | 3a – 5b | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
| Wyoming | 3a – 7a | North Country, North Blue, Bluecrop |
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