Proper watering. Providing enough — but not too much — water will get your blueberries off to a robust start. A good rule of thumb is to provide an inch of water during the course of a week. Drip irrigation is the best watering method for shrubs of all kinds.
It will provide water at a slow and low rate, which allows for best absorption by plant roots. Maintaining a generous layer of organic mulch under blueberry bushes protects against weed encroachment and dry air. The organic material will continue to break down and improve the soil. Aside from checking moisture levels periodically and maintaining a good layer of mulch, there are only a few other maintenance issues to plan for as your blueberry bushes grow. Soil pH maintenance First, perform a soil test every two years or so to know when to re-acidify your soil.
An amendment of sulfur will lower pH temporarily, but as the months pass, your soil will begin to shift back to its native pH level.
Prune out any branches which are crossing rubbing against each other , are arching toward the ground, or which when in leaf will block out too much light from the center of the bush. Blueberry bush stems have a limited production lifecycle. Stems which are 6 years old or more will produce fewer and fewer berries over time.
Meanwhile, the bush will continue to produce new shoots from the base of the plant. So for the healthiest plants and bountiful crops, prune out these older stems to make room for the new shoots.
Once your bush is about 6 years old, look for any stems that are one inch or more in diameter. Prune those all the way to the ground, and add those branches to your compost pile. If the bush developed several young shoots during the previous growing season, select four to six of the sturdiest shoots, then prune out the remaining shoots.
When you manage plant growth, you encourage new growth and set the plant up for optimal health and production. Pruning might seem intimidating or you may just hate to cut out a stem that will produce berries — but it is an important task to improve your plant.
I provide more details on pruning in an earlier podcast , and you can even watch my how-to video to learn the basic fundamentals and common mistakes.
Although this renewal pruning should only be performed while the bush is dormant, you can prune out dead branches and stems at any time throughout the year. If a stem dies for any reason during the growing season, the sooner you cut it out the better. However, your blueberries will still benefit from a small amount of nitrogen. Lee recommends applying soybean meal, alfalfa meal or cottonseed meal once each year.
Meals provide a good dose of organic nitrogen — without overdoing it. Two pounds of meal per square feet of blueberry bushes is a good rule of thumb.
This little bit of attention just once or twice each year is all your blueberries need. Then, they will be ready to withstand drought, late frost and other challenges that would sink the crops of many edibles. His blueberry crop even withstood mauling from a year cicada awakening. Speaking of pests, blueberries are more resistant to pests and diseases than most plants in your landscape. There are, however, a few to keep a watchful eye out for.
A GardenFarm blueberry bush — I managed to take this shot before the chickens stole all the berries. They perform vertical leaps to pick the berries right off my four foot tall bushes. Mummy Berry You will know your bushes are being attacked by mummy berry Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi if the fruit on the bush begins to mummify and fall to the ground before ripening. Remove and discard as many of the mummified berries as you can to avoid further spread of the disease.
As a side benefit, that fresh layer of mulch will help insulate the soil and break down to improve soil health. Although most fruit flies are drawn to overripe fruit, the SWD eats underripe fruit. After that, prune at any time during the dormant season November to March , but ideally in late February or early March when fruit buds can easily be distinguished from leaf buds. Fat buds produce flowers and fruit, while smaller, flatter buds form shoots and leaves.
A mature bush should contain about one-third old, one-third middle-aged and one-third young stems. Prune out:.
In Scotland and colder parts of northern England, fruit growth produced in the summer may fail to ripen, with stems dying back to leave hollow wood and dead tips. In this case, cut back the affected shoots to healthy wood, 15cm 6in from the base. Read more about pruning and growing blueberries. The most widely grown blueberries are cultivars of northern high bush blueberries Vaccinium corymbosum , which are branching, mainly deciduous shrubs reaching up to 1.
Apart from producing fruit they are ornamental, with bell-like flowers in spring. The foliage has good autumn colour. Half-high blueberries are hybrids between V. See our list of AGM fruit and veg.
Although many blueberries are partly or fully self-pollinating, it is best to grow two or preferably three different cultivars, as cross-pollinated plants tend to produce more abundant crops. Blueberries need a sheltered site in sun or part shade, with well-drained but moisture-retentive, acidic soil pH 4.
If you can grow azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias in your garden, blueberries should be successful too. If your soil is only slightly acidic, you can try acidifying it to lower the pH to a suitable level by adding sulphur chips. But this would have to be done in advance, ideally the previous summer or autumn. If you have heavy clay or alkaline soil, it is best to grow blueberries in large containers or raised beds filled with ericaceous soil or soil-based John Innes ericaceous compost.
If you use soil-less ericaceous compost, ideally choose peat-free, but you may need to add chelated iron regularly to avoid chlorosis. If growing in a container, choose a compact blueberry variety and a large container at least 30cm 12in wide. It could be that you do have a type of highbush blueberry, as they can get quite tall and tree like. However, the description also sounds like deerberry, which have berries that are more red than your usual blueberry.
They also have reddish flesh, rather than the pale flesh of a typical blueberry. The area at the top of the blueberry fruit. Mine are new. A few weeks old and seem to look rusty inside of the crown area. Is that a bad sign?
Blueberries are not just a northern crop anymore. Fairly recently, several cultivars of low chill blueberries have been developed. There is a thriving commercial blueberry industry even in south Florida. So, don't think that you have to live in a cold climate to enjoy this wonderful fruit.
Both Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush blueberries perform well in southern gardens see Recommended Varieties , above. We would suggest contacting your state cooperative extension service for information on blueberry varieties best suited to your area! I wish to plant some blueberry bushes to enjoy as in season fresh eating and to put up for year round use via freezing.
How many bushes would supply a family of 4 with an average of a quart a week of berries? Thank you for your interesting page. A wide info about all kind of relatted topics.
Very informative. If you have any interest in growing blueberries commercially, I just wanted to highlight an upcoming online course offered by my colleagues at Oregon State University - Blueberry Production and Systems: pace. Saw this thru farmers almanac. How much does it cost? I have place which has sun shine days , maximum temperature in summer around deg, minimum temperature in winter around deg centigrade, Please let me know if we can do it in india.
Early spring is the best time to plant dormant, bare-root blueberries in Iowa. Soak the roots of bare-root plants in water for about an hour before planting.
Prune back the plants by half by removing the small side branches and by heading back the main branches. Potted or container grown blueberries can be planted from spring to mid-summer.
Little or no pruning should be necessary. Carefully slide off the container just prior to planting. We moved about three and a half years ago.
The first spring we planted 5 good sized plants. Each year the plants look healthy and we see new growth but there are very few berries. We fertilize in the spring. They get plenty of sun but are close to our fence. The neighbor's pine tree overhangs that area but not the actual,bushes. Are we being impatient or are we doing something wrong?
At our last house we planted small bushes and got a good crop every year. Hi, Marcia. Are you getting blossoms on your plants?
Often, when blueberries are not fruiting, it is due to lack of pollination. Perhaps it has been poor weather and the busy bees have not come out? Blueberries are very susceptible to late spring frosts, too.
Also, while blueberries are self-fertile they do much better when there is another variety that blooms about the same time. There could be other issues, such as acidic soil pH which needs to be below 5.
Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, Pruning, and Harvesting Blueberries. By The Editors. Blueberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow. When to Plant Blueberry Bushes Blueberries can be planted in spring or also in late fall in all but coldest regions. If available, 1- to 3-year-old plants are a good choice. These can be bought in containers or bare-root.
In either case, be sure to buy from a reputable nursery or website. Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site Select a sunny, sheltered spot. While blueberries are tolerant of shade, better crops are obtained in the sun. They're relatively easy to grow and require minimal care. By following just a few basic steps, your blueberry plants will thrive for many decades and provide you with abundant fruit every year. We highly recommend you read the Blueberries Simplifed section of our site for a primer on selecting varieties.
Below are some basic tips to help ensure your success with blueberries:. Select a sunny location with well-drained soil that is free of weeds and is well-worked. It's best to locate your blueberry plants in an area where irrigation is readily available as best results will be achieved by keeping the root zone moist throughout the growing season. Where the soil is not ideal or marginally-drained, raised beds are an excellent option. Blueberries also do well in patio containers and offer a great way for apartment and condo dwellers and those with little or no yard to enjoy blueberries.
Blueberries prefer acidic soils. A fail-safe way to grow blueberries in almost any soil is to incorporate peat moss into the planting medium. Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix well.
One 4 cubic foot compressed bale will usually be sufficient for plants. For raised beds mix equal volumes peat moss with bark not cedar or redwood , compost or planting mix.
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