How to Grow Blueberries
Blueberries bring a unique combination of delicious fruit and striking, year round
ornamental beauty to the garden and landscape. 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:
Blueberry Site Selection
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.
Locations 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
growing blueberries.
Soil Conditions
Blueberries prefer acidic soils, ideally with a pH range between 4.5 and 5.5.
Before planting, test the soil pH and make necessary adjustments to ensure it meets
these acidic requirements. Lowering soil pH can be a gradual process, often
achieved by adding sulfur or other acidifying agents.
Remember to talk to your local garden center. They’re experts in your area and can
best advise you on soil amendments.
Site Preparation for Planting Blueberries
A fail-safe way to grow blueberries in almost any soil is to incorporate peat moss
into the planting medium. For planting directly in the ground:
Work up a planting area approximately 2½ feet in diameter and 1 foot deep for
each plant.
Remove 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil.
Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix well. (One 4 cubic foot
compressed bale will usually be sufficient for 4-5 plants.)
For raised beds mix equal volumes peat moss with bark (not cedar or redwood),
compost or planting mix.
Blueberry Plant Spacing
Blueberries can be planted as close as 2 - 2½ feet apart to form solid hedgerows or
spaced up to 6 feet apart and grown individually. If planted in rows, allow 8 to 10
feet between the rows depending on equipment used for mowing or cultivating.
Ideal Seasons for Planting Blueberries
In most areas, it is ideal to plant in the fall or spring although in many regions
you can plant year round.
Planting Blueberry Plants
If you purchased containerized blueberry plants, remove from pot and lightly
roughen up the outside surface of the root ball. Mound the plant’s top soil about
1/2 inch higher than the existing ground and firm around root ball. Then mound soil
up along sides of exposed root mass and water well.
Mulching
Blueberries do best with 2-4 inches of mulch over the roots to conserve moisture,
prevent weeds and add organic matter. Bark O Mulch, acid compost, sawdust and grass
clippings all work well. Repeat every other year. Do not use bark or sawdust from
cedar or redwood trees.
Pruning Blueberry Plants
It's a good idea to allow blueberries to get established before allowing them to
bear fruit. If you start with smaller plants, simply remove most of the flower
blooms as they appear. In future years, blueberry plants should be heavily pruned
each year to avoid over-fruiting which results in small fruit or poor growth.
In our three decades of experience at Fall Creek®, we know that one of the biggest
mistakes home gardeners make with their blueberries is lack of pruning. We assure
you that aggressive, annual pruning will result in healthier, more vigorous plants
and more prolific fruit production. Here are some simple tips:
Remove low growth around the base
Remove the dead wood, leaving bright colored lateral branches. Cut out any
short, discolored branches.
Continue pruning until you have removed 1/3 to 1/2 of the wood out of your
plants each year. Remember, this will promote growth and berry production so prune
away!
Fertilizing
Once established, blueberries like acid fertilizers such as rhododendron or azalea
formulations. (Ask your local garden center for recommendations.) Take care when
fertilizing, since blueberries are very sensitive to over-fertilization. Follow
label instructions.
It's ideal to fertilize once in early spring and again in late spring. Be sure to
always water thoroughly after fertilizing. For organic fertilizers, blood meal and
cottonseed meal work well. Avoid using manures as they can damage the plants.
Watering Blueberries
Blueberries require consistent and adequate watering to thrive. Provide about one
inch of water throughout the growing season and increase it to around five inches
while the fruit is ripening. This helps maintain optimal soil moisture for healthy
plant development and fruitful yields.
Common Pests and Diseases in Blueberry Plants
Blueberries are resilient plants but can be susceptible to various pests and
diseases.
Diseases
Blueberries in the Northeast may face threats such as:
Mummy Berry
Phomopsis Twig Dieback
Anthracnose
Phytophthora Root Rot
Botrytis Blight/Gray Mold
Armillaria Root Rot
Scorchmosaic
Each has specific management strategies, including proper pruning, sanitation,
fungicide applications, and good air circulation.
Pests
Blueberry plants may encounter pests such as:
Aphids
Sawflies
Spider Mites
Fruit Flies
How to Determine When Blueberries Are Ripe
Ripe blueberries are easily distinguishable by their dark blue color. They should
have no tint of pink or red. Unripe berries have a tart taste and are firmer in
texture.
Harvesting Blueberries
The best time to pick blueberries is in the early morning when they are cool and
firm. Ripe berries will effortlessly fall off the stem with minimal effort.
