Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits to grow at home. Right now, I have three blueberry bushes growing alongside my raised garden beds. I love having fresh blueberries on hand for smoothies, muffins, and summer salads.
Wondering when to plant blueberries? Just visit your local garden center! Your local garden center will carry the right varieties for your area, and you can get them in the ground at the perfect time. I was in mine today looking for seeds to start indoors, and I couldn’t help but browse the fruit section. Blueberries, raspberries, grapes, and strawberries filled several aisles alongside the seed displays. As tempted as I was to buy the plants, I knew that next week’s forecast is for temperatures back into the teens and these bushes had already leafed out and they would be damaged. It’s best to buy your plants and get them into the ground in just a few days.
Buying Tips:
Check the plant tag before you buy! How tall will the bush grow? My options were a variety that reaches about 7 feet or one that stays between 4–6 feet. I went with the smaller size since it fits better in my space.
Also, pay attention to when the plant produces fruit. I chose one that bears fruit in mid-season and another that fruits later in the season. That way, I’ll have fresh blueberries for a longer stretch instead of all at once!
Where Should You Plant Blueberries?
Blueberries love full sun—at least six hours a day. They do well in the same area as your vegetable garden, as long as no buildings or trees are shading them.
Well-drained, acidic soil is a must. Blueberries thrive in soil with a pH between 4.0 and 5.5. If you’re not sure about your soil’s pH, it’s worth testing. You can grab a soil test kit at a nursery or home improvement store, or you can get one free from your local agricultural extension office. Just mail in your sample and get your results in about a week. You can also buy a soil mix specifically designed for blueberries and backfill the planting hole. This helps create the acidic soil blueberries need to thrive.
If your soil isn’t ideal, no problem! Blueberries grow well in raised beds and even containers. Since so many people are now wanting to grow their own fresh vegetables and fruits, container friendly options are becoming more readily available. Visit your local garden center and check the varieties. Ask the employees if they have any container friendly varieties.
Planting and Caring for Your Blueberry Bush
When planting your blueberry bush, be sure to dig the right-sized hole—twice as wide as the root ball but only as deep as it was in the pot. The crown should sit right at soil level, not buried too deep.
After planting, water thoroughly to help the roots settle. For the first few weeks, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Blueberries need about 1 inch of water per week, but in hot, dry weather, they may need more. During summer, make sure they get deep watering at the roots rather than light surface watering.
Follow the spacing recommendations on the plant tag—those small bushes will eventually grow 4 to 7 feet tall and just as wide! Giving them enough space now will help ensure good airflow and easy harvesting later.
Fertilizing & Pruning
When to Fertilize:
- Wait one year after planting before fertilizing to allow the roots to establish.
- In early spring, just before new growth appears, apply an organic nitrogen-rich fertilizer like soybean meal, alfalfa meal, or cottonseed meal.
- Alternatively, you can use a fertilizer specifically formulated for blueberries, such as Espoma Holly-tone or another acid-loving plant fertilizer.
- Apply fertilizer again after fruiting to support plant health for the next growing season.
Pruning Tips:
- Don’t prune for the first three years—let the plant establish.
- After that, prune in late winter before new growth starts. Remove any dead or weak branches.
- Blueberries produce fruit on young wood, so thinning out older, less productive branches encourages better fruiting.
- If the plant becomes overcrowded, remove a few fruiting buds to allow for larger, sweeter berries.
Keeping up with fertilizing and pruning will help your blueberry bushes thrive and produce bigger, better harvests!
Happy Gardening,
Karen
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