How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Blueberries

Here's how to do it:

Use a large container with drainage holes.
Use a potting mix designed for acid-loving plants such as azaleas or rhododendrons, or mix sandy soil with peat moss and compost.
Plant the bush in the container and water well.
Add mulch on top of the soil to keep in moisture.

How do you grow and harvest blueberries?
Do blueberry plants produce fruit the first year?
What month is best to plant blueberries?
Do blueberries grow on new or old growth?
Where is the best place to plant a blueberry bush?
Are blueberries easy to grow?
Do you need 2 blueberry bushes to produce fruit?
How many blueberries will one plant produce?
How many blueberries should I plant for a family of 4?
Do blueberries need full sun?
What is the best fertilizer for blueberries?
Do blueberry bushes spread?

How do you grow and harvest blueberries?

Plant blueberries in a sheltered location, out of strong winds. If the soil is neutral or naturally alkaline; consider planting blueberries in a raised bed rich in acidic soil. Water young plant thoroughly before you transplant. Prepare a hole half again as deep as the root ball of the transplant and twice as wide.

Do blueberry plants produce fruit the first year?

Blueberries will flower and fruit sparsely their first year in the ground, but it's best to remove the first-year blossoms by hand. This keeps new blueberries focused on good root development instead of fruit and seeds. They'll reward you with better harvests in years to come.

What month is best to plant blueberries?

In most areas, it's ideal to plant blueberries in the fall or spring. You can plant blueberry bushes as close as 2 or 2.5 feet apart to form solid hedgerows, or space them up to 6 feet apart so they grow individually. If you plant in rows, allow 8 to 10 feet between the rows.

Do blueberries grow on new or old growth?

Understanding Blueberry Fruit Production

A blueberry bush grows canes which then produce branches and side-shoots. The fruit is produced on the tips of side-shoots which were new the previous year. (In essence, fruit is produced on year-old wood.) The most productive canes are around three years old.

Where is the best place to plant a blueberry bush?

Select a sunny, sheltered spot. While blueberries are tolerant of shade, better crops are obtained in the sun. At the same time, they should not be exposed to harsh, drying winds. Don't plant blueberries too close to trees, as the trees will not only block out sunlight, but will also suck up any moisture in the soil.

Are blueberries easy to grow?

Native to North America, blueberries grow well in acidic soil and in areas with at least 140 frost-free days per year. They're also perfect for organic gardeners since they can easily be grown without pesticides. ... This reliable plant is super easy to grow and produces pounds and pounds of blueberries.

Do you need 2 blueberry bushes to produce fruit?

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) bushes are self-pollinating to an extent, but grow larger fruit through cross-pollination by a second variety. Bees and wind help bushes to cross-pollinate, although the bushes need to be near each other to be productive.

How many blueberries will one plant produce?

You can expect to average around five to seven pints of fresh, sweet blueberries per plant each summer. Blueberries are remarkably carefree. You aren't likely to encounter many insects or diseases, and if birds are a problem, just cover the plants with netting.

How many blueberries should I plant for a family of 4?

Plan on 3 dwarf plants for one person or for a family of four plant 3 standard plants.

Do blueberries need full sun?

Blueberry plants need full sun:

Blueberries will tolerate partial shade, especially late in the day. Blueberries will grow in higher pH, but to achieve highest production, you will need to amend the soil around the plants.

What is the best fertilizer for blueberries?

Blackberries respond well to any nitrogen-rich fertilizer, but blueberries require fertilizers with an ammonium form of nitrogen such as urea, sulfur-coated urea, ammonium sulfate, or cottonseed meal. Any fertilizer sold for azaleas or rhododendrons also works well for blueberries.

Do blueberry bushes spread?

Blueberry plants will gradually spread from their growing location through a process called suckering. New, fast-growing shoots grow out of the soil from the main root cluster a few inches from the main clump. ... After one or two growing seasons, the suckers can be carefully severed from the main root clump and replanted.