Plump, juicy blueberries aren’t just delicious. They’re high in nutrients, antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. Fortunately, for very little effort, blueberries are easy to grow—if you have the right soil conditions. See our Blueberry Growing Guide to learn how to how to plant, care for, prune, and harvest your blueberry bushes.
Did you know that the modern blueberry is a 20th-century invention? Before the 1900s, the only way to enjoy these North American natives was to find them in the wild. Then, scientists started to unlock the secrets of cultivating blueberries—and we’re glad they did!
- A relative of rhododendron and azalea, blueberry bushes aren’t just a great fruiting plant but also an attractive addition to your overall landscape, offering scarlet fall foliage and creamy-white, bell-shaped spring flowers.
- Plus, blueberries are one of nature’s superfoods, crammed with essential nutrients, minerals and health-boosting polyphenols.
Read more about why you should grow blueberries in your home garden (as if you needed an excuse).
Types of Blueberries
There are four types of blueberries: highbush, lowbush, hybrid half-high, and rabbiteye.
The most commonly planted blueberry is the highbush. Most blueberry breeding has focused on this species, so there are many varieties that range widely in cold hardiness and fruit season, size, and flavor. (Read more about blueberry varieties below.)
Reader Comments
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I just planted a one year old
I just planted a one year old blueberry shrub which already had fruit on it when purchased. Should I pluck the fruit off before it ripens to encourage a greater crop in the years to come, or is it too late for that since it has already blossomed and produced the fruit? Also I only planted one shrub. Is it necessary for survival to plant more than one of different varieties, or is that just the preferred method?
I forgot to mention I live in
I forgot to mention I live in Harrah, Oklahoma. I asked about how to prepare the soil before planting the Premier Blueberry and the Climax Blueberry and how to test the pH in the soil. Thanks.
You purchased Rabbiteye
You purchased Rabbiteye blueberries. It's good that you bought two because they are not self-fertile and you must plant 2 or three varieties that bloom about the same time (which is true for Climax and Premier). Normally, you should have planted the blueberries in February or early March before growth resumes so get them in the ground as soon as possible. According to your local extension, "Space your blueberry bushes by 6 by 12 feet. Each hole should be 18 to 24 inches across and the same depth. Add one-third cubic foot of peat moss to each hole, and mix it with the native soil. Avoid fertilization in the hole. Let the hole stand for two weeks after this to allow the peat moss to become thoroughly damp, adding water as needed. Keep root systems of bare-root plants overed with damp sawdust, hay, or peat moss while you are preparing to plant. Score the root balls of containerized or container-grown plants before planting them, in order to encourage the roots to grow outward. Plants should be set
about one-half inch deeper than they were in the container. After replacing the peat and soil mixture into the hole, tamp it lightly to remove air spaces. Unless rain is likely, water the newly set plants. Cut back shoots on large plants to keep them from being blown over by high winds."
I am a beginner at planting
I am a beginner at planting blueberries and just purchased a Climax Blueberry(Vaccinium ashel)and a Premier Blueberry(Vaccinium sp.)and was wondering what to put in the soil before planting them. Also how do I test the pH level of the soil? Thank you for any advice.
I have a blueberry bush that
I have a blueberry bush that has these hard brown balls on the branches. Thought it was just this one but noticed another bush with it. I mulch heavy with leaves.
Can you tell me what it is and what I should do? thanks so much
You may have stem cankers on
You may have stem cankers on your bushes. It is caused by a fungus. It's important to remove dead and affected branches as soon as possible. Read more about this disease at www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/ip...
Hi; we are having some
Hi; we are having some trouble keeping blossoms on the bush. It seems that more are falling off of the plant. Even the bees knock the blossoms off. We have netting up, what else can we do ??
Tarilyn and Gary, the
Tarilyn and Gary,
the white /pink blossoms are meant to fall off. Their purpose is to attract a pollinato, once that is done..so are they. The part left behind grows into a blueberry
What about Vaccinium asher or
What about Vaccinium asher or Vaccinjum darrow ?
They are all over the South, even wild in the wood lands.
You can get up to 25 pounds per bush per year
off these plants.
We even have a wild low bush blueberry with bluegreen leaves.
Thank you for all the
Thank you for all the information on this post! I live in zone 7B and have a Duke blueberry bush in my yard. What variety would you recommend I get to pair with it?
As Duke is a Northern
As Duke is a Northern Highbush, you just need to select another Northern Highbush. For example, Bluecrop and Blueray are a popular choices for your zone and widely available.
Ideally you want a pollinator
Ideally you want a pollinator that will be blooming at the same time so you get max. cross pollination.
Duke is early so Reka, Sparta, and Patriot would be fine and all very good plants in their own right.
But of course, now you've limited to a small slice of the growing season. So if you have the room the inclination is always to put in two different late bloomers.
I just purchased 2 blueberry
I just purchased 2 blueberry bushes & it says I need 2 different varieties to get berries. Can I plant 2 of the same kind to get berries or do I need to get another variety?
It's best to get different
It's best to get different varieties of blueberries planted within 100 feet of each other. Unlike some plants, the same blueberry plant cannot be fertilized by their own pollen.
I have a blueberry crop at
I have a blueberry crop at what tempature do you think it would grow best
I would also like to add
I would also like to add rabbits to the list of pests! If your plant is still small, they will nibble branches and new shoots off in a 45° angle. Very annoying!
And when the goats escape
And when the goats escape from the pen...they REALLY enjoy blueberries!
Just wanted to say Thanks to
Just wanted to say Thanks to Almanac editors and community for the wealth of information on this BB forum. I ordered three high-bush varieties this morning on-line, and with your tips pasted into my word document, I feel prepared for arrival of the 2 year rooted crowns.
when is the best time to
when is the best time to plant bluebarries i live in zone 5b
As soon as possible after the
As soon as possible after the plants arrive in early spring, plant them in soil that you prepared the previous season.
Greetings from south central
Greetings from south central PA. I am going to try again to plant blueberry bushes in the Spring. I am concerned about my soil which is dense with shale not far below the surface. Your information advises, "Dig holes about 20 inches deep and 18 inches wide." I expect to need to do a lot of work to get the soil to a suitable condition. How deep do you suggest I go in preparing a suitable growing area? I am going to start with 4 each of 3 varieties. Thanks.
Hi Mary, Dig down about 2
Hi Mary,
Dig down about 2 feet and amend the soil. Make sure that the soil is bit acidic. After you plant your bushes add a layer of mulch.
Good luck!
hello I'm from Bulgaria and I
hello I'm from Bulgaria and I want to sow 15 acres of blueberries. will you give me information on what varieties is better to buy, how to look, what they cost for 4500 units. Could you send me Email varieties here with us because PH is 4.50 to 5.50 and from May to September is 25 to 40 degrees. Can you give me advice on what to do and how to do it. Thank you.
Zdrasti, Any variety will do
Zdrasti,
Any variety will do better than what's presently available. I tasted a few blueberries in BG (Varna) and they were, no offense, terrible. They had huge seeds in them and were bitter. It was not what I had expected and I was disappointed.
(I come from a small farm and knew there was better.)
I would imagine you are looking at about $35-$40 per bush and then add on any delivery and import fees. Quite an expensive undertaking, but once your bushes start growing, I am sure you will make your money back and start seeing plenty of profit by the 10th year.
Късмет!
Be very careful to purchase
Be very careful to purchase from a reputable nursery/wholesaler. We have been stuck by many growers. They don't tell the truth. I would be happy to give you more advice if you need it. Shipping from the US to Bulgaria has to be expensive but you can get great quality bushes for under $5 in the US. Be careful.
Look at the zones in the US for agriculture and apply that to Bulgarian temperatures. Buy bushes that are recommended and grown in that Zone.
chris
Ivan, 15 acres? You
Ivan,
15 acres? You should be growing more than 1000 per acre (based on 4 ft and 10 ft aisles.
You should be buying Tissue Cultured, Virus indexed and paying (at that volume) around 2.00 US per plant. Shipping costs, irrigation, labor, peat will add significantly to your costs.
Do you want to harvest all at one time? Then I'd consider Draper.
If you want to harvest over a period of time: Reka, Blue Crop, Liberty would be my three.
If you are serious I can hook you up with growers and shippers. STEVEAJL@aol.com
I'm reading all the comments
I'm reading all the comments about soil acidity and am concerned. The water in my area is very alkaline. How do I overcome this obstacle?
To lower pH, add common
To lower pH, add common sulfur to your soil. Ferrous sulfate and aluminum sulfate are sometimes used instead. You can also lower the pH of alkaline soil over time by applying compost and manure regularly.
Aluminum sulphate can attack
Aluminum sulphate can attack the delicate fibrous root system of the blue berry plant and kill it.
The run off is also harmful to the environment.
I strongly recommend against using it.
Cottonseed, coffee grounds, hollytone, ammonium sulphate will all lower your ph.
Adding seasoned pine bark or chips of pine wood will help but it must be aged.
Hi there! My father ordered a
Hi there! My father ordered a large bag of blueberry "starts" I guess you'd call them around November 2014. We literally just took them out of the bag they were shipped in (March 2015). Do they even stand a chance? They were kept indoors, not refrigerated. Many thanks for your help!
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