Growing Blueberries

Planting, Growing, Pruning, and Harvesting Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow.

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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! Here’s how to grow blueberries in your garden.

Plump, juicy blueberries are now easy to grow in your backyard on bushes that are resistant to most pests and diseases, and can produce for up to 20 years. 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. 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.

Planting

When to Plant Blueberry Bushes

Bushes should be planted in early to mid-spring.
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. 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.
If planting multiple bushes, it’s best to plant them in a patch, rather than scattered throughout your garden. This will bolster berry production and quality.
The blueberry is a shallow-rooted plant. Therefore, it requires a soil that holds moisture, but also drains well and doesn’t stay wet. Don’t plant blueberries in sites that have heavy, clayey soils that stay wet.
Blueberries thrive in soil that is acidic. The soil pH should ideally be between 4.0 and 5.0; soil that isn’t acidic enough will stunt growth. Soil can be acidified by mixing a small amount of granulated sulfur into the soil several months before planting. Peat moss, as well as pine bark or needles, are also good additions that will help acidify your soil.
Mix organic matter into the soil before you set your blueberry bushes. (See more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)

How to Plant Blueberry Bushes

Dig holes about 20 inches deep and 18 inches wide (or about twice as wide and twice as deep as the roots of the plant).
Space bushes 4–5 feet apart in a row, with at least 8 feet between rows. Prepare a planting mixture of 2 parts loam and one part oak leaf mold, peat moss, aged sawdust, or compost, and place a layer of this mixture in the bottom of the hole.
Set the bush in the hole with its roots spread out. Don’t plant the bush any deeper than it grew in the pot. Pack the hole tightly with soil.
Apply fertilizer one month after planting, not at the time of planting. Apply ½ ounce of a 10-10-10 fertilizer in a band around the plant 6 to 12 inches from the crown.

Can You Grow Blueberries in a Container?

Yes! In fact, blueberries grown in containers are easier to protect from birds and other critters, more disease resistant, easy to harvest, and easy to move if needed. Plus, if you live in an area without acidic soil, growing blueberries in containers allows you to tailor the soil pH specifically for them.

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.
Place the pot in a sunny spot.
Keep soil moist.
In northern regions, overwinter the blueberry container in a protected area or cover the container with straw or wrap it in burlap.

Varieties for Containers

‘Top Hat’: Bred by the University of Michigan for small spaces and containers.
‘Pink Lemonade’: Pink blueberries contain genetics from rabbiteye blueberries (a standard in the hot South). These pink berries can be planted in nearly every climate.
‘Pink Champagne’: Another pink variety full of antioxidants and sweeter than blue blueberries.

'Pink Lemonade' blueberries — *‘Pink Lemonade’ blueberries*

Care

How to Care for Blueberry Bushes

Mulch to keep shallow blueberry root systems moist, which is essential. Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of woodchips, saw dust, or pine needles around the bush after planting, but leave a gap around the trunk of the bush to allow for proper air flow. Read more about mulching.
Blueberries need 1 to 2 inches of water per week.
Warning: Blueberries are a favorite snack of hungry birds, so it’s recommended that you protect blueberry bushes ahead of time by draping bird netting over your plants.
One year after planting, apply 1 ounce of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bush in the spring at blooming time, and increase the rate by 1 ounce each year thereafter to a maximum of 8 ounces for mature bushes.
Do not allow the bush to produce fruit for the first year or two after planting. This lets the plant use its energy to get well established in its new home instead.
Pinch back any blossoms developing on newly set plants to allow the energy to go to growth.

How to Prune Blueberry Bushes

For the first 4 years or so after planting, there is no need to prune blueberry bushes. From then on, pruning is needed to stimulate growth of the new shoots that will bear fruit the following season.
Prune plants in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Cut out dead, broken, short, weak, and spindly shoots.
On highbush varieties, begin with large cuts, removing wood that is more than 6 years old, drooping to the ground, or crowding the center of the bush. Also remove low-growing branches whose fruit will touch the ground, as well as spindly twigs.
Prune lowbush blueberries by cutting all stems to ground level. Pruned plants will not bear the season following pruning, so prune a different half of a blueberry patch every two years (or a different third of a patch every three years).

Blueberry bush

Pests/Diseases

Birds
Blueberry Maggot
Powdery Mildew

Harvest/Storage

How to Harvest Blueberries

Blueberries are typically ready for picking between June and August.
Don’t rush to pick the berries as soon as they turn blue. Wait a couple days. When they are ready, they should fall off right into your hand.
If you plant 2-year-old blueberry bushes, they should start to bear within a year or two. (Pick off any flowers that form the first year or two after planting, to allow the bush to become established.) Be aware that full production is only reached after about 6 years (depending on variety).

How to Store Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruits to freeze. Learn how to properly freeze blueberries so you can have them all winter long.

Blueberries

Recommended Varieties

Blueberries are partially self-fertile, so you will harvest more and larger berries by planting two or more varieties together. Planting more than one variety can also extend the harvest season.

Highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum): A six-foot shrub hardy from Zone 4 to Zone 7.

For withstanding cold winters, choose ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Blueray’, ‘Herbert’, ‘Jersey’, or ‘Meader’.
For big berries, choose ‘Berkeley’, ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Blueray’, ‘Coville’, ‘Darrow’, or ‘Herbert’.
For flavor, usually the main reason for growing your own fruit, choose ‘Blueray’, ‘Darrow’, ‘Herbert’, ‘Ivanhoe’, ‘Pioneer’, ‘Stanley’, or ‘Wareham’.
For something different, try ‘Pink Lemonade’, which produces bright pink blueberries!

Lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium): For the coldest climates, lowbush varieties are your best bet, hardy from Zone 3 to Zone 7.

These are the blueberries you find in cans on supermarket shelves. When fresh, the fruits are sweet and covered with a waxy bloom so thick that the berries appear sky blue or gray.
The creeping plants, a foot or so high, are spread by underground stems, or rhizomes. They blanket the rocky upland soils of the Northeast and adjacent portions of Canada. Lowbush blueberries make a nice ornamental fruiting ground cover.
Plants sold by nurseries are usually seedlings or unnamed wild plants, rather than named varieties.

Half-High: Breeders have combined qualities of highbush and lowbush blueberries into hybrids known as half-high blueberries.

University of Minnesota introductions include ‘Northcountry’, a variety that grows 18 to 24 inches high and has excellent, mild-flavored, slightly aromatic sky-blue fruits; and ‘Northblue’, which grows 20 to 30 inches high and produces an abundance of dark-blue, nickel-size, somewhat tart fruits-just right for pies.
‘Northland’ is a half-high that grows 3 to 4 feet tall. From Michigan, it has relatively bland, average-quality fruit.

Blueberries for Southern Gardens (Zones 7–9):

Rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum): Grown in the southeastern United States, rabbiteye varieties are extremely adaptable, productive, and pest-tolerant. They do, however, have a high degree of self-incompatibility and require two or more varieties be planted together to ensure pollination. Recommended varieties include ‘Powderblue’, ‘Woodard’, ‘Brightwell’.
Southern Highbush (hybrids of V. virgatum, V. corymbosum, or V. darrowii): Southern highbush varieties tend to be pickier and harder to grow than rabbiteyes, but there are a few high-quality varieties that do well. Among these are ‘Emerald’, ‘Windsor’, and ‘Springhigh’.
Read more about blueberries for southern gardens from the University of Florida: Blueberry Gardener’s Guide

Wit & Wisdom

In Ireland, baskets of blueberries are still offered to a sweetheart in commemoration of the original fertility festival of Lammas Day, celebrated on August 1.
Blueberries are one of the few naturally blue foods on earth.
For centuries, Native Americans gathered “star berries” (the blossom end of each berry forms the shape of a perfect five-pointed star) from forests and fields and ate them fresh or dried them for later use.
- Dried blueberries were added to stews, soups and meats.
- Dried berries were also crushed into a powder and rubbed into meat for flavor.
- Blueberry juice was used to cure coughs.
- Blueberry juice was also used as a purple dye for cloth and baskets.
- A tea made from the leaves of the blueberry plant was believed to be good for the blood.
Tired of blueberries? Try growing another berry in your garden, such as strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries!

Recipes

Cooking Notes

Visit our recipe archives to find delicious blueberry recipes ranging from salads to desserts!

Reader Comments

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Hi Tiffany, Please read our

Hi Tiffany,
Please read our "care" section on this page. How old is the bush? Is it getting enought sun, water? Is the soil acidic enough? What variety is it? You may have to test the soil and amend it.

What varieties of blueberries

What varieties of blueberries have the largest berries?
What varieties of blueberries have best taste?
What varieties are sweetest?
I am in northeastern Arizona where winters get down to 0 and occasionally a little lower. Summer can get up to mid 90's and low humidity.

I did go thru your many posts and that was quite an education!

Thanks

Hi Chris, Thanks for reading

Hi Chris, Thanks for reading through your comments and your kind words. In your area of Arizona, growing blueberries can be a challenge. Soils in the higher elevations of northern Arizona have a pH range of between 6.7 and 7.3. Blueberries require a soil pH of 4.3 to 5.0. Remember that at least 2 varieties need to be planted for cross-pollination and fruiting.
In terms of variety: "Patriot" produces large size fruit (approximately 55 per cup) and has excellent flavor. Taste is very subjective but many people enjoy "Bluecrop" which produces medium to large fruit (approximately 65 per cup) and tends to be good and tart.
Much of this information comes courtesy of the University of Arizona cooperative extension and we would advise getting in touch with their services for more on-the-ground support.

Bonus and Chandler are the

Bonus and Chandler are the largest while Darrow is right after them.
Best taste is subjective but generally speaking the best tasting plants (among the northern high bushes) are: Legacy, Bonus (very distinctive) Blue gold, Elizabeth, Jersey (smallish), Hannah's choice, Hardy blue and Sparta. Duke, highly rated for productiveness but not for flavor, tastes great to me.
Don't worry too much about it, the worst blueberry I ever had was delicious.

I live in South-Central

I live in South-Central Colorado in a zone 5 climate with lots of sun and fairly temperate winters but low humidity. What would be a good variety of blueberry bush(es) to grow and when should I plant them? Thanks.

Blueberries are not the most

Blueberries are not the most natural berry for Colorado, due to the alkaline soil. Blueberries need acidic soil to thrive (pH 5.5). If you're up for the challenge, 'Earliblue' Highbush blueberries grow in zone 5. You'll need two varieties for cross-pollination. Other highbush types that cover zone 5 are 'Blue Crop", 'Blue Gold', and 'Blue Ray.' Some tips: grow in sphagnum peat moss, ensure that the root zone always stays moist, even in winter, and protect the bushes from winter winds. Wrap bushes with burlap or old sheets while they are dormant.

Im indian,i m having keen

Im indian,i m having keen interst in planting blueberries,especially emerald ones ,is hybridization is possible here,,with othr berries,and what r the neccesary steps required to do the plantation.

I have a blueberry bush that

I have a blueberry bush that I purchased at a local store. I planted it in a large pot because I live in an apartment. It had several berries on it which ripe
ned and I picked. The bush does not seem to be producing anymore. Is that typical? Is there anything that can be done to it to produce again. Also, live in the northeastern US. Will the bush survive the winter?

I just received a blueberry

I just received a blueberry bush from my granddaughter which she has failed to water for most likely a good week. Some of the leaves are very dry and will most likely die, but some are okay and there are berrys on the bush. I need to know if it is a waste to try to revive this bush or should I start over. Also it is in a large pot (patio type container), will it continue to grow or will it need to be replanted?.

Put the container in the sun

Put the container in the sun and give it some water. Blueberries need 1-2 inches of water a week. If it survives you can plant it in the ground next spring.

Are blueberries are loaded

Are blueberries are loaded with fruit. Have gotten several good crops. Now all of a sudden they are getting hard and not turning blue. What is causing that our lack. We had a lot of rain..above average...until about a week ago and not a drop since.

It sounds as though your

It sounds as though your plant(s) may be suffering from "Mummy Berry". A rapid fungus that that infects the blossom by releasing spores into the wind. If you notice tiny mushrooms near by- eradicate them. It may be best to destroy the plant entirely. But, to rid it you must be extremely vigilant. Collect the berries and toss them into a 'Hot" compost pile or remove them completely. If you find you cant get a handle on the disease- destroy the plant(s) and till a new spot.

My blueberry bushes have

My blueberry bushes have spots.....brown ugly spots......they are in full sun ........is my soil bad or is this a type of fungus infection? What are some things I could to remedy this problem?

Wait till next year, it

Wait till next year, it should fix itself.

You mentioned to use 1

You mentioned to use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to one gallon of water to amend the soil, please mention how often,every watering or once a month?

After adding vinegar, wait a

After adding vinegar, wait a few days to retest the soil's pH before adding any more. Once you get it to your desired pH, test again every 2 or 3 months until the pH stabilizes.

I live in northeastern

I live in northeastern Kansas and just planted 4 Misty and 2 Earliblue. I have not been able to find much on line about either of these. Can you tell me if they are highbush or not and if they are compatible?
Thanks!

Misty is a Southern highbush,

Misty is a Southern highbush, never been to Kansas but I'm pretty sure winters would be too cold for that variety. Misty does do well in containers however so that is an option. I don't have the other variety that I am aware of so no experience with those.

Hello, We have We have 2

Hello,

We have We have 2 bounties, 1 pink lemonade, 1 peach sorbet, 1 jelly bean, 1 bluecrop, 1 toro and 1 chandler blueberry bush.....we are currently renting our home so we don't want to plant our bushes in the ground (plus we don't really have the ground space to do so, there's a spot we could, but our landlord won't let us), so right now we have them in pots just slightly larger than what they came in when we bought them.....and they are so close together that they are touching......what can I do to remedy this situation? I don't want to kill them, but I also really have no where else to put them. :( right now 3 of them are producing berries, but they are really small. I wish I could upload a photo to show how they are.

Jim: I want to transplant

Jim: I want to transplant four blueberry bushes...presently in my yard in town...want to move to my daughter's place in country...two high boys, two. Low...recommendations ?

Hello, When I transplant, I

Hello,

When I transplant, I make certain the location where they are going already has the holes dug. In our area we transplant in the fall NOVEMBER when all the leaves have dropped. Water the plant well so that transporting the root ball is moist. Dig up the plant and wrap the root ball in moist newspaper. Put plant in cardboard box. (Not sure how large the plant is you are transplanting). If your new transplanting location is someplace far away, don't let them set over night in a garage or car. I would get them there immediately after digging up and get them in the ground same day if possible. If that is not possible, you will need to keep them in a cool location - away from the sun and keep that newspaper moist. as you don't want the roots to dry out. Hope this helps...

5 years ago, I planted 4

5 years ago, I planted 4 blueberry bushes (1 each in row order: BlueCrop, Elizabeth, Duke and BlueJay). They are planted in a row about 2.5 feet apart. I know, they are slightly too close together, but on the plus side, they are single file with nothing to either side for about 6 ft.! 3 of the 4 bushes flower and fruit well, but the bushes are slightly small... 3.5 ft tall...

The fouth bush (BlueJay) is huge (well over 6 ft) compared to the others, but does not seem to want to flower or fruit. I found 2 blossoms this year, which was 2 more than last year! Also, compared to the other three bushes, the leaves on the BlueJay are less green... Not really yellow, just not as green, or as deep of green if that makes sense.

I've had gangbusters of fruit from the Duke. But nothing from the neighboring BlueJay.

Is this normal? Should I replace the BlueJay?

Bluejay blueberry bushes grow

Bluejay blueberry bushes grow almost twice as fast as other blueberry varieties so it is normal for it to be much bigger than the other bushes. Not blooming can be caused by being too close to the other bushes, not getting enough water or sun. Have you checked your soil to make sure that it is acid enough? Adding a bit of nitrogen and organic matter (compost or aged manure) to the soil may help the bushes to grow healthier.

I have been growing 8high

I have been growing 8high bush blueberry bushes, 2half high bushes and a small bed of wild blueberry bushes. Last year I had a bumper crop of blueberries from all. This year I learned about pruning the high and half high bushes and pruned them.. Howeve, at this point of the spring the bushes should have lots of buds but I don't see any so far. I live in Maine and we have had a long cold winter. So far the weather is still cool. Any advice to increase bloom production? I plan to use Epsom salt but hope it's not too late.

Hi Michele, Sometimes pruning

Hi Michele,
Sometimes pruning will cause the bush not to bloom in the spring. You will have lots of blooms next spring. Adding ammonium sulfate to the soil will help the overall health of your blueberry bushes.

Will cross pollination occur

Will cross pollination occur better with two different varieties of the same production time (like two varieties that develop mid season, rather than two varities that develop at different parts of the season)?

For best cross pollination

For best cross pollination plant two varieties that bloom at about the same time. The chart at the link below may be helpful.
http://portlandnursery.com/doc...

We have had a dozen high bush

We have had a dozen high bush plants for a few years now, 4 or 5 and they are not bigger than knee high... I really hoped to have large bushes. I do get a hand full of berries off most of them but just enough to eat there not do any saving. I put hollytone on for acid what else??

Prune, prune, prune!

Also blossom spray. Used on

Also blossom spray. Used on tomatoes for years. Great stuff!