Water Requirements for Blueberry Plants

Young Blueberry Plants

• Water in the first two years of a blueberry bush's life is critical for its successful establishment. Young plants have an undeveloped root system easily stressed by dry conditions. Regular moisture in the blueberry's early years results in healthy plants that are more disease-resistant and capable of producing its first crop in the second year. Bushes under drought stress usually take at least three years to make their first berries. A 3- to 4-foot-tall blueberry bush needs 3 to 4 gallons of water a day, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension.

Mature Blueberry Plants

• Mature blueberry bushes that are at least 3 years old and have begun to produce berries are more drought-tolerant than developing bushes. But since their roots are shallow and can't reach deep for water stored underground, they still require regular irrigation. Established bushes usually receive as much as 8 gallons of water a day to make up for what will be lost to evaporation before the roots can get to it.

Water Quality

• According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension, water's high pH and high salinity affect blueberry development. A high pH indicates the water is alkaline and high salinity means the water has a high concentration of salts. Blueberries stop thriving in pH that's above 6.5. Even if your soil is acidic, the alkaline water will eventually raise its pH, leading to the deterioration of your blueberry bush. Likewise, if a salinity test shows a number that's 1.0 or higher, your water has too much salt to support healthy blueberry development.

Water Drainage

• Although blueberry bushes need constant moisture, their roots can't sit in water. The ideal condition for them is a soil type that absorbs and retains water for slow release. Water flows through sandy soil quickly, for instance. A blueberry bush that's in this type of growing media will require more irrigation sessions than a bush that's planted in loam. Heavy clay poses the opposite problem by not allowing water to drain fast. Blueberry bushes that stand in water for more than five days usually suffer irreversible damage. Setting blueberry plants on raised beds avoids water-drainage problems.