Where to Plant a Northland Blueberry

Geographic Range

• For healthiest plants and ensured flowering and subsequent fruit production, Northland half-high blueberry shrubs need a cold winter and cool to warm summer growing season. It is appropriate to grow outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. This blueberry is deciduous, displaying red leaves in autumn. If winters are not cold enough, disease and pest issues increase and flower buds may not fully develop and occur in spring. In the American West, half-high blueberries are best grown only in the middle to higher elevations of the mountains.

Light Exposure

• Blueberry plants need ample sunlight to bloom. Therefore, select a garden location that receives either all-day sunshine or as little as four to six hours of sunlight per day (a situation known as partial shade). In hotter summer climates, afternoon shade is preferable to all-day sun. Sunlight sustains the foliage, which makes food through photosynthesis. Shady conditions limit photosynthesis and can retard plant growth. Flowering is more profuse in sunnier situations, and photosynthesizing leaves hastens fruit development and ensures that lots of sugar builds up in the fruit flesh.

Soils

• Given its shallow root system, Northland blueberry must grow in an evenly moist but well-drained soil. Lots of moisture is needed, especially in sunny locations; but soggy, flooded soil leads to root rot and plant death. Another vital consideration for blueberry growth is to have a highly acidic soil, pH 4.8 to 5.2. Amending the soil with organic matter improves fertility, moisture retention and drainage. Various fertilizer salts may be added to make the garden soil the appropriate pH. A sandy or loam soil is better than a clay soil, but amending the soil or berming it can make clay soils much more conducive for healthy growing blueberries.

Tips

• Although Northland half-high blueberry shrubs demonstrate excellent winter cold hardiness, subzero temperatures coupled with drying winds can cause extensive branch dieback. If in a region with windy winters, plant the blueberry in a sheltered location to diminish desiccation. Animals also graze on blueberries. Rabbits routinely gnaw off stems and bark from fall to spring, as do hungry deer. Songbirds enjoy blueberries as a meal. Use wire fencing around plants to prevent animals from eaten the plant, and employ bird netting in spring and summer to save the crop from invading birds.