How to Grow Blueberries in Ohio

Collect a soil sample from you garden and submit the sample to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory should analyze the pH, organic content, and nutrient level in the soil. Ideally, you should test your soil approximately three to four months before you plant the blueberries and again after you apply any necessary amendments. Contact your local Ohio State Extension office for assistance with soil testing.

Amend the soil with lime or sulfur if the soil pH is outside of the optimum range of 4.5 to 5.0. Use sulfur to lower the soil pH or lime to raise the soil pH. Apply the lime or sulfur according to the manufacturer's instructions and work the amendments into the top 4 inches of the soil. Blueberry roots do not typically extend below 4 inches. You should allow approximately three months for the pH to adjust.

Add organic matter to the garden soil if the organic content is below three percent. Because blueberries prefer a low pH, pine sawdust or pine bark are good organic amendments. Peat moss also works well to increase the organic content of the soil. The organic matter will also increase the drainage ability of clay or loam soils. Mix the organic matter into the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil.

Plant the blueberry shrubs in a well-drained area of your garden that gets full sun. Place the shrubs approximately 4 feet apart in 4-inch deep holes and in rows that are approximately 10 feet apart. While you are preparing the rows, soak the shrub's roots in water for an hour before placing them in the garden. The best time to plant blueberries in Ohio is the early spring if they are dormant. If the plants are growing, plant them after the last frost.

Place 4 inches of mulch around the blueberry shrubs. Pine bark, chips, and sawdust are good mulches for blueberries because they help maintain a low soil pH. Water the blueberry shrubs so that they are moist but not soaking wet. Blueberries have shallow root systems that will drown in too much standing water.

Fertilize the blueberry shrubs as indicated by the soil test results. In general, a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 is appropriate for these shrubs. Initially, place the fertilizer in a circle roughly 12 inches from the base of the plant after it begins to grow. Increase the distance from the base of the plant to 18 inches in year two and 36 inches in subsequent years. If soil test results indicate that adequate nutrients are already present in the soil, adjust the type of fertilizer you use as indicated. You should test your soil yearly so that you can choose the appropriate fertilizer.

Prune the blueberry shrubs to remove dead branches when they are dormant. Northern highbush blueberries do not need pruning until after they are typically 3 years old. The best time to prune blueberry shrubs in Ohio is mid-March. If necessary, trim areas that are thick with fruit to increase the size of the berries.