When to Plant Blueberries in Washington

How to Plant

• Plant the blueberries using either two-year-old bareroot stock or three-year and older container stock. Dig a hole big enough that you can spread out the roots carefully. To accommodate the size of mature plants, leave a space of 4 to 5 feet between the plants and 5to 6 feet between the rows.

Considerations

• If you plant the bareroot stock, do not let it bear fruit for two years to make sure the plant develops properly. It's OK for container stock to bear fruit the year it is planted.

Site and Soil

• Blueberries usually grow best in full sun, although late afternoon shade in hot locations is a good idea to help prevent sunburn. Blueberries require an acid soil with a pH of 4 to 5. Blueberries also prefer soils with a lot of organic matter that have a good capacity for holding water.

Pruning

• After planting, blueberry plants need little, if any, pruning during the first three years. Remove any broken or diseased branches. As the plants mature, remove low, spreading branches near the ground. Also, if branches are drooping, head them back in a strong upright lateral direction.