When to Plant Blueberry Bushes in Washington

Timing

• Plant blueberries from January to March in Western Washington. In Eastern Washington, plant them during March or April.

Options

• Blueberries can be purchased as bare-root plants or in containers. Bare-root plants usually are two years old. Container plants are more expensive but typically are at least three years old. Plants begin bearing significant crops of berries four to six years after they're planted.

Soil

• Blueberries grow best in acidic soils with a pH of 4.0 to 5.0, such as the soil in Western Washington. In Eastern Washington, test your soil to determine its pH. If necessary, amend your designated site with garden sulfur a year before planting blueberries. Apply ammonium sulfate fertilizer around the plants each spring to keep the soil more acidic.

Considerations

• Plant at least two varieties together to get larger crops with bigger berries. Space the bushes five to eight feet apart to allow for their size at maturity.