How do I Grow a Blueberry Bush From Seed?

Gather ripe berries from mature bushes. Look for berries that look almost ready to fall from the bushes. Place the berries in a freezer bag and place in your freezer for at least 90 days.

Remove the bag of frozen blueberries and allow them to thaw at room temperature. Fill your blender about three-fourths full with water. Place about three fourths of a cup of berries into the blender and mix at high speed for about 12 seconds. Pour the water off the top of your seeds. Rinse gently and pour off excess water and broken pulp. Repeat this rinsing process until only the seeds remain. Lay your cleaned seeds on a layer of paper towels and let them dry.

Place about 3 inches of finely ground sphagnum moss into a seed flat. Moisten the moss with a fine spray of water until evenly damp. Scatter your blueberry seeds over the top of your layer of damp moss. Place a single layer of newspaper over the top of your scattered seeds and mist it with water until slightly moist.

Place your planted seed flat into a room with a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the level of moisture on the newspaper daily and moisten the surface when your paper begins to appear slightly dry.

Remove the newspaper in about a month, once seedlings begin to germinate and grow. Place your seed flat in a sunny area until they reach about 3 inches tall. Continue to water lightly to keep the moss slightly damp at all times.

Transplant your 3-inch-high seedlings into individual peat pots. Fill each peat pot with a mixture of equal parts sand, peat and potting soil. Scoop a hole in the center of each pot to allow room for the small rootballs. Gently remove the seedlings from the flat and place in the prepared pots. Cover the roots with your soil mixture and pat down the surface to remove any air pockets.

Fertilize your seedlings with a liquid fertilizer about three weeks after transplanting them into their peat pots. Keep the pots in a sunny location and continue to keep the soil slightly moist until you transplant them outdoors. Transfer them to your outdoor garden or berry patch after the final frost in the spring.