Blueberry Plant Troubleshooting

Climate

• Though you can grow blueberries in climates zones 3 through 11, you must take care with the varieties you choose. For cooler climates, lowbush, half-high or northern highbush plants are recommended, requiring low temperatures to produce fruit. For warmer climates, southern highbush or rabbit-eye bushes are best.

Soil

• Though blueberry bushes can be fairly hardy, they are quite picky about their soil. According to the Oregon State University Extension Service, blueberries require acidic soil with pH levels between 4.5 to 5.5 to thrive. Signs of soil pH issues include stunted new growth and small, yellow leaves with contrasting green veins. These issues are caused by a lack of zinc, iron and other nutrients needed for blueberry growth. To lower your soil's pH level before planting, mix elemental sulfur with your soil, the amount depending upon your soil's clay content and amount of organic matter. The more clay and organic matter your soil contains, the more sulfur is needed. Though Oregon State University recommends gradually acidifying your soil over a period of years before planting, you can adjust your levels after planting using elemental sulfur as well.

  Blueberries have shallow, fibrous roots and need well-drained loamy or clay loam soil that holds moisture well. To improve dry or heavy soils, familyfarminfo.org suggests adding peat moss, compost, manure or other organic matter to the soil. Ohio State University Extension recommends 4 percent to 7 percent organic matter content or higher for blueberries.

Disease, Pests and Birds

• Though stunted, yellowing leaves may be a sign of soil pH issues, disease and pests leave their tell-tale signs as well. Common blueberry diseases include diseases of the fruit, stem and root. Mummyberry, for instance, is a fungus that commonly attacks blueberry fruit, foliage and new growth. Signs include the browning of leaf veins, leaf wilting and eventually pinkish, rubbery fruit containing dark fungus. To control, remove and destroy affected berries or "mummy berries" and apply fungicide in the spring.

  Other common diseases include twig blight and fusicoccom canker, which affect the stems and leaves, and phytophthora root rot and bactierial crown gall, which impact the root.

  Common blueberry pests include leafhoppers, aphids, Japanese beetles and blueberry maggots, which feed on the sap and fruit of the blueberry bush. You can control these pests using insecticides, biological control or removing insects, such as Japanese beetles, by hand.

  To keep birds from devouring your blueberry crop, cover your plants with bird netting just before fruit ripens.