Can I Plant Blueberry Plants in Pots?

About Blueberry Bushes

• Traditionally, blueberry bushes don't do well in pots. The plants are large and don't lend themselves to being confined in containers. However, growers have developed new varieties of blueberries that include bushes which grow higher but don't spread as wide, and dwarf blueberry plants.

  Blueberry bushes once grew well only in climates with cold winters and moderate summers. Newer varieties that are more heat-tolerant and smaller will grow well in containers in warmer climates.

Growing Blueberries in Containers

• Blueberries need acidic soil. Gardeners need to have both their soil and water tested for pH and acidity, and use organic material such as peat moss and bark in an acidic soil mixture. Since blueberry plants need continual moisture but shouldn't be water-logged, good drainage is essential. Use containers that are large enough to give your blueberries lots of moisture. Container Gardening Tips advises planting blueberry bushes in containers measuring at least 2 by 2 by 2 feet, and even larger if possible. The site also states that gardeners should cover their plants during extremely cold weather.

  Sandy's Garden on Donnan.com explains that blueberries planted in containers in cold climates are more prone to having their roots frozen than those planted in the ground. Gardeners should choose plants that are rated hardy in zones colder than their own coldest zones. This site advises protecting them during the winter months by moving them into a garage that's not heated and watering them several times during the winter.

Types of Blueberries

• The University of Nebraska conducted a research project to determine which types of blueberries grow best in containers, taking climate into account along with other factors already mentioned. The high-bush variety does well in warmer climates when planted in containers, since it's not as hardy in colder areas. Low-bush varieties are traditionally grown in cold climates and, therefore, more suited to container gardening in colder areas. The rabbit-eye variety does better in a warmer, Southern climate. The project found that a few of the hardier varieties of the half-high type do well in a colder climate in containers. They include Chippewa, Northcountry and Northblue.