Information on Growing Blueberry Bushes

Soil

• Blueberries need an acid soil, preferably with a pH of 4.0 to 5.0, but can grow in almost any soil if you add copious amounts of peat moss or soil acidifiers to reduce the pH level. Good drainage is important, as blueberries have fibrous, shallow roots and rot in stagnant conditions. You can aid drainage by growing the bushes in raised beds or adding material.

Site

• Select a sunny location and keep the ground free of competing weeds. Space according to the plant's eventual size to allow light and good air movement around it; 6 feet apart, or 3 feet apart if growing as a hedge, is generally adequate. Ensure best fruit yield and quality by providing irrigation during the growing season or add organic material to improve soil aeration and water-holding capacity.

Types

• Blueberries come in early-, mid- and late-maturing cultivars but, more importantly, consider hardiness or heat tolerance when selecting plants. Choose lowbush (V. angustifolium) for zones 4 through 8, northern high bush (V. corymbosum) for zones 3 through 7, southern blueberry (V. darrowii) in zones 7 through 10, rabbiteye blueberry (V. virgatum syn. V. ashei) in zones 6 through 9 and hybrid crosses like "Top Hat" for container production in zones 5 through 8. Examples include southern high bush "Aliceblue" and "Gulfcoast" suiting hotter climates, while northern high bush "Bluebelle" and "Ozarkblue" are cold hardy. "Powder Blue" is a late-season variety for zones 6 to 9 and low-growing "Brunswick" is hardy in zones 3 to 6.

Pollination

• Blueberries have male and female organs on the same flower and although some are listed as self-fertile, most need insects to cross-pollinate in order to obtain a full fruit set. Cutivars like "Bluecrop" have short corollas and are more easily pollinated than those with longer ones. Encourage bumblebees in the garden as they enable the best fruit set.

Pruning and Fertilizing

• Remove fruit as it sets in the first year to aid strong plant establishment and prune any diseased or dead wood in winter. In subsequent years, remove any crossing stems to form an open bush, allowing light to enter the center of plant. Insufficient pruning produces over-fruiting and reduces the berry size but, as fruit is produced on last year's wood, take care only to remove older wood or fruit yield will be reduced. Blueberries are sensitive to excessive fertilizer application. In the spring, apply an acid fertilizer such as ericaceous formulations or blood meal and cottonseed meal, according to manufacturer's instructions.

Pests and Diseases

• Many pests, including, mites, worms, weevils, beetles, thrips and hoppers, may attack blueberries. Aphids also transmit scorch virus, but luckily beneficial insect predators and parasitoids are around to kill them. Diseases are also numerous, but if you provide the proper growing conditions, bushes will remain healthy and vigorous. Birds love blueberries too, so net to protect ripening fruit.