How to grow Blueberry

Vaccinium

As long as you give blueberries the right soil (acidic), they are easy, low-maintenance plants, once established3.

Water 2.5cm (1") per week, with rain water if possible. Avoid softened water and hard tap water.

After planting, spread a 3-inch-deep layer of mulch over the soil around the blueberries3. Pull the mulch from the plants’ stems, leaving a gap of an inch or two3. That helps prevent voles, mice, and other pests from attacking the blueberry from under the mulch3. Using wood chips, sawdust, oak leaves or shredded bark will also help maintain soil acidity. Avoid alkaline mulches, like seaweed.

Some gardeners suggest removing the blossoms the first year to get the plants established and strong enough to support the heavy yields in years to come3. Sometimes they won’t blossom in the first year anyhow.

Blueberries grow best in loose, well drained humus-rich soil with an acidic pH (4.0-5.0), so avoid fertilizers that make soil alkaline. Soybean, cottonseed meal, ammonium sulfate or any azalea/rhododendron fertilizer is ideal.

Tall types of blueberry bushes need an annual pruning. As stems age, their production decreases. Lop old growth off at ground level when stems are over an inch in diameter. Also, remove crowded areas from the centers of your bushes to keep the plants from self-shading. Most other types of blueberry only need pruning after 5 or 6 years3.

Although many blueberries self-pollinate, planting two or more varieties within a type will increase yield2.

SPRING
Fertilize when the leaves have emerged fully. (Northern Hemisphere: April) Usually approximately 50g rhododendron fertilizer for young plants, increasing slightly over the years)

SUMMER
Repeat feeding the plant at the beginning of summer (NH: June) to support second stage of growth in late summer. Cover with bird netting as fruit start to change colour. Pinch out growing tips to encourage a bushy plant.

AUTUMN
Mulch to conserve moisture.

Transplanting Blueberry

All types of blueberries grow best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade (with a decrease in production). Blueberries shallow root systems make them and poor competitors against trees, other shrubs, and weeds that compete for water and nutrients.

You can make a “hedgerow” effect by planting them in rows 3m (about 120") apart, with 1.25m between plants2.


Plant blueberries in spring after all danger of frost passes.
Standard spacing for Highbush, half-high & rabbiteye is 5-6 feet and 1-3 feet for lowbush varieties.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Blueberry is a very hardy plant.

Harvesting Blueberry

Tickle the clusters and fully ripe berries easily fall into your hands.

How long does Blueberry take to grow?

These estimates for how long Blueberry takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Blueberry to germinate?
24 days

Average 24 days | Min 24 days | Max 24 days (1)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Blueberry?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Blueberry is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 13 days

Average 13 days | Min 5 days | Max 90 days (3)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Blueberry?
= days

Blueberry Etymology

Angustifolium is Latin for “narrow leaves”or “a narrow snout”.1

Other names for Blueberry

Blueberry, Alumanih

Misspellings: blueberried, blueberries

Footnotes

1 Latin Dictionary

2 Blueberries, on Hargreaves Plants

3 Better Homes and Gardens


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