How to Grow Blueberry Bushes in Containers

Eating fresh blueberries from your own garden always taste best.

Harvesting fresh, health blueberries from their own backyards is the dream of many gardeners. In the past, growing blueberry plants, whether in the ground or in a container, was restricted because blueberries require an acidic soil with a pH value of between 4.3 to 5.0, and, for containers, blueberry bushes were too large. In recent years, dwarf blueberry plant varieties have been developed, which are well-suited to container growing and provide an amble supply of sweet berries, according to the Virginia Berry Farm, a wholesale fruit nursery.

Things You'll Need

• Container, minimum 24 inches wide by 16 inches deep,OR
• Half wine barrel
• Potting soil formulated for azalea, rhododendron, or camellia
• Mulch
• Water
• Fertilizer specifically for acid loving plants-NO nitrate in formula
• Burlap, blankets, insulation-optional

Instructions

1. Place your container you plan to use for your blueberry plant in a location that will receive full sun throughout the day.

2. Use potting soil formulated for azaleas, rhododendrons, or camellias to fill your container 1/3 to 1/2 full.

3. Spread the roots of your dwarf blueberry plant and place the root ball on the soil in the center of your container. Then, cover the roots and continue to fill your container with the acidic formulated potting soil. Stop when you get to about 4 inches from the top of your container.

4. Water your blueberry plant thoroughly after planting. Blueberry plants thrive when you grow them in consistently moist soil. It is important to keep the soil moist throughout the growing season, but do not allow your blueberry plant to stand in water.

5. Add 3 to 4 inches of mulch to your container, around your blueberry plant. Leave an inch or two open, with no mulch, around the base of your blueberry plant trunk. By not putting mulch up against the trunk, you eliminate many potential problems with disease and insects. The mulch will, however, help keep the soil evenly and consistently moist.

6. Fertilize your established blueberry plant with a fertilizer formulated for acid loving plants, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, or camellias. Fertilize once a month, starting in the spring through August, then discontinue until the following spring. For newly planted blueberry plants, wait 4 to 6 weeks after planting before you fertilize your plant.

Tips & Warnings

• If you live in an area that will experience temperatures below 32 degrees F during the winter, you will need to winterize the pot you have your blueberry growing in to protect its roots, according to University of Nebraska Extension. To do this, wrap and secure several layers of burlap, a towel, or any type of insulation around your container. Or, if possible, move your container into your garage or shed. Be sure to periodically check the soil in your container, water when needed.

• Never use a fertilizer that contains nitrate on your blueberry plant. Blueberry plants are sensitive to nitrate and will kill your blueberry plant.

References

• University of Nebraska Extension: Growing Blueberries
• Container Gardening Tips: Growing Blueberries in Containers
• University of Idaho Extension: Growing Blueberries
• Virginia Berry Farm: Growing Blueberries in Containers