How to Grow Blueberry Bushes in Pots

Reveille blueberries grow well in pots.

Container gardening is becoming increasingly popular, especially for the home gardener who does not have much yard space. Blueberry bushes thrive when grown in containers, and can produce bountiful harvests during the summer months right out on your patio or terrace. Reveille, Sunshine Blue, North Sky, Blue Crop and Earliblue are all blueberry varieties that grow well in pots. With proper care, potted blueberry bushes continue to fruit year after year.

Things You'll Need

• 2-gallon pots
• Organic soil
• Water
• Acid-based fertilizer
• Mulch
• Pruning shears
• Burlap
• Twine

Instructions

1. Fill 2-gallon pots ¼ full with organic soil. Set one blueberry plant in the center of each pot. Backfill the soil and leave a 1-inch gap between the top of the soil line and the lip of the pot.

2. Water the blueberry plants immediately. Allow the water to flow through the layers of soil and out the holes in the bottoms of the pots. Keep the soil moist at all times. Deep waterings once a week should suffice.

3. Set the pots in an area that receives at least six to eight hours of full sun per day. Turn the pots every few days to ensure that the plants receive even amounts of light.

4. Feed the potted blueberry bushes an acid-based fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer to the soil around the blueberry bushes according to label directions. Most blueberries appreciate a dose of fertilizer once a month throughout the growing season.

5. Add a 2-inch layer of mulch on top of the soil in the blueberry pots. A layer of straw or bark chips improves water retention and keeps the roots of the blueberry plants warm in the winter.

6. Prune the blueberry bushes to encourage new growth and increase fruit production. Yearly removal of dead or damaged branches improves vigor. Prune the blueberry bushes back 1/3 of the way with a pair of pruning shears when they reach three years of age.

Tips & Warnings

• Your blueberry bushes require winter protection if you live in an area that experiences frost-filled winters. Water the soil in the pots deeply, and wrap the blueberry bushes in a piece of burlap. Secure the burlap with twine. Place the blueberry bushes in an unheated garage or basement over winter. Sunlight is not needed during this dormancy. Add 1 cup of water to each pot during the winter. Remove the burlap and bring the pots back outside after the spring thaw.

• Do not overwater the potted blueberry bushes. Keep the soil moist but not wet at all times. Standing pools of water in the pots causes root diseases.

References

• Virginia Berry Farm: Growing Blueberries in Containers
• Dave Wilson Nursery: Blueberries in Containers

Resources

• Container Gardening Tips: Growing Blueberries in Containers