How to Grow Great-Tasting Blueberries
A delicious berry with proven health benefits, the blueberry makes an enjoyable treat whether eaten by itself, added to muffins and pancakes or used as a cereal topping. Though grown commercially by large farms, home gardeners can also grow blueberries successfully. Keep in mind, however, that blueberries have specific growing requirements. Fortunately, by sticking to a few simple guidelines, you can start producing and enjoying great tasting blueberries in your home garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Check the acidity of your soil. Make sure that your soil has a ph between 4.0 and 5.5. Amend the soil with peat moss if it does not fall within this range.
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Plant your blueberry bushes in the spring. Choose a sunny site with good drainage.
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Dig a hole about 2 1/2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. Take half of the removed soil and add an equal portion of peat moss. Mix well and use as the planting medium.
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Place a bare root plant in the hole. Spread the roots out in the hole and cover with the rest of the soil and peat moss mixture. Water thoroughly.
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Remove the blueberry bush from pot if using container stock. Slightly roughen the root ball. Place the plant in the hole and add planting medium 1 to 2 inches higher than the ground. Water generously.
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Mulch with pine bark, sawdust or grass clippings. Apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch every other year.
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Space your blueberry bushes between 2 1/2 to 6 feet apart. Space row of bushes 8 to 10 feet apart.
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Avoid letting the blueberry bushes fruit during the first two years after planting. Remove any blossoms that occur during this time. This will increase the fruit yield in later years.
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Apply 2 tbsp. of 10-20-10 fertilizer to each new plant in late spring. Use 1 oz. of fertilizer for each year of age for older bushes, up to a limit of 8 oz. per plant.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait patiently for your blueberries to mature. It can take five or six years before they produce a high yield.
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Resources
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