Content

• Steps
• Advice

Before scientists worked on how to grow blueberries in the early 20th century, the only way you can enjoy these delicious fruits is to pick them from wild bushes. Nowadays, you can easily grow all three main varieties of blueberries under different climatic conditions. The blueberry tree is resistant to most pests and diseases, and can continue to bear fruit in the summer for up to 20 years. Blueberries are not only easy to grow, but they also contain a lot of antioxidants, giving them a delicious taste and a beautiful look in your backyard. Follow the steps below to find blueberries that are appropriate for the climate in which you live and to start planting!

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Choose Variety

1. 

   
   
   Choose the blueberry variety you want to grow. There are three main varieties: low crown, high crown, and rabbit eye. Blueberry varieties differ in their vitality in each climate zone and when they bear fruit. Make sure the cultivar you choose is suitable for the area where you live.
   • You may want to choose from a variety of different ripening times, either large (best for fresh and desserts) or small (great for muffins and pancakes).

     

     
     
   • Low-canopy blueberries are good at cold tolerance and are suitable for areas with a plant tolerance score of two to six as determined by the US Department of Agriculture. This tough variety has a low canopy close to the ground and is about 15 to 45 cm high. Low-spread blueberries produce small and sweet berries.

     

   • High-canopy blueberries are best suited to warm climates, i.e. those with a tree tolerance score of four to seven according to the US Department of Agriculture. Tall canopy blueberries are the most common variety and produce large, dark berries on plants between 183 and 244 cm tall.

     

     
     
   • Rabbit-eyed blueberries grow well in areas with a score of seven to nine and are known for their tolerance to high temperatures and drought. Blueberries are usually smaller than the tall canopy variety and ripen near the end of the summer, later than other varieties.

     

2. 

   Note that each type of blueberry requires a different amount of space. Plant low canopy trees about 0.6 m apart, 1.8 m high canopy, and about 4.6 m for rabbits. If you don't have a lot of space to grow blueberries, you should probably choose a low canopy or a tall canopy variety.

3. 

   Prepare for pollination. Blueberries have both stamens and pistils, but not all flowers of the same variety can self-pollinate. If you want to make sure your blueberries are pollinated, plant multiple varieties and place them about 30 meters apart. Doing so will allow the bees to fly in and absorb the nectar between the plants and help cross pollination. advertisement

Method 2 of 4: Create Matching Conditions

1. 

   Choose an area with adequate sunlight. Fruit trees need as much light as possible, especially when the fruit is growing.

2. 

   Make sure your soil is well drained. Avoid the appearance of shallow, low lying areas that cause water to accumulate and / or to be flooded. If you don't have the right drainage, you can build your own raised garden to grow blueberries.
   • Consider mixing peat moss into the soil to increase drainage. Although peat moss can absorb 10 to 20 times more water than its dry weight, they are harmful to the environment and relatively expensive. There are a number of environmental costs associated with peat moss, including the cost of fuel required to dig drainage ditches, harrow and dry the sludge, packaging and long haul transportation.

     

   • However, if you still want to use peat moss, prepare a planting area about 0.75 m in diameter and 0.3 m deep. Take out no more than half of the soil and mix it with an equal amount of peat moss. Then mix the moss / soil mixture back into the planting area.

     

   • If you are concerned about the consequences of peat moss, consider building an alternative wooden raised garden. Blueberries grow well in raised pots 1 to 1.2 m wide and 20 to 30 cm high. Make a simple tree box out of two 2.5 x 20 cm cedar boards, about 245 cm long. Cedar lumber is great for horticulture because they do not deteriorate over time.

     

3. 

   Check the pH of the soil. Most fruit trees do best in acidic soils around 5.5 to 6.5 pH. Blueberries require a more acidic soil environment of between 4.09 and 5.0.
   • Your local department of agriculture will usually have soil test kits and bags as well as instruction boards. Once the soil has been adjusted, check the pH again.

     

   • If the pH is below 4, add an acid fertilizer or soil mix to increase acidity.

     

   • If the pH is above 4.5, mix granular sulfur into the soil to lower the pH.

     

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Method 3 of 4: Growing blueberries

1. 

   Buy large blueberries 2 to 3 years old so you can harvest them early. If you start with young plants, they will take a few years to bear fruit.
   • To plant blueberries from seeds, sow the seeds in a flat, 7.5 cm deep wooden box containing finely ground soft, damp filaments. Keep the moisture in the room at 15 to 21 degrees Celsius and cover with newspaper.

     

   • The seeds will grow into seedlings within a month. Place the plant in a sunny place and continue to plant in the plant until it is 5 to 7 cm tall. You can then move the plant into a larger pot or back into the garden.

     

2. 

   Plant trees in early spring. The fruit will ripen in late summer.

3. 

   Use your wrists to gently tap the blueberry tree to loosen the roots. Do this all over the outside of the pot, then tilt and remove the plant by patting the perineum. Use your hands to support the tree, do not hold the tree trunk as the tree may be cut off and damaged.

4. 

   Plant the blueberry trees apart. Plant the blueberries from 0.8 to 1.8 meters apart. If you plant plants close together, you will have rows of trees that grow in succession, but if you plant them further away, you will have individual bushes.

5. 

   Dig a hole for each plant. The hole should only be shallow enough for the roots to stick out from the ground about 2.5 to 5 cm (for 2 years old plants, the hole should be about 50 cm deep and 45 cm wide). You can dig up a tree with a shovel to dig holes.

6. 

   Place the tree in the hole and fill the gaps with soil. Flap soil around the base of the plant to cover all exposed roots with about 1.5 cm of soil.

7. 

   Apply 5 to 10 cm of mulch to the planting area. This helps to keep the soil moist, prevent weeds, and enrich the soil. Bark, sawdust, and grass clippings are all suitable for blueberries. Add humus every few years.

8. 

   Water the site after planting. advertisement

Method 4 of 4: Care for Blueberries

1. 

   Water the plants 2.5 to 5 cm of water each week. Be careful not to over water or waterlogg the plant.

2. 

   Click the top of the tree every winter. In the first year, prune all the flowers. This will help the plant become firm before it starts to bear fruit. Pruning will also help remove excess or dense branches and make the plant's growth part stronger.
   • Each year thereafter, remove all low-growing branches near the base of the tree by cutting off the branching section of each branch. Remove all dead branches and / or twigs, as well as any discolored, speckled branches.

     

   • Prune the low-canopy blueberry tree by removing its branches close to the ground. The pruned tree will not bear fruit the first season after pruning. Every two years, prune half of your planted plants so that each year you will still have a fruit.

     

   • The pruning step should remove from 1/3 to 1/2 of the amount of branches per tree. Prune more if needed.

     

3. 

   Fertilize the blueberry tree. If your blueberry tree grows just under 30 cm (or less than 10 cm for low canopy varieties) each year, you may want to use natural fertilizers to enhance the plant's growth yield. If possible, use organic fertilizers to avoid root damage and effectively replenish the plants with nitrogen.
   • Seed meal like soybeans and alfalfa are good organic options. Use 1/4 to 2 cups of fertilizer per plant, depending on size.

     

   • Blood meal and cottonseed meal also work well.

     

   • Apply in early spring and again in late spring for best results. Always water well after fertilizing.

     

4. 

   Check pH every two years. Remember, if the pH is below 4, you can increase the acidity by applying an acid fertilizer or soil growing mix. If the pH is greater than 4.5, mix granular sulfur to lower the pH.

5. 

   Harvest the blueberries in late July or early August. Some varieties of blueberries, including the rabbit's eye, take a longer time to fully ripen. Each year, the harvest season will vary slightly depending on the weather conditions. advertisement

Advice

• Protect blueberries with bird nets in early summer to prevent birds from eating away.
• Blueberries are commonly grown in humid Northern climates with cold winters and cool summers.
• When there are too many ripe pods, freeze them or make jam, as the pods won't last long after harvest.