Blueberry Planting & Care
Who doesn’t love a blueberry? In the right conditions, these plants are easy to grow and maintain, and provide delicious berries throughout the summer for pancakes, muffins and smoothies–if they even make it to the kitchen. Blueberries are more particular than other berry bushes in their light and soil requirements, so be sure to choose the right spot in order to enjoy berries for many years to come.
Size, Spacing, and Bearing Age: We sell highbush blueberries, which grow to be 4’-6’’ tall. They can be spaced at 4’-5’ within rows, but leave 8’-10’ between rows in order to mow around them. Blueberries begin bearing within 3-5 years, and can live for many decades with the proper care.
Pollination: Blueberries require a different variety for pollination. There are early, mid-, and late season varieties, so you can choose your pollinator to extend the season, or else select varieties that ripen at the same time if you prefer to do your harvesting all at once.
Soil & Site Selection: Blueberries require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 4.5-5.5. They are shallow rooted, so they can easily dry out and do not compete well with grasses and other weeds. Make sure to place them where you have access to water, as they will require regular watering through the first growing season, and during dry spells after that. Apply a thick mulch every spring or fall to retain moisture and keep weeds down. Pine needles or bark mulch work well, since they also contribute acidity to the soil as they break down. A couple shovelfuls of compost around each plant will help provide the necessary fertility.
Planting: See Planting Guide and Bare Root Planting for instructions.
Pruning: Other than removing dead and damaged branches you will want to avoid pruning blueberry bushes until they begin bearing, usually in years 3-5. Remove any flower buds in the first couple seasons to promote stronger root and shoot growth. Blueberries bear on the previous year’s growth coming off of older canes. Six year and older canes tend to bear poorly, so remove any older canes to make room for new ones. Leave about 5-7 mature canes, with the same number of vigorous, young canes ready to take their place. Remove any weak branches, those that are crowding the center, and any low-hanging branches that are in the way.
Pests & Diseases: Protect your young blueberry plants from deer and rabbits with individual wire cages or a perimeter fence. Birds are the number one pest when it comes to harvesting the berries. They will steal them before they are even ripe; therefore a net and/or daily harvesting may be necessary.
Blueberry plants are largely pest and disease-free, making them ideal for home gardeners, but there are a few to look out for. Spotted Wing Drosophila is a fruit fly that lays its eggs in the berries as they ripen, causing them to soften from the inside out. They are present throughout the summer months, but their populations peak during mid- to late summer, so planting early-ripening varieties can help avoid this pest. Where SWD is present, harvest daily and refrigerate or freeze (or consume) the berries immediately. Post-harvest, destroy any remaining berries or drops.
Mummyberry is a fungal disease that causes branches to turn brown or black, and the fruit to shrivel and turn gray. Remove any infected branches or fruit and burn or otherwise dispose of them. Sanitize pruners with rubbing alcohol or bleach solution. Remove drops or smother with compost or mulch to prevent reinfection in the spring.
Witches’ broom is a fungal disease shared between blueberries and fir trees, which causes dense clusters of small branches to form at the base of the plant. Once a blueberry is infected it cannot be cured. Removing the infected growth can help manage the disease, but in extreme cases the whole plant may need to be removed and destroyed. Avoid planting near fir trees.