BLUEBERRIES:
Blueberries are very versatile plants: great for eating, canning, and freezing, plus excellent for use as landscape shrubs. They provide flowers in spring, colorful berries, good foliage, and striking autumn color. Particularly suited for landscaping are the new dwarf and semi dwarf varieties. Depending on variety, blueberries can grow from 2-7 ft.
LOCATION: Blueberries can be planted in rows, patches, or mixed plantings, and will do well in any spot where rhodies or azaleas thrive. However, they do like as much sun as possible.
SOIL: The growing area should be well draining and rich in organic matter with a pH of 4.0 to 5.5. One pound of sulfur added to 100 square feett should lower the pH approximately 1 point. The sulfur should be tilled in about 6 inches deep. To build up humus add peat moss, sawdust, composted oak leaves, etc. These additions will also have an acid effect. Coarse sand will improve drainage in heavy soils.
PLANTING: Bushes should be planted in a sunny location at least 4 feet apart. Dig a hole wider and deeper than your root ball. Replace enough corrected backfill so the top of the root ball is slightly higher than the soil line. Water thoroughly. A 4 inch mulch of straw, sawdust, or wood shavings (not cedar), should be applied around plants to keep the blueberry’s shallow root system moist.
GROWING: As hard as it may be, we recommend picking off the first year’s blossoms. This will divert the plant’s energy to forming a good root system and stronger plant. Commercial growers will do this for as many as 3-4 years.
FERTILIZING: Because blueberries are heavy feeders, fertilizing them is very important. The easiest and least expensive way is to use sulfate of ammonia, 21-0-0. It has a high, readily available source of nitrogen that these plants need. It may be applied over the mulch out to the drip line. The amount is increased by an ounce per year, until mature plants are receiving 1/2 pound at each application. Apply when buds begin to swell, 5-6 weeks later, and in June if necessary. Organic gardeners may want to use cottonseed meal, a by-product of cotton manufacturing, which is high in nitrogen and has a low pH. The meal can be used at the same rate as other fertilizers but should be applied earlier.
WATERING: Remember, blueberries need regular watering through the growing season. Stressed plants grow and bear poorly. Drip irrigation works very well with blueberries.
Blueberries are self-fertile. For better pollination and larger fruit yields the rule is to plant and least two different varieties.