Growing blueberries:
9 tips for planting blueberry bushes
These days many people are interested in growing blueberries. Each week thousands of people search the Internet for tips on how to grow blueberries. About 18 months ago, I was one of those gardeners searching for advice about selecting and planting blueberries. I spent hours gathering information during the winter, and last growing season I planted some blueberry bushes. They are on their second year and loaded with blossoms that will eventually be blueberries.
I wanted to plant blueberries because my family loves them (but I don't like the price I have to pay for them at the grocery store). Plus I value the health benefits of blueberries and want to make sure they are part of our diet.
You've ended up here because you want to know more about growing blueberries. On this page, I have summarized what I've learned about how to plant and grow blueberries. You'll find information on planting blueberry bushes in the garden or in containers.
1. Make sure you purchase at least two varieties of blueberry bushes. Most species need cross pollination in order to produce fruit. I've met people who say they don't get berries on their blueberry bushes. After asking them some questions, it turns out that they are growing just one variety.
There are highbush varieties that can grow more than 6 feet tall, lowbush varieties that are generally shorter than 2 feet, and half high varieties about 3 feet tall.
2. Be sure that you are purchasing a variety that will live in your growing zone. Blueberries can be grown virtually anywhere in the continental United States and into Canada. When I was purchasing my plants at a reputable garden center, I noticed that the nursery was selling varieties that could not survive the cold winters of Zone 4 where I live. Pay attention to the zones indicated on the label.
3. Choose an area with at least 6 hours of sun to plant your blueberries. In the desert heat in areas such as Arizona, you will probably want to keep the blueberry plants out of the sun during the scorching heat of the day.
4. Blueberries prefer soil with an acid pH so if you are planning on growing blueberries, you will need to prepare the soil for planting. Purchase some peat moss and aluminum sulphate when you purchase your blueberry plants. Work the peat and aluminum sulphate into the soil. The hole you dig should be 4 or five inches deeper than the pot and at least 2 times wider than the pot.
5. Plant the bush so that the soil surrounding the plant is even with the soil in the pot. You will want to mulch around the bush. Pine needles create an acid pH level so mulching with pine needles or pine bark is ideal. However, other mulching material will work too.
6. Water your bush thoroughly and make sure to water it regularly (maybe two or three times a week) when it is newly planted. If you are growing blueberries that are established, they need approximately one inch of water a week during growing season. 
7. The most painful part of the process of planting blueberries is to take off all or most of any existing blossoms so that the plant can put its energy into the root system. I clipped all the blossoms when I planted my plants the first season. This year I added one more variety to my blueberry garden and I only clipped about 2/3 of the blossoms.
8. In my garden, rabbits have been known to completely devour bushes and plants, so I added a small fence to protect the blueberry plants. If I see birds eating the berries, I can drape netting over the top of this fence.
9. The second season after you plant the blueberry bushes, you will want to fertilize with a fertilizer meant for plants that like acid conditions, such as Miracid.
Growing blueberries in pots
People living in townhouses or apartments can also grow blueberries if they have enough sun. You'll need two large pots (for the two varieties of bushes). Each container should be at least 16 to 20 inches with drainage. You'll also need to purchase good quality potting soil and peat. The smaller varieties of blueberry bushes can be grown in pots, I would chose a variety that stays under two feet in height. Some of the garden catalogs have been advertising a variety called Top Hat for containers. This bush gets 18 inches tall and wide and is suitable for zones 3 to 7. It may be difficult for a blueberry bush in a container to make it over the winter in a cold zone unprotected. You may want to wrap it in a blanket or move it into a garage for the winter months to protect it from the harsh elements.
Good luck to everyone in growing blueberries. I'll update this page to let you know how many berries I get this second season.
Growing blueberries gives you immediate access to one of the most nutritious foods around. Click here to read abut blueberries health benefits.
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