If you’re like me and love blueberries, then you should grow them. Plain and simple. You don’t need a yard, you don’t need a lot of space. A few containers will do. And I do mean a few, because blueberry plants are not loners. They need to be cross-pollinated by others, or they won’t produce berries. Needy, is what I hear. But these gals are worth it. Blueberries are delicious and healthy and pretty easy to grow. And the satisfaction you get from strolling through your own blueberry patch (as opposed to driving to the nearest U-pick blueberry farm) is priceless.
Blueberries are fairly easy to grow. Lots of sun, lots of water, a good acidic soil (think pine bark/needle mulch), a well-balanced organic fertilizer and you’ll have yourself a blueberry patch in no time. However, once you set out on this project, understand that birds are a definite problem when it comes to berries. Like you, they enjoy a plump serving of berries with their breakfast. But they’re hungry varmints and will eat you out of house and home—and garden, if you let them. But me, I count myself as smarter than the average bear (no pun intended to my furry friend–also a huge fan of blueberries). I figure I can outwit these flying friends with a simple bird net. Says so right on the package: bird nest for fruit and shrubs.
Wonderful. Problem solved. All I have to do is cover my plants—all twelve of them—and I’m off and running in the blueberry race. It’s not pretty, but it is practical.
CAUTION: While you need a bird net and the label says it will keep the birds out, I learned something the hard way. It can also keep the bees out. My advice? Choose to run twine/fishing line a few feet over your plants instead. I strung mine between two makeshift posts I erected on either end of my beds and it works like a charm.
Other words of wisdom? Pine mulch. You can use pine bark, pine needles, they both work. Even sawdust, so long as it’s free of chemical treatments. We are organic, after all. The reason for these choices is that blueberry plants like their soil acidic, 4-5 pH. Soil rich in organic peat will help, but so will the pine. As for food, you’ll want a well-balanced fertilizer. My preference is 12-4-8. And water. Blueberries like a good deep watering, and mulch. Many of their roots will grow close to the surface, so protect them with mulch. Pine mulch, to be exact! Not only will it help retain moisture, it will decrease pH while protecting your roots. AND–it will breakdown into magnificent organic matter for your soil.
For complete how-to grow instructions including companion plants and potential problems, check out my How-To Grow Section. However, until your plants are producing, check out this website for a u-pick farm near you. My kids go every year with grandma. Fun!
Leave a Reply