How to Grow Blueberries

Blueberries are my all-time favorite fruit. I love them on my yogurt, in my cereal, plucked straight off the bush. They’re delicious and healthy and only have one downside. They stain your teeth. Ugh. Bring a toothbrush out to the garden, right? A little staining isn’t going to stop me from enjoying this delectable fruit!

Best of all, you can grow these fruits in your own backyard. And it’s not hard! All you need is lots of sunshine, a fair amount of temperatures 45°F or cooler and some pine mulch. No pine around your parts? No worries. The pine lowers the pH of the soil, making it more acidic, something blueberries LOVE. But there are different ways of going about lowering your pH.

But I digress. We begin with starting your blueberries. Now, I wish I could tell you how to start them from seed, but I can’t. Not even in my dreams. So for this lesson, you’ll have to head to your nearest plant center or local farmer and buy a few bushes. And I do mean a few. Blueberries need to cross-pollinate so make sure you purchase at least two different varieties for your garden. I have several, including Southern Highbush Sharp Blue, Windsor, Jubilee, Jewel and Gulf Coast. If you can get your hands on some Highbush Misty, they are supposed to get along well with Highbush Sharp Blue. I also have some Rabbit Eye varieties to round out my berry garden.

As previously mentioned, blueberries prefer acidic soil, about 4 – 5 pH, and pine bark/straw is acidic making it the perfect mulch for your blueberries. According to Rodale’s Organic Life, “The most aggressive way to lower soil pH is to apply pure sulfur or flowers of sulfur. You should follow your soil test’s recommendations, but in general, if you are applying sulfur to an area that does not currently have any plants growing in it, such as a new garden bed, you can apply it at a higher rate than in areas with growing plants. You can also add organic matter, such as compost or composted manure, to your soil annually and mulch with acidic organic mulches, such as pine needles. Adding organic matter slowly lowers your pH over time, while increasing microbial life and improving the structure of your soil.”

Fertilizing Blueberries

You can also grow your blueberries in containers, allowing you more control over your soil. Which should be porous, such as a mixture of sand and peat with loam. Water is also an important factor. Through the years, I’ve had periods of drought (self-inflicted watering issues) and my bushes suffered dearly. The good news is these plants will bounce back if you give them a little TLC. So take my advice and make sure they are getting the water they need, and the soil is rich in organic matter and mulched well so that it will retain moisture, and a low pH level.

Feed with a 12-4-8 fertilizer and prune during the summer months after harvest for more vigorous growth. Pruning older stems will keep your plants healthy and productive.

And remember: Blueberries require a certain amount of “chillng hours” to produce fruit. Chill hours are considered between 32°F and 45°F. I chose my varieties specifically because of where I live. In Florida, we don’t get a lot of cold weather and the varieties listed above require the least amount of chilling hours, ranging from 200-500 hours. So choose wisely, and according to your growing region.

Problems

Blueberries aren’t only my favorite fruit, I think the birds prefer them over all other fruits, too. Translated: birds are a nuisance come harvest time. The key to keeping them out of your bushes during harvest a barrier. I run twine over the bushes, similar to the way hotels runs twine over their pool patios, and it’s problem solved. Fishing string is a perfect option, because its “invisible” to us, but the birds can “see” it loud and clear, effectively preventing them from swooping in and plucking the ripe berries from the bushes. I used to use bird-proof netting until I learned that it can keep the bees out, too. Not good. Blueberry blossoms need bees.

Blueberry Stem Borer is a beetle that deposits eggs that can damage new growth. The grubs will also bore into the canes and cause them to die as well. If you see very small pinholes along the stems with yellowish strings dangling from them, you likely have a blueberry stem borer attacking your plant.

Good Companions: Wintergreen, marigold for underground nematodes, while dandelions planted nearby will stimulate them to ripen quickly. Rhododendron and azalea are related to blueberries and can be planted together (edible landscape idea!)

Bad Companions: Anything with high pH needs.

Health Benefits: Blueberries are super-fruits filled with antioxidants, bone strengthening minerals and high fiber. They work wonders on dissolving the LDL in your cholesterol, lowering your blood pressure. According to Organic Facts, blueberries can prove to be extremely valuable for cancer patients, as they contain certain compounds like pterostilbene (an excellent remedy for colon and liver cancer) and ellagic acid. These two in harmony with anthocyanin and other antioxidants like vitamin C and copper can do miracles to both prevent and cure cancer.