Blueberry Plants - Care of Blueberry Plants

We’ve taken a look at the types of blueberries and what some tips on growing blueberries already. So here we take a look at what you should do for the ongoing care of your blueberry plants.

Like many fruits and vegetables, blueberries need to be watered regularly, at least one inch a week. Take care with how you water and the water source. Don’t use softened water, and even avoid municipal water supplies where the water is hard, as it will cause a buildup in the soil since it can’t be turned annually. To help conserve water and keep weeds down, mulch the base of the blueberry plants with an organic mulch. Two to four inches is a good amount each year.

Some gardeners suggest removing the blossoms the first year to get the plants established and strong enough to support the heavy yields in years to come. Sometimes they won’t blossom in the first year anyhow.

Fertilizing Blueberries

Since blueberries prefer an acidic soil, you need to let that guide your choice of fertilizers. Look at fertilizers that are used for some more common acid loving plants like azaleas. For the first year, you may try applying 1/2 pound of ammonium sulfate per 100 feet of row. In later years you may want to increase that to 1 to 1.5 lbs per 100 ft. This will help with the soil acidity. Apply half of it at first bloom and the rest about a month later.

Pests

The worst pest for almost any fruit is the local bird population. They will strike right as the fruit is ripening, and can clean it out quickly. The most effective deterrent for birds is bird netting. Don’t forget that birds can walk, so be sure to anchor it to the ground to eliminate gaps they will exploit. For the ambitious gardener, a walk in cage will allow you to harvest the blueberries over the weeks that they ripen without messing with the netting. Another advantage to this approach is that it can be kept in place to keep out rabbits and rodents during the winter months, when they will feast on the tender leaves of the plants. Of course something as simple as chicken wire can do the job.

Pruning Blueberries

Normally blueberries are not pruned the first 2 to 3 years. When pruning you have a few goals.

- For any pruning task, the removal of dead and dying branches is the first step, allowing room for the healthier growth.

- Thin out the old growth to encourage younger more productive branches to grow. This will help production in the long run. Remove branches that are crowding the middle of the plant. It’s important to remember that the blossoms come from buds formed on 2 year old shoots. Like many fruiting plants, thinning is important to keep from having too many fruits form, as this can lead to smaller berries being formed.

- Open up the interior to let sunshine in and free air circulation. And when growth at ground level is greater than 1 inch in diameter, it’s best to remove it as well.

Harvesting Your Blueberries

This is what you’ve been waiting for. Ripe blueberries will fall off the branches if you shake them slightly. Give it a shake, and enjoy.

Filed under Growing Berries by John

Comments on Blueberry Plants - Care of Blueberry Plants »

May 11, 2008

barbara guidotti @ 2:24 pm

Very informative web site. Thank You for all of the valuable information. I am just starting out with growing blueberries.

May 24, 2008

Mary Ann Ewert @ 7:59 pm

I planted my 1st berries 3 years ago put on aluminum sulfate like recomened.added a cup the next year around the plant but when checking the acidity its 6.5. can not get it down what should I do?

August 30, 2008

RR @ 7:35 pm

You are smart to check the levels.
Try mulching (not dug in placed on top of soil 1 to 2 inches from the stems/crown extending all the way out to the full shadow of the bush) with evergreen needles. For fastest effects get a branch with green needles (not a christmas tree, they have non-food approved pesticides on them.) Using smaller pruning shears cut the needles off the branch while making 2 or 3 cuts into each needle. If you don’t have enough for your plants I think you can buy pine straw at nurseries. Check to see if it’s approved for usage around food plants though. If done for this fall it should begin to make the soil more acid by spring.

April 4, 2009

ben @ 9:49 am

I LIVE IN EAST TENNESSEE i have 100 3 year old plant early, mid and late season trpe. They are all in bloom and it is to snow in 2 days with tempatures at 29F is there any thing i can do? what is the critical tempature and for how long?

I need info quick. Thank you

John @ 11:11 am

Here’s an article on the frost tolerance of blueberries. It suggests that as long as you are above 28 degrees you will see minimal damage. Just be aware that the forecast for your city may not be what you see in your yard.

April 12, 2009

ALLEN PERKINS @ 12:12 pm

I HAVE KA BLUEY BLUEBERRY
SUGESTIONS BY THE WAY GOOD INFOMATION

December 4, 2009

Bill Munro @ 8:54 am

I planted a blueberry plant in an Earthbox here in Michigan, and it has done well all summer. In the fall the leaves turned colors and dropped off. Is this normal, and should I move it into the garage in the winter to prevent root freezing?

February 22, 2010

Tony @ 4:41 pm

How do you determine how much water is “….1″ per week”?

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