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.

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