Here in the Pacific Northwest, growing blueberries is equivalent to growing tomatoes in the garden. It has to be done. Our soil and climate is very well suited for it. Plus, they are freakin’ delicious, and it’s important for me to have handfuls of them on a whim :). Even if you don’t live in the Pacific Northwest, you can still grow yourself some tasty blueberries.
It’s best to grow blueberries bushes in at least twos. They perform better, because the pollinate one another. They don’t have to be the same variety, but one single bush in the backyard just will not yield a lot of berries. They can be as far as 100 feet apart and still do the job.
Start by hitting up your local nursery or online retailer and picking out a couple of blueberry bushes.
Here’s a couple of varieties I’ve planted over the years:
Now, choose a well-drained, sunny location to plant your blueberry bushes. There are several varieties that will grow in pots, so do a little digging {pun intended} if you are short on space.
Blueberries like acidic soil {which is why here in the land of the pines, they do so well}, so you may want to prep your soil once you have dug a hole. Dig a hole large enough for the root ball to easily sit in. Before you add the blueberry bush, though, add some pine needles, peat moss, evergreen sawdust or bark, etc. to increase the acidity of the soil.
Set your blueberry bush into the hole and backfill it. You’ll want to mound the soil 1-2 inches above ground level to account for compacting. Once you’ve planted your blueberry bush, water it in well. They do not like to dry out, especially in the hot summer months, so continue to water it regularly {being careful not to make it soggy either–it’s a delicate balance}.
Resist the urge to prune your blueberries for the first three years. They are establishing themselves, and won’t really take kindly to a haircut. Also, this is an investment in patience, as you won’t get great yields until about year three or four. Sad, but true.
Once you do get blueberries, pick them as needed and frequently to encourage continued production.
Will you be planting blueberries this year?
~Mavis
Ani says
I have 7 plants that I haven’t killed yet; a small miracle, as I have black thumbs. I read your posts for inspiration. So, I’m curious…how do I know what to prune?
Sarah B says
That was my question, how to prune? I planted 5 Costco sized blueberries last year. (4Gal pots)
Carrie says
I will be removing a hedge of boxwoods and replacing with blueberries in the coming weeks. I am so excited!
Carla says
Why is Patriot your favorite?
Mavis Butterfield says
The blueberries are nice and big. 🙂
Lisa Millar says
Thanks for this! Our three blueberry bushes are quite young (I didn’t know about the pruning… eep) They didn’t do at all well this past season.
Will take on board all the good advice here, along with more water for next season.
My husband LOVES blueberries so it would be great to get an awesome harvest for him to enjoy.
Phyllis says
Blueberries need very acidic soil, 4.5-6.0. Nearly all of the western US is arid with alkaline soil (except for the coast) which makes blueberries a challengi crop. If you live east of the mountains, have a soil test. It will probably indicate that you need to acidify with elemental sulfur (don’t over do it, you can’t reverse the process), and add lots of organic matter including something woody. It’s an organic process to lower pH so… during warm weather wait 6 months and check the pH again. If you’re lucky you finally get to plant. Don’t rush it blueberries are worth the wait.
Kristina says
Thanks for the tips. I already found a good its of varieties for my region (hot and dry summers here), I’ve been dragging my feet about planting blueberries, and now I feel like maybe I can get the process started for bareroot bushes next winter.
Cody says
What’s a good price for a blueberry tree?
Sarah B says
Costco usually carries them for around $20 for a 4 gal pot. A much more mature bush than those you usually find at the box stores.
Cody says
Thanks!
Erin says
How did Sunshine do for you? They are the only variety I could buy locally so I grabbed three and two of them were already in flower. Do they have nice berries?
Cody says
Do blueberries grow better in full sun or shade?
Mavis Butterfield says
Mostly sun but some shade is tolerated.
Kimberley J McCurdy says
I pruned my blueberries for the first time this year. They are only two years old (I’m new at this), and now I’m afraid I’ve killed them. I don’t know the first thing about pruning. I watched some YouTube videos and then had a go at it. Now there doesn’t seem to be any new growth. I hope they’re not dead, we had a large, crop from just two bushes last year, we even put some in the freezer. Is it okay to just leave them unpruned?