Blueberry Plant

Blueberry Plant

Blueberries thrive in an environment that has temperatures no lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. You may need to test the soil prior to planting the blueberries to ensure there are proper soil conditions. The US Highbush Blueberry council recommends planting blueberries in acidic soil ranging from a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and an acidity of 4.09 and 5.0. Many local gardening centers sell soil testing kits or can perform a test for a small fee.

Plant the blueberries approximately 4 to 5 feet apart in a location that has full sunlight and ample water drainage. Allow approximately 10 feet in between rows, in order to have space for tending to the plants. Ammonium sulfate or an acidic 10-20-10 mixture can optionally be added as a fertilizer. Blueberries have shallow roots and you should aim for one or two inches of water per week, taking care not to over-water the bushes.

Prune flower blossoms that appear on the blueberry bushes, even during the first few years when there is no fruit to harvest. This will help encourage plant growth. Blueberries should be pruned around March, removing any dead parts of the plant and keeping the plant thinned out to allow ample sunlight to the middle of the bush. A blueberry plant with too many fruit blossoms may yield an abundance of small fruit. Most blueberry plants cannot self-pollinate, so you may want to consider planting a different variety of blueberry plants so they can cross-pollinate with each other.