Blueberries
Blueberries are always lovely to see in the garden, no matter the season. In spring white, bell-shaped flowers blossom then in summer beautiful, sweet berries arrive followed by fiery scarlet foliage in autumn. What is also remarkable about these small berries is that they also have medical advantages; lowering cholesterol and they can also reduce the risk of some cancers. There are many types of Blueberry, however the most commonly found are the High Bush and Low Bush varieties.
High Bush varieties are most commonly grown as they produce large, black and very sweet berries. They also give fantastic foliage in the autumn and can easily be used as an ornamental bush. An advantage of growing the High Bush variety is that not all their berries ripen all at once and normally have remarkably few problems when growing and maintaining. Even in dry periods the berries still produce and grow, not to the same extent as in damper weather, but not total failure. High bush blueberries tend to over crop and so are most in need of pruning, light pruning is better as it ensures even cropping.
The low bush varieties are well suited to the UK climate and just like the High Bush Blueberry, it is best to prune often to ensure an even crop every year. When pruning this variety make sure you either cut them to the ground every third or fourth year or each year remove about a third of the oldest branches.
Selecting the right site for your Blueberries
All types of blueberry plants grow best in full sun. They can be planted in partial shade, however production reduces as shade increases. So it is always best to choose a site that gets a lot of sun. It is also a good idea to plant away from any large rooted trees and shrubs as blueberries are shallow rooted and would not compete well against them for water and nutrients. Make sure the site is free from large rooted weeds as well.
The most important element of growing blueberry bushes is getting the right soil composition. The year before planting your blueberry begin making all necessary soil amendments, remember they like loose, sandy loam.
Blueberries need moisture retentive, well-drained, humus-rich soil with good aeration with soil acidity pH of 4.0 to no more than 5.0 to thrive. When first planting blueberries enrich the soil with good organic compost and keep the pH levels down with a good use of sulphur or acid peat mixed into the top soil.
However, if planting in a large container make sure the compost is a moist acid soil and lime-free (ericaceous) or use a mix of leafmould and lime-free garden compost. Remember if you live in a limey area water with rain not tap water and keep feeding down to a minimum. However, every few years give your blueberry a top dressing of leafmould, compost and/or well rotten manure.
Planting Blueberries
Blueberries are known for self pollinating, but it is always a great idea to plant two or more varieties within a type for a great range of fruit plants. Bear in mind five plants provide enough blueberries for fresh eating for a family of four.
The best time to plant blueberries is in spring after all danger of frost passes, but late summer and throughout the winter is a great time to prepare the ground for next years crop. When preparing the site add a generous portion of peat moss as this increases organic content and ensures continued soil acidity.
When planting the High Bush space them five to six feet apart in rows eight to ten feet distant. Dig holes or make your row three to four inches deeper than the size of the root balls and pack the soil firmly around the roots of each plant. However, with Low Bush varieties space them one to three feet apart in rows three to four feet distant, then cover a third of the top stems with soil as this will encourage runners to develop. More tips can be found in our Planting Guide.
With minimum care once the blueberry bush is established, it will provide crops for decades to come. Minimum input needed and maximum output given.