Description
In cold climates, you can harvest Blueberries for up to 6-8 months of the year, by growing early, mid and late season blueberry plants. The Blueberry plants we sell are self-pollinating but yield more and bigger berries if cross-pollinated with another cultivar.
Soil Type
To survive, your blueberries MUST have well-draining acidic soil with a pH between 4.2 and 5.5. It should retain moisture but never become waterlogged. Under these conditions, they can produce delicious fruits for 30 to 50 years.
This blueberry plant is already planted in acid compost and peat moss. It is in a 20L nursery bag (20cm wide) and will need to be planted in the ground (50cm width x 50cm depth) The base soil is one bag of acid compost mixed into your soil. Good drainage is essential.
Whether planted in a pot or in the ground, your base soil is one bag of acid compost mixed with any other soil—potting soil for containers and compost or your garden soil in the ground. Place it into the mixture at the same depth as in the 19cm pot to ensure that the crown is not covered and the roots are not exposed. It should be level with the ground. Planting too high or too deep stresses the plant and threatens its long-term health.
If growing in a pot, the size required is at least 50x50x50. You can mix acid compost with potting soil before planting. Good drainage is essential.
Mulch
Mulch is a good way of preventing weeds and reducing the rate of water evaporation from the soil.
Apply organic mulch to your tree all year round. Use from 2 to 5 centimetres of pine bark mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture, and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot.
Position
Blueberries do best when in full sun in aspot where they are protected from the wind. They will survive in a little shade. If you have more than one blueberry bush, plant them together in a patch near to one another.
Size
A mature blueberry bush can be between 1 metre to 1.5 metres in height, with a spread of about 1.5 metres.
Watering
For the first two or three weeks after planting your blueberry bush, give it between 2 and 5 litres of water per week (unless there’s been rain). Once it is established, you can water it well every third day. Never allow the soil to dry out completely. If it has dried out (perhaps in extremely dry conditions), give it a slow, gentle soaking.
Fertilising
Use compost of old vegetable and fruit peels to add excellent nutrients to your soil and keep it acidic. Do not fertilise with manure, worm tea or coffee grounds as they are too intense for blueberries.
Use our slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertiliser Berry-All-plant Fertiliser Apply 1 teaspoon every 4-5 months.
Pruning
These delightful little berries grow on the short side shoots produced during the previous year’s spring and summer. So, be sure not to cut these off. Prune your bush when it is about 5 years old. The best time to prune is in winter; only the dry branches and branches that have borne much fruit during the season need to be cut.
Harvesting
Different varieties of blueberries ripen at different times of the fruiting season. There are early-season, mid-season, and late-season varieties. So, choose a variety from these blueberry types to get the most out of your plants. This will extend the fruiting period of your harvest by a few months.
Don’t rush to pick the berries the moment they turn blue. Rather, wait a few days. They are perfectly ripe when they readily fall off the twig and into your hand.
