Description
It is crucial that your blueberries have well-draining acidic soil with a pH of between 4.2 and 5.5 to survive. It should retain moisture but never become waterlogged. Under these conditions, they can produce delicious fruits for 30 to 50 years.
The 20L Blueberry plants have already been planted in the correct soils!
In certain areas, you can harvest Blueberries for up to 6-8 months of the year. They require well-drained, very acidic soil with high organic matter. The soil PH level should be between 4.2 and 5.2. The Blueberry plants we sell are self-pollinating but yield more and bigger berries if cross-pollinated with another cultivar.
Position
Blueberries do best when in full sun 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 2.4 metres in height, with a spread of about 1.5 metres.
Soil Type
Your base soil, whether planted in a pot or in the ground, is one bag of acid compost mixed with any other soil—potting soil for containers and compost or your garden soil in the ground.
Mulch
Blueberries thrive when organic mulch is used to retain moisture and prevent weeds. Use 5 to 10 cm of green pine needles or pine bark to impart a more acidic quality to the soil. Remember to keep the mulch away from the trunk or branches, though.
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
Only fertilise your plant every 6 months with our slow-release Berry/All-plant Fertilizer. Use compost that is made up of old vegetable and fruit peels to add excellent nutrients to your soil and to keep it acidic. Do not fertilise with manure, worm tea, or coffee grounds as they are too intense for blueberries.
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 and 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.
