Gram’s Hints for growing Blueberry
plants.
Blueberry
Plants are one of the best bushes for any size garden. They
can be grown in large containers, like
the old-fashioned half-barrels, they can be grown as a single specimen
plant,
and they can be grown as hedging.
Blueberry
plants are relatively easy to grow, they require a minimum of care, and
are
seldom bothered by pests.
Blueberries,
in general, have an upright growth habit, with lovely bell shaped
blossoms in the spring, intense green foliage and the gorgeous berries
in the
summer, brilliant red and orange and yellow fall foliage, and
interesting shape
and branch appearance for winter. Many
varieties do very well in the hot and humid weather in the South. Some varieties do
grow in a low, spreading habit, or in a shorter height.
The
plants like a sunny, well drained, acidic soil, with a pH level of
approximately 4.5 to 5.
Due
to pollination issues, and the self-sterility of some varieties, we
recommend
at minimum two varieties, and generally two plants of each variety. Bees and other insects pollinate the bell shaped
flowers. It is never necessary to
spray insecticide around or on your berry plants. Blueberries
are one of the easiest plants to
grow organically. Please protect the pollinators, otherwise you will not have berries. Also blueberries have thin skin. So, if you
spray hazardous chemicals on the berries, more chemical will be absorbed
by the
berry than on thicker skinned fruit.
To
plant loosen the soil. The root holes do
not have to be too deep, but allow for enough depth in relation to the
roots of
your plants. In regard to spacing, I prefer
a lot of room around our plants, generally five to six feet around each
plant. Think carefully about their use, and the area that you have available. Some people do not allow for the future
growth of their plants. Then plants have
to be uprooted or cut out. I like to allow plenty of room to be able to
walk
around the plants when they are fully grown.
Also, how are you going to mow down rows, or around a specimen
plant? Leave enough room for the future
pathway of your mower, anywhere from six to ten foot wide rows.
Good
quality peat moss is extremely important to establishing your plants
well. A bale should be sufficient for about four
to
five plants.
Place
some peat moss, or peat moss and soil mix, in the hole and mound it up
for the
roots to dangle over; spread the roots out over and around the peat
moss. You can fill in with either peat moss, soil
or a mixture. Make sure that you
thoroughly wet the peatmoss/soil around the
plant. If the peat moss is dry, it could
wick moisture away from the plant. Blueberries like to be high in their
growing
area…don’t sink them in to a well. But
do not pile up dirt, or mulch, too high around the stems of the plant
either.
The
plants like to be mulched, to retain water to conserve moisture; prevent
weeds;
and add organic matter to the soil. It
is also a good idea to help to keep the peat moss in place. Place a couple inches of peat moss around
the base of the plant, and cover with bark, preferably not treated or
colored
types; pine needles; acid compost; sawdust; or grass clippings. Again, do not plant the bush deep in a well,
or pile too much dirt up the stems. Keep the plant a bit up for good
drainage,
and mulch several inches thick around the plant. Blueberries
are shallow rooted. It is important to mulch
them to retain moisture. One caution for mulching
over many years: do
not mulch too heavily. Let the mulch
break down to improve the soil. But, be
aware, that after multiple years of doing this, too much mulch may lead
to the
roots spreading out up in to the mulch.
Fertilize
with a type that is good for Azaleas and Rhododendrons. But
do not over fertilize. Once in early spring, and
a second time in
late spring is good. Cottonseed meal is
a good organic fertilizer.
Water well after fertilizing
and through the early months
to establish the plants. As the plants become more productive,
maintain enough moisture to keep the berries plump. Do
not water or fertilize after late summer,
or early fall.
As
the plants grow, they require a minimum of pruning to improve their
growth
habit, and ease of harvest. Blueberry bushes shouldn’t need much pruning
until
fully mature, six year old and over. A
few branches may need to be pruned to keep the plants growing up, and to
not
crowd their centers. Use care in pruning…take
out any
dead wood, and any growth that is crowding other stems. After
maturity, prune some branches to keep
the centers open to the sunlight, and any deadwood.
Blueberry
bushes produce fewer and larger berries on nicely pruned plants; and
more, but
smaller, on heavily budded plants.
You
can have a small crop of blueberries the first year, on two year old
plants. It is best to give the plants a
year to settle in to the garden and grow.
Wait until their three year old year prior to harvesting. Blueberry plants will be fully mature, with
large crops, by their six year old year.
They will continue to live and produce for many years afterward.
Mature
plants can each produce up to five pounds of fruit over a two to three
week
production season, and up to twenty years or more of relatively carefree
growing.
Harvested
blueberries that are not going to be eaten immediately can be easily
frozen. Take off any stems, and pick out
any spoiled or damaged fruit. Freeze on
a cookie sheet and put into freezer storage bags, or containers. Shake out what you need. They
will keep in the freezer indefinitely. Look for
recipes elsewhere on our website.
Sharing
with our feathered friends is a kind gesture.
Most of the time, you will not be too troubled by birds. You
might have
to sacrifice some berries to the birds, however. Netting
and ribbon are ways to reduce the
problem if birds become an issue.
Blueberry
plants yield healthy delicious fruit on plants that offer four season
interest. They are a terrific asset to
any size garden, from a patio to a farm.
The Greenhouse At Morgan Lane
2214 Columbus Road, Delano, TN, 37325
Off Rte.
163-Bowater Road, Delano, TN, 37325
use either McMinn County Routes 969 or 970
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N 35° 16.039’
W 084° 36.236’
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