-
Choose Containers and Blueberry Plants
If you've grown other
fruit-bearing plants,
you know you're in it for the long haul. Your plants can happily
produce fruit for years with relatively little care, but you'll want to
start them off right. That means putting them in as large of a pot as
possible. Pick one that's at least 18 inches deep with drainage holes.
Half-barrels and other deep, wide containers work well for the long
term.
When choosing plants, blueberries need friends. To get your
blueberries to fruit, you will need at least two plants for pollination;
three plants are even better. Place your plants fairly close together.
It’s also a good idea to grow a couple of different varieties of
blueberries that produce fruit at different times to extend your
blueberry season.
Moreover, it's important to choose a plant variety that's right for
your climate. There are four main types of blueberries: highbush,
lowbush, rabbiteye, and half-high. Within these types, there are many
more varieties to choose from. Ask a local farmer or nursery to learn
what will thrive in your area. You might also choose a variety based on
the desired size of the fruit. Large berries tend to be good for eating
while small berries are usually preferred for cooking.
-
Acidify Your Soil
Blueberries require
acidic soil.
Most need soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 to thrive and produce berries.
Because most garden soil doesn't naturally come close to these levels,
this is one of the main advantages of growing blueberries in containers.
You can easily buy or create an acidic blueberry-friendly potting mix
to ensure your plants will thrive.
To get started with the right soil mix, fill your pot two-thirds full of regular potting mix and the top third with a
potting mix designed for acid-loving plants, such as
rhododendrons,
azaleas, and camellias. You can find this mix at most nurseries and
garden centers, as well as the houseplants section of some home centers.
If you can't find a high-acid potting mix, you can add fertilizer for
acid-loving plants into your soil.
-
Water Your Plants
Blueberries need lots of water, but they also like sandy,
well-draining soil. In other words, they don't like to be sitting in
water, so try to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
When it rains, don’t assume that you don’t have to water your plants.
The leaves of the blueberry plant can act as an umbrella, preventing
water from making it into the container. So always check the soil with
your finger to see whether it’s wet about an inch or two below the
surface. If you have to leave your blueberry plant and can't water it,
move it into some shade to conserve water. It's also helpful to add a
layer of
compost with a topdressing of pine bark to retain some moisture.
Maintain the Right Amount of Sun
-
Blueberries need around six to eight hours of sunlight per day. It's
easy to overestimate how much sun an area gets, so it's ideal to take
the time to accurately measure the light in your garden. One simple
method is to use a watch to time the hours of full-sun exposure on a
typical day during the growing season. However, if you live in an area
that gets very hot afternoon sun, be aware that blueberry plants can
overheat. They likely could use some light shade during this part of the
day.Fertilize
-
Blueberries don’t like too much fertilizer. Fertilizing in the early
spring typically works well. For organic fertilizer, try blood or
cottonseed meal or an organic fertilizer designed for acid-loving
plants.
Furthermore, don't just fertilize and forget. Test the soil's pH
regularly to keep it in the sweet spot for acid. Because acid washes out
of soil over time, you might find that it's more effective to start
with a half dose of fertilizer in the spring and then add a light
monthly dose throughout the growing season.
-
Watch Out for Pests
Birds love blueberries just as much as people do. The best way to
protect your fruit from feathered poachers is to surround your bushes
with bird netting a few weeks before the berries are ripe. Bird netting
may be a pain, but it works.
-
Winterize Your Plants
When the growing season is over, protect your plants for the winter
ahead. Blueberries are tough plants, but if you live in a cold-winter
climate you should move your containers against a building or into a
protected area to keep them out of the wind. You can also mulch your
plants with straw or wrap them in burlap. In the winter while the plants
are
dormant, they don’t need much water. But don’t let them dry out completely.
I also want to tell you were get this more info on Blueberries The Spruce.
Very cool site edible insects Just Click on PIC enjoy.
Edible Insects Just Click on PIC enjoy.
Get for Joke Gifts--
Great for party-
Great for a contest who can get
the most BUGS
Comments
Post a Comment