The most common edible plant question I get asked is how to grow blueberries. What’s not to love? Delicious off the bush, they cost a lot at the grocery store, and when you grow your own, you avoid needless pesticides.
I planted four blueberry bushes my first garden season, and just two seasons later we harvested more than we could eat. A couple of years after that, we began selling our excess at a local farmer’s market.
Growing Blueberries when Soil Isn’t Perfect
But, I know not everyone experiences the beginner’s luck that I did. That may be why my list of 4 Mistakes Beginning Gardeners Make when Growing Blueberries is one of my most-read articles.
The truth is, you can grow blueberries pretty easily, as long as they live in the right soil conditions. My soil pretty much came packaged in a pretty, 4.8 pH bow, but I have had lots of people ask me about what to do when their soil isn’t perfect for blueberry growing.
I’ve also had readers ask me questions about growing blueberries in containers, which I don’t have any experience with either.
That’s why I decided to ask horticulturist Lee Reich to chat with me on the Beginner’s Garden Podcast all about growing blueberries.
Lee gives great information on growing blueberries that every beginner and seasoned gardener alike can put to use in their own gardens. Click below to listen or scroll down to read Lee’s tips on growing blueberries:
4 Soil Requirements for Growing Blueberries:
Acidic Soil
The most important requirement of blueberries is an acidic soil. This is non-negotiable. Lee recommends a pH of between 4.0 and 5.5, with 5.5 being the absolute maximum.
My first season I tested my soil. The 4.8 pH revealed I needed to amend my general garden quickly, but this proved perfect for growing blueberries. I believe this is why I have had success from the very beginning. The soil pH matters, and it matters so much that it’s worth your time and money to do a soil test.
Organic Matter
Blueberry bushes love a soil rich in organic matter. I amended my soil before planting with compost and pine needles. Peat moss is also often recommended. Apply a layer of mulch each season not only to keep the soil moist and weed-free but also to continually nourish the soil with the organic matter the bushes love.
Not Too Fertile
Although blueberry bushes enjoy organic matter, they don’t necessarily thrive in highly fertile soil. So skip the fertilizers (especially synthetic ones).
I did not apply any fertilizer to my bushes until they were a few years old. Then I began supplementing them with an organic form of nitrogen, such as organic cottonseed meal or soybean meal.
Moist and Well-Drained
Blueberries need ample water, especially the first year as they establish themselves. The root systems are extremely shallow, taking up the top few inches of topsoil. This leaves them vulnerable to drying out, so ensure they stay watered. I recommend a heavy layer of mulch to limit evaporation and to discourage weed growth, which will compete with the bushes for water.
But, don’t go overboard with the irrigation. Blueberry bushes do not like “wet feet.” Avoid planting bushes in a low-lying area of your property, especially if your soil contains a high percentage of clay content, which will retain moisture.
If Your Soil Isn’t Acidic Enough
What do you do if you test your soil and discover its pH falls above 5.5?
It’s time to get serious about amending that soil. Lee recommends adding pelletized sulfur at the following rates for every 100 square feet to lower the pH by 1 point:
- 3/4 pound for sandy soil
- 1.2 pounds for loam soil
- 1.5 pounds for clay soil
For example, if you have a pH of 6.5, and your soil test tells you that you have loam soil. You will want to lower your pH by 1-2 points. Thus, you would spread 1.2 to 2.4 pounds of pelletized sulfur for every 100 square feet of blueberry growing space.
Keep in mind that it takes time for the pH of a soil to change. If you can start amending your soil in the fall, this is ideal. However, if you’re reading this in the spring, it’s not too late. Under many circumstances, blueberry plants do not start showing stress from high pH right away.
Growing Blueberries in Alkaline Soil
Perhaps your soil test reveals not only an absence of acid soil but it swings the other way. It’s not just a couple of pH points high — it’s higher than that.
Fortunately, there is hope for you, if you’re willing to put in some work, or as Lee says, hire the labor of a high school student.
- Excavate an area about three to four feet in diameter per plant and two feet deep.
- Remove all existing soil in this planting area.
- Add a mixture of half well-draining non-native soil (bagged organic garden soil is one option) and half peat moss.
- Plant your bushes in this new soil.
How to Grow Blueberries in Containers
*note: some links below contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Many people want to grow blueberry bushes in containers. Maybe you don’t want to worry with amending your soil. Or you don’t have a place to plant them. Or you don’t plan to live in your current home for years or decades. Here are some special considerations for growing blueberries in containers:
Watering
Blueberries in containers will dry out much quicker than those in the ground. Make plans to provide consistent irrigation. I’ve personally found this moisture meter
helpful in knowing when my container plants need water. (I’m notorious for over-watering a plant!)
Over-Wintering Blueberry Bushes
In the winter, your blueberry bushes may need to be moved to a cool, but not cold location. Temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees give the bushes the chilling hours needed, but they won’t get so cold that they will die. In very cold areas, it might be necessary to bury the container in the ground for extra insulation or relocate to a south-facing are of the house.
Potting Soil
Just like the soil in the ground, it matters what kind of soil your container-planted blueberries grow in. Lee recommends half well-drained soil and half peat moss for containers.
Blueberry bushes will need their soil changed periodically. Lee recommends every one to two years to keep the bushes healthy.
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Whether you decide to grow blueberries in containers or in the ground, the advice Lee gives should help you get started with your own blueberry paradise!
Connect with Lee Reich:
His blog, LeeReich.com
Books by Lee Reich: (affiliate links)
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I’m going to plant some blueberries this spring! but I live in Montana and blueberries don’t grow naturally here; what we get naturally are huckleberries and they only grow in very specific conditions…. so I’m going to put them in pots and see how that goes. Here is a link that I found helpful – https://cashmannursery.com/gardening-tips/2010/growing-blueberries-in-montana/ – people in the northern part of the US may find this helpful as well
That’s great! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve looked into it a little more and it looks like blueberries are a lot of work to maintain in Montana. A local nursery has suggested that I grow Haskaps instead; which are similar to blueberries in many ways (but they say are technically closer to tomatoes… weird!) they have only been available in the USA for a few years; they’re from Saskatchewan! They do great in harsh climates. I just ordered 4 bushes from the nurserie’s presale! I’m so excited to get them in the ground in the spring!
I’ve never heard of those, but they sound interesting! You might have just saved yourself some time and money by asking locally — I wish more people would do this! Best of luck!
Haskaps are also called Honeyberries and you’ll need two different for pollination (they are pretty tart) – blueberries are a lot of work in containers but they are amazing and worth it, you’ve never had a blueberry until you eat one right off the bush!