How to Plant Blueberries in Containers
Laura from Garden Answer shows how to plant blueberries in containers and fertilize with Espoma’s Holly-tone. Watch the video below to see just how easy it is!
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How to Fertilize Blueberry Plants
There’s nothing like fresh-picked blueberries to add to a smoothie, salad or dessert. Rich in many health-benefiting nutrients, anti-oxidants, and vitamins, blueberries don’t just taste delicious, they’re also nutritious.
The secret to grow delicious, thriving blueberry plants: feed them, a lot.
Maximize your blueberry bushes’ health, help it resist insects and diseases, and boost your harvest by providing the right kinds of soil amendments.
When to Fertilize Blueberries
Fertilizing is recommended in early spring before the leaves have grown in. This gives the fertilizer time to be absorbed by the roots of the blueberry before it enters its active growth stage during summer.
Feed new plants once in early spring and again in late spring. Healthy, established plants should not need to be fed more often than once a year.
Photo courtesy of Bushel and Berry™
The Best Fertilizer for Blueberries
Blueberry bushes respond best to acid fertilizers such as those for rhododendrons and azaleas. Holly-tone has long been used by professional gardeners as the best source of food for berries.
From blocking weeds to conserving water, mulching goes hand in hand with fertilizing and is also very important for blueberry bushes. By feeding as it decomposes, mulch helps to maintain soil acidity. The best mulch options are oak leaves, pine straw or pine bark. Gardeners should spread it in a 3-4” thick layer.
How to Fertilize Blueberries
For established plants, spread one cupful of Holly-tone per foot of branch spread. Double the quantity if branch spread is 3’ or larger.
If the area to be fed is mulched, remove as much mulch as you can, feed, and then restore the mulch on top of the plant food. If you can’t remove the mulch, just double recommended feeding rates.
To lower the pH of soils for optimum growth of acid-loving plants such as blueberries, you can also mix in Soil Acidifier as needed.
Always water well after fertilizing.
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No Way Blue Jay! Keep Birds from Eating Berries
Sun-kissed, slightly tart blueberries. Sweet, juicy raspberries. Scrumptious strawberries as sweet as candy. Sugary, tart blackberries.
Who can resist such delightful, fresh flavors right from the garden?
Certainly not local birds! Crows, blackbirds, robins, jays and more swoop in and eat your berries right from under you!
If you’re growing blueberries (or any berries!), you want to make sure you get to enjoy them, not the birds. Here are our tips for protecting your berries from those hungry birds — while still being kind.
If you’re growing blueberries, make sure you get to enjoy them, not this sparrow. Here are our tips for protecting your berries from those hungry birds — while still being kind.
Take Back the Patch — How to Protect Fruit from Birds, Naturally and Organically
1. Location, Location, Location. Plant or move berries away from hedges and larger shrubs since birds like to rest there.
2. Take Cover! When your berries are immature, add a row cover or bird netting. Make sure the netting is secure, so the birds can’t undo it. This is, hands down, the best way to protect berries.
3. A Sprinkle of Sparkle. Tie a shiny bird scare tape, or foil tape, around your berry bushes or plants to deter birds. Birds don’t like the movement or the tape’s bright reflection.
4. A Dash of Pepper. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around your berry plants as they begin to ripen. This method is super easy, but makes it hard to enjoy eating berries as you pick! You have to wash off the berries before eating to remove any remaining pepper.
5. Snack Attack! Install a few bird feeders to encourage birds to eat there — and not your berry bushes!
Victory! Now, make sure your blueberries continue to thrive by feeding with Holly-tone. Keep the soil acidic, too, with Espoma’s Organic Soil Acidifier.
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The Easiest Blueberries for Beginners to Grow
Grow blueberries in your garden, on your patio or balcony in containers. They don’t take much space or effort. And, once you know the basics, you are good to grow.
Native to North America, blueberries grow well in acidic soil and in areas with at least 140 frost-free days per year. They’re also perfect for organic gardeners since they can easily be grown without pesticides.
Below are our favorite picks for beginners to grow.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown.
Jersey Blueberry – One of the classics in the blueberry world. This reliable plant is super easy to grow and produces pounds and pounds of blueberries.
Blueberry Type: Northern Highbush
Light: Full sun
Size: 6-8’ H x 5-6’ W
Zone: 4-7
Chill Hours: 800-1,000
Ripening Season: Late: End of July-End of August
Taste and Size: Medium blueberries that taste rich and super sweet
Yield: High yield, 7-10 pounds of blueberries
Features:
- Great blueberries for baking
- Fiery orange fall foliage
- Tolerant of many soil types
Photo courtesy of Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Emerald Blueberry – These berries are so enchanted you’ll think they’re from the Emerald City of Oz. This new blueberry variety is one you can count on. Year after year, it produces some of the biggest blueberries you’ve ever seen.
Blueberry Type: Southern Highbush
Light: Full sun
Size: 5-6’ H x 5-6’ W
Zone: 7-10
Chill Hours: 250
Ripening Season: Mid-season: End of May-Mid-June
Taste and Size: Enormous blueberries with a sweet flavor
Yield: High yield
Features:
- Looks great in the landscape
- Dependable in Southern climates
- Grows well in Central and South Florida
Photo courtesy of Bushel and Berry™
Pink Icing – With breathtaking spring and fall foliage and large, sweet berries mid-summer, this gem makes small spaces shine. Plus, these bushes are self-pollinating, so only one bush is needed to produce fruit.
Blueberry Type: Dwarf
Light: Full sun
Size: 3’ H x 4’ W
Zone: 5-10
Chill Hours: 500
Ripening Season: Mid-summer
Taste and Size: Large blueberries with sweet, robust flavor
Yield: Moderate yield
Features:
- Works well in containers or in landscape
- Likes acidic soil
- Beautiful year-round foliage
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How to Plant Blueberries in Containers
Laura from Garden Answer shows how to plant blueberries in containers and fertilize with Espoma’s Holly-tone. Watch the video below to see just how easy it is!
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Blueberry Basics: Know What to Grow
We all strive to live a healthy life and that trend is making its way into the garden. Homegrown organic food doesn’t just taste good, but also packs a nutritional punch. It’s safe to say you’ll be anything but blue when growing blueberries.
Jams, muffins and smoothies are only a few steps away! And if those treats don’t inspire you, get this: When you eat antioxidant-packed blueberries, your brain gets a boost, your belly fat can be reduced and you may even prevent certain cancers.
Blueberries are simply the best. So grow the best blueberry varieties you can!
Answer a few quick questions below, and then skim our Blueberry Variety Guide to find the absolute best type for you.
Berry Basic: Questions to Ask Before Choosing Which Blueberry to Grow
Growing blueberries is easy as long as you pick the right berry variety for your yard. Set yourself up for a berry successful season by answering these common berry FAQs.
1. What type of blueberry works best in your area? There’s a type that works best for each USDA Gardening zone. Find yours using our chart below.
- Half-High – Zones 3-6
- Northern Highbush – Zones 4-7
- Southern Highbush – Zones 8-10
2. What’s the pH of your soil? Grab a soil test and discover the pH of your soil. To thrive, blueberries need a soil pH between 4-5.5. Lower your soil’s pH with Espoma’s Soil Acidifier. This organic alternative is much safer than Aluminum Sulfate. Also, plan to use an organic fertilizer for acidic plants, such as Holly-tone.
3. How many chill hours are in your area? Blueberries need a certain amount of time in dormancy, these are called chill hours. See how many chill hours are in your area and select a blueberry that matches.
4. When do you want your blueberries to ripen?
Early: Some blueberries ripen as early as May and are finished by the start of June.
Late: Other varieties of berries only ripen in mid-August and produce fruit through September.
5. What’s your ideal blueberry taste and look like?
Decide whether you want sweet or tart berries.
Then select the plumpness. Do you want teeny-tiny or super-sized blueberries?
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Blues Legends: The Best Tasting Blueberries to Grow
With vibrant hues of blue and sweet flavor, no summer fruit is better known (or better for you) than the blueberry. These blue wonders play a vital role in health and well-being.
Plant a blueberry bush today and savor the fresh berries all summer.
If flavor is your top priority, you absolutely must add these blueberries to your garden! Just imagine how mouthwatering that first, homegrown blueberry will be! Until then, though, you’ll keep busy! While growing blueberries, be sure to feed with Holly-tone and keep the soil pH low with Soil Acidifier.
Photo courtesy of Richard Shiell for Monrovia.
Southmoon Blueberry – A southern favorite that does well in hot temperatures, the Southmoon blueberry is a delicious pick. The sky-blue berries are a nice touch, too. Plant in lighter, sandy soils and ammend with lots of organic material.
Blueberry Type: Southern Highbush
Light: Full sun
Size: 6’ H x 6’ W
Zone: 6-9
Chill Hours: 300-500
Ripening Season: Early: Early-late July
Taste and Size: Large berries with sweet, juicy blueberry flavor
Yield: Moderate yield
Features:
- Showy white flowers
- Self-pollinating
Photo courtesy of Richard Shiell for Monrovia.
O’Neal Blueberry – The O’Neal produces dark blue berries that taste more like candy than fruit. With high-sugar content, you’ll want to eat these yummy berries right as soon as you pick them. As a semi-upright shrub, you can let this blueberry grow wild and free or train it to grow up.
Blueberry Type: Southern Highbush
Light: Full sun
Size: 4-6’ H x 4-6’ W
Zone: 5-9
Chill Hours: 500-600
Ripening Season: Early: Early May-Early June
Taste and Size: Large blueberries that taste juicy and sugary-sweet
Yield: Moderate yield
Features:
- Produces an extra crop
- Works great in containers
- Dazzling red fall foliage in cool climates
- Evergreen in warmer climates
Polaris Blueberry – If you love to eat blueberries early in the season, the Polaris is for you! The Polaris was developed in Minnesota, so you know it can handle the cold, too! Go ahead, and pair with Northblue to increase blueberry yield.
Blueberry Type: Half-high
Light: Full sun
Size: 3-4’ H x 3-4’ W
Zone: 3-8
Chill Hours: 800+
Ripening Season: Early: Early July-Early August
Taste and Size: Medium, firm blueberries that taste sweet with a hint of acidity
Yield: High yield, 4-7 pounds of blueberries
Features:
- Native
- Very aromatic
- Extremely cold-hardy
- All-season beauty: white blooms in spring and rosy red foliage in fall
Bushel and Berry™ Blueberry Glaze – These berries are small in stature and have incredibly glossy, dark green leaves reminiscent of boxwood, and can easily be sheared as such. Small, almost black berries present in little bundles mid-summer. With their deep flesh color, Blueberry Glaze packs a healthful punch with antioxidant-rich qualities.
Blueberry Type: Dwarf
Light: Full sun
Size: 2’ H x 3’ W
Zone: 5-8
Chill Hours: 600
Ripening Season: Mid-summer
Taste and Size: Small, intense flavor much like the flavor of wild blueberries
Yield: Moderate yield
Features:
- Works well in containers or in landscape
- Likes acidic soil
- Beautiful year-round foliage
Looking for more options? To learn more about blueberries, the best blueberries for containers, how to plant, care for and grow, visit our Organic Blueberry Growing Guide.
Espoma’s Guide to Growing Organic Berries
Grow berries for more than just flavor! They’re filled with antioxidants and they’re good for your heart, body and brain. Plus, the plants look beautiful in the landscape.
Are you ready to plant a blueberry this year? Trust us, they are berry easy — even if you’ve heard otherwise. The trick is to pick the perfect berry for your conditions and to give it the right care.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing Which Blueberry to Grow
Berry Good Advice for Gardeners
The Best Blueberries to Grow in Containers
How to plant blueberries in containers