Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden

— Written By
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Cyndi Lauderdale, Wilson County Horticulture Extension Agent

Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden

Blueberries can be grown in home gardens and can be used in the landscape as hedges, mass plantings, or as single specimen plants. Blueberries are an ideal year-round addition to the landscape. They have delicate white or pink flowers in the spring, the summer fruit has an attractive sky-blue color, and the fall foliage adds red and yellow colors to the landscape.

Blueberries require a lower pH than many other small fruit crops. Before planting, take a soil test to determine lime, sulfur, and fertilizer needs. You may also need to incorporate 3 to 4 inches of compost. Blueberry plants require excellent soil drainage. Full sun is desirable but up to 50% shade is usually acceptable. Yield is reduced with increasing shade.

Rabbiteye (V. ashei) types of blueberries can be grown best in our area. The rabbiteye is drought and heat-resistant and will tolerate a wider range of soil types. Rabbiteye varieties begin to bare in mid-June. More than one rabbiteye variety must be planted to provide the cross-pollination required for maximum yields. The following varieties are in order of ripening from early to late and successful for home gardeners: ‘Climax,’ ‘Premier,’ ‘Tifblue,’ ‘Powderblue,’ ‘Centurion’ Highbush.

To plant, purchase 2 or 3-year-old nursery plants, 12-36 inches tall in late winter (Feb-March). Plant rabbiteye varieties every 6 ft in the row and 10-12 ft between rows. Plant to the same depth as the plants were growing in the nursery. Prune approximately 23 of the top growth on bare-root plants and 12 on potted plants leaving only 1-3 of the most vigorous upright shoots. Remove any remaining flower buds (plump rounded buds), so that the plants will not flower the first year. Do not fertilize immediately after planting. Wait until the first leaves have reached full size, then apply 1 Tbs of a special azalea fertilizer, 12-12-12 or 10-10-10 within a circle 1 foot from the plants. Repeat application of fertilizer at 6-week intervals depending upon rainfall or irrigation until mid-August. Mulch plants with bark, wood chips, sawdust, or pine straw, 3 to 4 inches

If the plants are cut back severely as recommended following planting, little pruning will be required in the second year except for removing all flower buds and any weak, damaged or diseased growth. Use a similar pruning strategy in the third year with the exception that several flower buds can be left on vigorous shoots. In the fourth year, the bush should be 4-5 ft tall and capable of handling a crop, but carefully thin flower buds to prevent over-fruiting and severe permanent bending of young canes under the fruit weight. When bushes are mature, remove old canes that are weak, diseased, or damaged; cut back tall, vigorous shoots to force branching at a lower level and to control bush height, and thin fruiting shoots to reduce the number of flower buds by about 50%. Excessively tall and limber shoots will need cutting back to stimulate branching and strengthen the shoot. With mature bushes that are excessively vigorous, cutting back the excessively vigorous shoots in late July will help control bush height and increase yield. Remove suckers (shoots developing a distance from the crown). Prune during the dormant season.

For more information on blueberries see the NC State Extension website (search blueberries) or contact the Master Gardener℠ volunteers in Wilson County at 252-237-0113 or email at wilsonemgv@hotmail.com.

Photo Credit: Bill Cline