Are Blueberries Easy to Grow?
With the proper light, soil, and water blueberry bushes are easy to grow. Plant in full sun and moist, acidic soil for optimal growth. We carry several varieties so you are sure to find a blueberry plant or three that suits your needs! Blueberries, like apples, grow best when they are able to cross-pollinate with another variety, but we do carry self pollinating Blueberry varieties for those of us with small spaces.
How to Plant Blueberry Bushes
When planting Blueberry Bushes, dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and not quite as deep as the root ball is tall. Place your plant evenly in the hole. The top of the root ball should be slightly higher than the existing soil line. Backfill with the soil you dug out. Water deeply until the water begins to pool on the ground surface. Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch to reduce watering needs and help eliminate weeds. Water daily for the first week and 2 to 3 times weekly for the first 2 months until your plant is established.
How Far Apart do You Plant Blueberry Bushes?
Give Blueberry Bushes plenty of space to grow. To determine how far apart you should plant your Blueberries, find the mature width of the Blueberry varieties you have chosen. Use the mature size plus at least 1 foot to measure out your planting area. For example if your bush grows to 5-6 feet wide, plant the bushes at least 7 feet apart from center to center of each plant. If you want to create a hedge for landscape purposes, plant closer, but no less than 5 feet.
How to Prune Blueberry Bushes
Prune Blueberries in late winter or early spring. Young bushes and dwarf blueberry bushes rarely require pruning. Pruning established Blueberry plants can increase fruit yields and the health of your plant. Consider that the best portion of your crop will emerge from strong, newer, upright canes on the top half of your bush. Start by pruning back any low spreading branches. Remove the oldest canes all the way to the ground. Prune back any overgrown canes to match up with the rest of your bush. Remove the short, thin shoots that will not be able to bear a load of fruit. Do not remove more than ⅓ of you plant per year. Remove dead or broken branches when you notice them.
How to Grow Blueberry Plants
Plant Blueberry Bushes in full sun and acidic, well-drained, but moist soil. Blueberry plants will be the most productive if you keep the soil moist during the growing season. Fertilize in spring with a very berry fertilizer.. Keep your plants mulched throughout the year to help the ground retain moisture and protect the roots during temperature extremes. Blueberry Bush care is easy if you have acidic soil. Plant in sun and water! Growing Blueberries in a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.5 will get you the best results. If your soil is not acidic you will have some challenges, but your soil can be amended with elemental sulfur or even compost to lower the pH. Planting Blueberries in pots is another option to keep things simple when you have difficult conditions.
Can you Use Blueberries as a Landscape Shrub?
Blueberry shrubs make great hedges! You don’t need to hide your fruit plants in the backyard! Practical and beautiful, blueberry bushes look lovely in the landscape. Prune in late winter to early spring to the size and shape you desire. Flowers, berries, and great fall color…what more could you want?
Read more about our Best Bushes for Fall Color.
Blueberry Bush Types and Varieties
Rabbiteye Blueberry Bushes
Rabbiteye blueberries, like Brightwell, Climax, Powderblue, Premier, and Tifblue perform best with cross-pollination so you want to choose more than 1 variety. These tasty berries will provide you with a huge crop that you can share! Rabbiteye blueberries are heat and drought tolerant as well as pest resistant. These blueberries grow best in the southern United States.
Vaccinium virgatum ‘Brightwell’ Growing Zones 7, 8, 9 Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide
The Brightwell blueberry, is a heavy producer and fast growing blueberry plant. This blueberry bush is self-fertile, but will produce heavier yields per plant if you pair with a different variety like the Tifblue. The Brightwell is the most cold hardy of the Rabbiteye blueberries.
Vaccinium ashei 'Climax' Growing Zones 7, 8, 9 Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide
The Climax is a southern rabbiteye blueberry that can provide an abundant crop in the very first season. Being an early producer, you won’t have to wait for your blueberries! Highest yields will occur when crossed with a Premier or a Tifblue.
Vaccinium ashei 'Powderblue' Growing Zones 7, 8, 9 Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide
Easy to grow, low maintenance and delicious, the Powderblue Blueberry is a great choice for the home gardener. Cross pollinate with the Tifblue or the Brightwell for maximum yield.
Vaccinium ashei 'Premier' Growing Zones 7, 8, 9 Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide
A vigorous fruiter and attractive in the landscape, the Premier Blueberry is sure to be a winner! This large, plump, sweet berry is great for eating plain or baked in a pie.
Vaccinium virgatum 'Tifblue' Growing Zones 7, 8, 9 Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide
The hardy Tifblue Blueberry produces an excellent harvest year after year. This Blueberry shrub is a tried and true southern rabbiteye. Cross-pollinate with the Brightwell for the best yield.
Northern Highbush Blueberry Bushes
Northern Highbush Blueberries are the most commonly cultivated blueberries. These popular berries tend to be sweet, large, and plump. Northern Highbush blueberry plants are cold hardy and self-fertile so you don't need a pollinator for grow these delicious blueberries. Although cross pollination will increase the yield of individual plants.
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluecrop' Growing Zones 4, 5, 6, 7 Mature Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Bluecrop Blueberry plants have huge, juicy berries. These Blueberry Bushes offer a mid-season blueberry harvest with high yield. This variety is disease resistant and is the most popular Northern Highbush blueberry.
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Blueray' Growing Zones 4, 5, 6, 7 Mature Size: 5 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
These Blueberries are a huge, all-purpose fruit with dessert quality flavor. The sweet berries are versatile; eat them fresh, freeze them, bake them, or cook them! Whatever your heart desires, these berries will suit your needs. Blueray Blueberries offer a mid-season blueberry harvest with high yield.
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Jersey' Growing Zones 4, 5, 6, 7 Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide
Jersey Blueberries have plump, delicious fruit. Your kids will eat these yummy berries endlessly! This blueberry is a late season berry with a high yield. The Jersey blueberry plant makes a lovely landscape shrub or hedge. It has very pretty, fiery fall foliage.
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Toro’ Growing Zones 4, 5, 6, 7 Mature Size: 5 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
The Toro is a heavy producing, self pollinating, beautiful Blueberry Bush that doubles as an excellent landscape shrub. The multi-purpose berries are large, juicy, and sweet and great for fresh eating, cooking, and baking.
Southern Highbush Blueberry Bushes