Tips To Grow Blueberries & Why You Should Grow Them

Why grow berries? Aside from the sheer pleasure of experiencing what a freshly picked, ripe-to-perfection, sun-warmed berry tastes like, berries are brimming with health benefits, and are among the top food sources for disease-fighting nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Loaded with antioxidants, studies show that berries can help prevent heart disease and high blood pressure and can even help improve sleep quality and duration. They are also low in calories, and rich in fiber, which can help make you feel fuller longer if you’re trying to lose weight not to mention great for your gut health.

Other reasons to grow berries – they’re easy to grow, and even if you have limited space, there are compact varieties to suit any yard or even grow in containers.

Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are all great options to grow here in New Jersey. As part of our “Why You Should Grow” segment, we’re including a 4-part series on growing berries, beginning with blueberries, one of New Jersey’s indigenous fruits. The native highbush blueberry was first cultivated for commercial production over a century ago by New Jerseyan and agricultural pioneer Elizabeth Coleman White. White “tamed” the wild blueberries growing in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, creating the nation’s first cultivated blueberry.

Did You Know: You can easily separate sweet blueberries from tart ones by pouring them all into a bowl of water. Sweeter, riper berries will sink to the bottom of the bowl, while the less ripe, more tart berries will float.

Tips for Growing Blueberries

• Blueberries like acidic soil (pH of 4.5 – 5.5) which can be amended with fertilizers that contain the ammonium (NH4) form of nitrogen, such as ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium phosphate, and ammonium sulfate.

• Native to North America, blueberries can easily be grown without pesticides.

• Blueberries need lots of sun – at least 6 hours of full sun each day, with 8 hours being ideal for optimum berry production. Blueberries can tolerate some shade but will not produce as much fruit.

• Most blueberry bushes start to produce fruit in their 3rd year but won’t reach the height of their production until their 6th year.

• Remove flower buds from blueberry bushes for the first 2 years. During the beginning of year 3, remove any low-growing or twisted canes.

• Because their roots are shallow and they need evenly moist soil, it’s important to mulch your blueberry plants. Options such as low pH peat moss or pine needles help conserve water and minimize soil moisture fluctuations.

• Water blueberry plants during the day, keeping the soil moist, but not soggy. Aim for 1” of water per week during the growing season, with up to 4” per week while the fruit is ripening.

• While blueberries can self-pollinate, for best results, plant 2 or more bushes (3 is even better than 2!). The plant diversity will result in larger fruits and a greater yield. Just make sure you choose varieties that bloom simultaneously to ensure cross-pollination.

• You can plant blueberry bushes as close as 2-2 ½ feet apart to create an edible hedge, or space them up to 6 feet apart to grow individually.

• Bird netting can help discourage hungry feathered visitors from snacking on your blueberries. Make sure the bushes are fully covered so birds can’t sneak in from any openings at the bottom.

• Avoid planting blueberries next to kale, peas, cauliflower, beets, garlic, brussel sprouts, asparagus or beans.

• While most varieties of blueberries during dormancy can withstand temperatures below 20OF, as buds begin to expand and green fruit appears, temperature becomes more critical. Damage can occur when temperatures are in the 20’s up to just below freezing, so bushes need to be protected in those conditions.

• Blueberries can make great container plants, but don’t use standard potting soil since that isn’t acidic enough. You can either purchase potting soil specifically made for blueberries or create a 50-50 mix of potting soil and peat moss.

• Choose a container that is at least 24” deep and 24”-30” wide. Because container soil tends to dry out quickly, you’ll probably need to water your blueberry plants daily or several times a day during hot, dry weather.

• Unless your containers are located in a semi-protected location (by a wall or enclosure that helps block wind and retain heat) you may have to place your containers in a sheltered enclosure like a shed or garage to over-winter.

You can find more information on growing blueberries, including a broad selection of plant varieties and their respective characteristics from Rutgers University here – Selecting Blueberry Varieties for the Home Garden.