How to Grow Blueberries

Delicious, nutritious and easy to grow . What more could a gardener ask for? Well, for starters, I'd ask for the birds to stay away from them. But how can you blame them for enjoying this great summer snack?

Many fruit trees are simply too big and require too much maintenance for the average homeowner. Not so with a blueberry bush. Once your blueberry bush is planted and established, it will grow well for years with a little sunshine, water and occasional shot of fertilizer.

Did you know? Blueberries can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cancer. As if the great taste wasn't enough reason to eat them in large quantities......

The month of July is Blueberries Month. That's because the blueberry harvest in most areas of the country is during July.

Select healthy young plants from a reputable nursery or garden supply store .

Plant them in the spring. Blueberries grow best is full sun. They need acidic soils with a pH of 4.0 to 4.5. They like clay and other poor or rocky soils. You may need to increase the acidity in your soil to grow healthy bushes. Space blueberry bushes about five to six feet apart. We recommend rows eight to ten feet apart. They will tolerate a little crowding. Mix in healthy amounts of compost and other organic matter. Keep a thick layer of mulch around your blueberry bushes to eliminate weeds, and help keep the soil moist. Water well after planting and in the first few weeks as necessary to promote good root growth.

Now the waiting begins. A new bush will produce fruit in the third year! After that, your bush will thrive for many years to come with just a little care and maintenance.

Add fertilizer once in the spring and again in late summer. The latter application will help to promote buds for next year.

 Buds for next year's fruit forms in late summer through early fall. Blueberry buds for next year will form on second year wood. Keep this in mind when pruning. Pruning is recommended in the winter. As you prune the newest growth, you are reducing production for the following year. As you cut well down an established stalk, you are cutting reducing fruit production for the upcoming year.

So, what does a home gardener do? First and foremost, remove any dead or diseased branches and stems. Then, cut away a few stalks from bushy plants. And, trim back your bush to maintain an acceptable height. But, be careful not to cut away more than 1/2 of the newest growth.

Keep in mind pruning leads to healthier plants and fewer, but bigger berries.

 The Birds and the Blueberries

Forget the story of the birds and the bees. We're talking the "birds and the blueberries". Specifically, birds love blueberries. Both home gardeners and commercial growers quickly find this out. And those birds can be oh so smart! I realized this one day as I walked amidst the blueberry field of a farmer friend of mine. He had bought an expensive sound system which alternately played a variety of predator bird sounds and calls. I watched as a small flock of birds munched on plump blueberries right next to a speaker.

If you are going to grow blueberries, you need a plan of attack to keep the birds away. One approach is to simply share your fruit with them. As a fellow bird lover, this may not sound too bad. But, you will need several bushes to keep your family and the birds satisfied.

We recommend you make those birds feel blue. Take the fruit of your labor away from them. The most effective means short of a shotgun is bird netting. It is relatively inexpensive and will last for a few years.