Blueberries are a superfood packed with antioxidants and many other beneficial nutrients that are so good for your body. You only need to eat one cup of blueberries a day to get 24% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Since they are so good for you, tasty, and add a pop of color to any dish, why not learn how to grow blueberry plants in pots at home?
During spring, the plant blossoms out with tiny, white flowers which turn into blue summer berries so these are really pretty plants to have growing on your deck or balcony.
Blueberries form in clusters but ripen at different times. A few days after the berries turn a deep blue color, you can hand-pick them and they’ll come off the bushes very easily.
Note: if you are on blood thinners, consult with your doctor before increasing your blueberry intake. They are high in vitamin K which can have an effect on blood thinning.
Even if you are homesteading from your apartment, you can also join in the fun and start growing your own blueberry plants in pots.
Suitable Containers for Blueberry Plants
CONTAINER: At least 45cm/ 18 inches. Choose a nice large pot so there is space for the roots to grow
MATERIAL: Any non-porous material
SITE: They can grow in partial shade but do better in full sun
Common Varieties of Blueberry Plants
Generally speaking, you get two main types of blueberry plants; early-season plants and late-season plants, and these will produce berries, yes in the early part of the season, or the late part of the season.
There are four most common types:
* Rabbiteye
* Hybrid Half-high
* Lowbush
* Highbush
The Highbush variety is the most frequently grown type of blueberry plant.
Starting Off Growing Your Blueberry Plants
The best way to begin is to buy a young blueberry plant or even one that already has fruits or flowers. Some people would see this as çheating, but if it works for you, then go for it! If you do decide to grow them from seed and you are successful, you’re going to wait anything from two to four years before you’re able to add these pops of blueness into your smoothie.
Plant two or more together, or in two pots close to one another (no more than 1 metre/ 3 foot apart), and you’ll find that your fruit will get better year after year.
During the planning phase, also consider growing companion plants with your blueberry plants. This is an easy organic way to naturally deter pests, weeds and protect your plants.
Preparing the Soil for Your Blueberry Plants
Blueberry plants are acid-loving plants. One of the reasons is because they are rich in zinc and iron.
You can buy acid (ericaceous) soil or you can create soil with the correct pH levels yourself. When growing your blueberry plants in pots, mix this ericaceous soil with peat – this will help them grow best and assist with drainage.
Test the pH level of the soil and if it is still too alkaline, add elemental sulfur that you can pick up from your garden center, and mix it into the top six to eight inches of soil around the stem of your plant.
It will take a couple of months for the soil to reach the correct pH levels, so if you are planning to do it this way, prep the soil in the fall so that it’s ready for your plants in the spring.
Fill the pot leaving 5cm/ 1 inch from the top for water. Make a hole in the soil large enough for your new plant, carefully drop the plant into the hole, fill with more compost/ soil mix and press it down so your new blueberry plant stands firmly.
Once it is in, give it a good watering.
Help Your Blueberry Plants Mature Faster
If your plants are still very young, or you’ve grown them yourself from seed, snip off the first flowers. Pinching off the first two or three white flowers, and continuing to do this for two or three months, will encourage your plant to focus on root growth and development, as well as producing healthy foliage.
If the roots and leaves and branches are strong and healthy, the bush will mature faster and start producing fruits.
Mulching Your Blueberry Plants
Use bark or pine needles as a natural mulch and fill around the top of your plant. These organic materials are fairly acidic and will help the soil naturally. Doing this also helps prevent the stem from becoming too wet.
Feeding Your Blueberry Plants
During the growth phase, feed them fortnightly with a balanced feed formulated for acid-loving plants.
Watering Your Blueberry Plants
If possible, use rainwater to water your blueberry plant. Tap water will make the soil less acidic, but if that’s all you’ve got then it’s better than nothing.
When you water your plants, moisten the soil up to 6 inches from the stem. Either stick your finger into the soil to feel the moisture, or use the moisture reader..
Water your plants often from spring to autumn, and then slow down during the winter period.
Cover Your Plants with Netting
It’s not only humans who love these berries – birds and other creatures love blueberries too! When your plant starts to produce berries, cover it with netting to keep the birds and animals away.
Pruning Your Blueberry Plants
Plants over three years old must be pruned annually at winter time.
When pruning your plant, use clean shears and remove the top one-third of the branches, as well as any dead or unproductive branches. Doing this will make room for younger branches and will ensure better growth and fruit production when the weather starts to get warmer.
Summary
Blueberry plants can be finicky but follow the instructions and most importantly, get the pH levels of the soil right, and don’t forget to feed it.
If you buy a plant from your garden center, ask for some advice, place it in a sheltered area in the sun, and pretty soon you’ll have gorgeous little fairy-like bell flowers turning into really tasty blueberries for you to snack on.
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