Everyone has a pecking order when it comes to berries – even the birds do – but as humans, we are geared towards a berry that pecks a few boxes; deliciousness-ability, store-ability and grow-ability. For those reasons, blueberries are often the favoured berry to plant in the patch.
Blueberries have a particular taste in soil, favouring a much more acidic soil level than the others, looking at a pH range of 4.0-5.5. To help alter the soil you can mix through pine needles or use a special blend of potting mix from your local nursery.
Although blueberry plants are self fertile, meaning they don’t require a pollinating partner to produce fruit, all varieties tend to improve their production if grown in clusters of plants. We suggest a love triangle of three is sufficient for small spaces.
PLANTING
Dig hole slightly deeper than the root ball, place in the hole and cover back over until ground level is restored. Make sure that the stem is vertical and then water in with fish fertiliser or seaweed extract. Mulch with either pea straw or lucerne hay to a depth of 2-3cm immediately after watering.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the first 4 weeks and 3-4 times a week in the absence of rainfall thereafter.
In Pots: Water daily, in the absence of rainfall, for the entirety of the warm season, and then cut back to watering every second day during the cooler times of the year.
MAINTENANCE
Mulch well to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, but keep away from the trunk to prevent rot. Apply an all-round fertiliser to soil when growth begins in early spring. Canes that have died or bared fruit in the past season should be cut down at ground level during winter.
HARVESTING
Time until first harvest: although new plants may produce some blueberries in the first year, it will take at least 1-2 of growth until you get some meaningful fruit
How to harvest: let blueberries ripen on the plant and then gently pull from the cluster using ‘soft hands’ as opposed to the ‘oversized brute hands’ you normally enlist for help
TIP
Need to be planted in groups to remain fertile. Grow at least three plants together to ensure viability. Blueberries need a highly acidic soil, so try digging in some pine needles prior to planting, which will pull down your pH.
