How to Grow a Blueberry Bush

[gjensen]

Y'all have sandy soil? Never would have guessed that unless you are coastal.

Yes sandy soil as far as you can dig. I am not on the coast, but where the coast used to be. We are on what is called the Sandhills. A sand ridge that runs across the middle of the State. The hottest driest part of the State. West of me has red clay soils, and east of me has a nice sandy loam soil.

 

[gjensen]

Quote:
It gives me an excuse to trial different plants. lol.

 

[xomaybekatie]

I have 8 blueberry bushes and got zero blueberries last year because wildlife ate them all. I bought netting so I hope that helps this summer.

 

[sunflour]

I have 8 blueberry bushes and got zero blueberries last year because wildlife ate them all. I bought netting so I hope that helps this summer.

So sorry, I know that was disappointing. Hopefully the netting will work.

I have my new 8 bushes protected from deer, but hope with 8 can share with the wild birds and still get some for me. Maybe I should be thinking about netting next year too?

 

[A-K-A]

I live in Central Alabama. Is it too late to plant blueberrys this year?

 

[gjensen]

I live in Central Alabama. Is it too late to plant blueberrys this year?

No, but you will have to take extra care to water them frequently enough.

When the root ball stays intact, it is similar to planting a pot in the ground. The roots they have are just the root ball. You would not have to water them as much as you would if it was a pot exposed to the sun, but dry ground will leach moisture away if you just water the area around the plant, so the bed should be watered.

The ideal time to plant is when it cools down in the fall. Then the have the fall, winter, and spring to establish themselves before the heat of summer. If you do not want to wait until fall, plant them now. Just water them enough to keep the entire bed moist, and mulch them well so the ground the are growing in stays cooler.

Some shelter from the western sun that is the hottest part of the day is helpful. Blueberries can tolerate partial shade, but fruit better in full sun. My thinking is that they need 8 hours of sunlight to fruit well. That 8 hours can be interrupted by some dappled sunlight for short periods. I would prefer if all of my full sun plants are shaded late in the day, here in the south.

Another thing I have come to prefer is that my early fruiting varieties do not fruit as early if they get early morning shade early in the year. As much as a week or two later depending on the year and how much. Evergreens are best for this shade, obviously.

The more acidic organic material in the soil that you add the better. If you are in north Alabama clay, I would prefer raised beds. Otherwise, I would not prefer them.
Pine bark based soil conditioners are good to add, but it does not hold a lot of moisture. Some well rotted oak leaves is helpful. Peat moss is to, and especially for it's ability to absorb and retain moisture. I prefer all three to make up about half of the bed's contents if the soil is sandy. The more organic material in the soil, the less I would need to add.

During the growing season, they can use anywhere between one and three inches of water per week. This depends on their growing conditions. This is for an established plants, so keep that bed moist, and throw the individual plants a little extra water. Once they are leafed out next spring, you will be happy with what you see.

Southern High Bush varieties have many advantages, but they are not as durable and forgiving as the rabbit eye varieties. If you pick Southern High Bush varieties, put more effort into things being just right.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
It gives me an excuse to trial different plants. lol.

I have 8 blueberry bushes and got zero blueberries last year because wildlife ate them all. I bought netting so I hope that helps this summer.

lol, honestly I dont get much of the berries either. NEtting is a great option. THe big field of blueberries at the vegetable stand has the netting ready to spread, with an 8 foot . . . hmmm I think it is higher than that . . .. and the netting bundled at one end for now. I hope I will pass by often enough to see when they cover the blueberries to keep out the theifs.

I live in Central Alabama. Is it too late to plant blueberrys this year?

ALmost never too late to plant most things-- George gave you a great tutorial so I hope you will give it a go.

I'm biting my nails to prevent myself from buying any blueberries this year. I just goota be patient. Still need to remove more trees here. I looked at the senerio at 6 pm and there are a number of trees that block the late day sun. Might need to check how many hours the main area gets and go from there. Afterall the wild blueberries are thriving under the current conditions. LPerhaps because we removed much competition and that let in more sun light than they were getting.

 

[Arielle]

George-- I'm stuck at this point about top dressing or more like mulching the wild blueberries with horse manure. The choice of manure is: fresh with lots of pine shavings, 3-4 month old material of the same combination, older mostly composted manure and a very special mound of coveted black gold which is a combo of top soil and very well rotten manure.

I have more manure than I know what to do with. lol

 

[A-K-A]

 No, but you will have to take extra care to water them frequently enough.

 When the root ball stays intact, it is similar to planting a pot in the ground. The roots they have are just the root ball. You would not have to water them as much as you would if it was a pot exposed to the sun, but dry ground will leach moisture away if you just water the area around the plant, so the bed should be watered.

 The ideal time to plant is when it cools down in the fall. Then the have the fall, winter, and spring to establish themselves before the heat of summer. If you do not want to wait until fall, plant them now. Just water them enough to keep the entire bed moist, and mulch them well so the ground the are growing in stays cooler.

 Some shelter from the western sun that is the hottest part of the day is helpful. Blueberries can tolerate partial shade, but fruit better in full sun. My thinking is that they need 8 hours of sunlight to fruit well. That 8 hours can be interrupted by some dappled sunlight for short periods. I would prefer if all of my full sun plants are shaded late in the day, here in the south.

 Another thing I have come to prefer is that my early fruiting varieties do not fruit as early if they get early morning shade early in the year. As much as a week or two later depending on the year and how much. Evergreens are best for this shade, obviously.

 The more acidic organic material in the soil that you add the better. If you are in north Alabama clay, I would prefer raised beds. Otherwise, I would not prefer them.
 Pine bark based soil conditioners are good to add, but it does not hold a lot of moisture. Some well rotted oak leaves is helpful. Peat moss is to, and especially for it's ability to absorb and retain moisture. I prefer all three to make up about half of the bed's contents if the soil is sandy. The more organic material in the soil, the less I would need to add.

 During the growing season, they can use anywhere between one and three inches of water per week. This depends on their growing conditions. This is for an established plants, so keep that bed moist, and throw the individual plants a little extra water. Once they are leafed out next spring, you will be happy with what you see.

 Southern High Bush varieties have many advantages, but they are not as durable and forgiving as the rabbit eye varieties. If you pick Southern High Bush varieties, put more effort into things being just right.

I wasn't expecting fruit this season. We want to establish some bush type. Your info was outstanding.

 

[gjensen]

George-- I'm stuck at this point about top dressing or more like mulching the wild blueberries with horse manure. The choice of manure is: fresh with lots of pine shavings, 3-4 month old material of the same combination, older mostly composted manure and a very special mound of coveted black gold which is a combo of top soil and very well rotten manure.

I have more manure than I know what to do with. lol

I would not mulch with it, but side dress with it, providing that it is aged. You can send it here. LOL. This sand consumes it as fast as I add it. It is hard to stay ahead.