Blueberries are a tasty and nutritious fruit borne on a plant beautiful enough to be an ornamental. They are easy to grow and relatively pest-free as long as a few simple growing rules are followed. A well-prepared site, planted right, will pay dividends of a lifetime of fruit.

Soil Needs
Blueberries require an acid soil with a pH of 4.5 - 4.8. A pH of 5.0 or higher is too high! We highly recommend you have your soil tested and amended prior to planting blueberries.

Hint: Instead of removing or rototilling sod apply Roundup™ to a 2'-3' wide strip when the grass is 4"-6" tall. This will be the row for your plants. To reduce your soil pH to the proper level, apply sulfur to the strips according to the pH chart below. Allow herbicide to work a minimum of five to seven days and reapply to problem perennial weeds. Dig holes 1' x 1' x 1' and mix the soil with 50% moist peat moss and 2 oz. sulfur, then replace. Now you're ready to plant when the plants arrive. After planting, cap off the surface with 1" soil to prevent excessive drying of roots, then water plants, and apply 3"-4" of older wood chips to the entire planted strip. Reapply wood chips in the fall to maintain a 4"-6" base.

Woodchips can be a great mulch that is inexpensive. Your local highway department will usually give them away.

Warning—Sawdust or leaves can limit or prevent rains from reaching the soil. We recommend using drip irrigation placed under the mulch. Then you may apply water at your convenience and know the water is getting to the root zone where it is needed.

Consult your local Cooperative Extension service for advice on how to test your soil. Cooperative Extension will be able to advise you on the proper procedure and materials to lower the soil pH, using amendments such as sulfur, sawdust, wood chips, old leaves or compost. Excessive sulfur can be toxic. Mix with the above materials for best results. It is best to get a soil test for an accurate pH reading, applying sulfur at the proper rate per hundred square feet.

We recommend approximately 10-12 lbs. of sulfur per 6 plants (250-300 sq. ft.)

Any peat not covered with soil will wick moisture away from the plant. Plant stock at the same depth that they were grown in the nursery. Be careful not to plant too deeply, and do not let the roots dry out during the planting process. We highly recommend the use of a material such as Agri-gel (available from Nourse Farms). After planting, pack the soil back in firmly around the roots and water in thoroughly.

Flower Removal
Remove all the flowers during the first year. Do not permit berries to develop, as they will restrict shoot growth.

Fertilization
Do not overfertilize these plants, as it can cause root burn. Wait 4-6 weeks after planting before fertilizing; then go through with 1 oz. ammonium sulfate in a circular band around each plant. In subsequent years add 2 oz. at bloom time and another 2 oz. one month later in a circular band around each plant. Do not apply fertilizer in late summer or early fall. This could lead to new, succulent growth which is susceptible to winter injury and may lead to entry points for disease. If feeding with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10, try to select a fertilizer with potassium sulfate and not potassium chloride. Blueberries can be adversely affected by potassium chloride.

Yellow leaves on blueberries can be quickly corrected with a foliar application of 1 tablespoon iron chelate in a gallon of water sprayed over the leaves. You should see greener leaves in a few days. However, the real culprit may be that the soil pH is probably too high. Have your soil tested for pH and amend as directed.

After 2-3 years of establishment, you should be getting 12-18 inches of new growth each year. If not, recheck your soil pH and use more fertilizer.

Pruning
No pruning is required for the first 3 years. Then blueberries should be pruned annually during the dormant period. Remove the lower, weak branches and branches less than 6 inches long. Old and mature heavy branches in the center should be removed to allow air and sunlight to penetrate. Your goal is to eventually have 12 canes per plant. Canes should be a mix of different ages and any canes over 2 inches in diameter should be removed. New wood produces the largest fruit.

Mulch
A heavy mulch is good for water retention and improves the general health of the plant. Wood chips and/or sawdust are the best mulches. When using these mulches, you may need to use a little extra nitrogen in your fertilization, in order to maintain good growth.