Growing Blueberries in Containers To Get Delicious Fruits

Growing blueberries in containers is an excellent idea if you do not have a garden at home. Even if you have enough in-ground garden space to plant this antioxidant-rich fruit, growing blueberry in pots is simple and successful.

They are high in vitamins and thus are incredibly healthy for you, and they can be prepared and used in various recipes but are frequently edible straight from the bush. Read our blueberry-growing guide and learn how to keep them in containers.

How To Start Growing Blueberries in Containers?

To start growing blueberries in containers, you must select a good variety of blueberry and pot first. Prepare the soil and then plant the seeds in it. Add the correct amount of fertilizer and prune the plants when needed. When they’re grown enough, harvest them and enjoy your berries.

1. Identify the Varieties of Blueberry Bushes

Growing blueberries in pots indoors can be done with a variety of types. In the US, lowbush, northern highbush, southern highbush, rabbiteye, and half-high are the five main types of blueberries grown. The most widely cultivated varieties of blueberries worldwide are those in the northern highbush family.

Lowbush Blueberry: As the name implies, lowbush blueberry varieties typically grow under 1.5 feet tall and are truer bushes than their highbush counterparts. Plant multiple cultivars for an abundant fruit yield.

Even though cutting the plants back to the ground every two to three years is advised, these kinds of bushes require little pruning. Top Hat is a lowbush, dwarf variety employed in ornamental landscaping and container gardening. Another lowbush type contains ruby carpets.

Northern Highbush Blueberry: Native to the eastern and northeastern parts of the United States are various types of northern highbush blueberry bushes. They can reach heights of 5 to 8 feet. Growing blueberries in containers, Ohio can be done by using this type. Highbush cultivars include Jersey highbush blueberry plants which are one of the sweetest.

Rabbiteye Blueberry: They are native to the Southeast of the United States and can reach heights of 6 to 10 feet or more. They were developed to flourish in regions with long, hot summers. They are more prone than northern highbush blueberries to damage from the winter cold.

Many of the older cultivars of this kind have stone cells, thicker skins, and more noticeable seeds. Growing blueberries in containers in Texas can be done by using this type. Some cultivators include Climax, Brightwell, Powderblue, Premier, and Tifblue.

Half-high blueberries are a hybrid of northern highbush and lowbush berries and can withstand temperatures between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants are 3 feet tall, produce medium-sized blueberries, and prosper in containers. They don’t require as much pruning as highbush varieties. Varieties like Bluegold, Friendship, Northcountry, Northland, Northsky, Patriot, and Polaris are popular.

2. Choose a Location and Pot the Blueberries

Once you’ve chosen the best blueberry plant, you’ll also need to find a location where it can grow successfully. Choose a sunny area with well-tended, drainage soil that is weed-free. Avoid planting next to trees as they obstruct sunlight and absorb moisture from the soil.

To keep the roots of blueberries moist throughout the growing season, it is ideal to plant blueberries in an area where water is easily accessible. In poor soil, patio pots are acceptable alternatives. When it comes to Blueberry plants in pots, winter is the season when they must be protected to avoid root rot because containers do not offer sufficient insulation from the cold.

Bury containers in the ground in mid- to late-October, where snowfall is anticipated, and plants will be protected from brisk winter winds. Ensure the container has plenty of drainage holes at the bottom and is well-draining. The pot needs to be at least 24 inches deep and 24 to 30 inches broad to allow for ample room for root development.

3. Prepare the Substrate

The ideal pH range of the soil for a blueberry bush plant is between 4 and 5. If it is higher than this, you must take action to lower the pH of your potting soil around your blueberry shrub. The best way to get this is to amend the soil with sulfur granules. The pH will decrease by one point when around one pound of sulfur is added.

This needs to be plowed or worked into the soil. You should incorporate this into the soil three months before planting blueberries, and in doing so, the sulfur can bind better with the soil. You can also use acid peat or coffee grounds as a natural way to acidify the soil. Adding around four to 6 inches of peat or coffee grounds should be worked into the soil to make it acidic enough.

If you don’t reside in a region where the soil is naturally acidic, no matter how thoroughly you prepare it for a blueberry plant, the soil pH will revert to its average level in a few years. Thus, you should do something to preserve it.

Once or twice a week, water the blueberries with 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 1 gallon. While this is a short cure, it is not permanent and should not be relied upon to lower the pH of blueberry soil over the long run.

4. Plant the Blueberry Seeds

Your plants need to be planted now. Equally, distribute the seed across the moss before covering them with a very thin layer, yet it’s crucial to avoid making this layer too thick. Keep the moss damp but not drenched. The seed should start to sprout in a month.

It’s best to grow blueberries in the fall or spring. Blueberries can be planted up to 6 feet apart to grow separately or as close as 2 or 2.5 feet apart to build sturdy hedgerows. Allow 8 to 10 feet between each row if you are planting in rows. Young bushes can be started by growing blueberries in 5 gallon buckets.

But as the bushes mature, be ready to move them into bigger pots or perhaps a half wine barrel. According to the University of Maryland Extension, the container must be between 24 and 30 inches wide and at least 24 inches deep.

5. Add Fertilizer to the Plants

You can inquire about recommended fertilizers at your neighborhood garden center, but once established, blueberries frequently benefit from acid fertilizers like azalea or rhododendron formulas.

They are vulnerable to overfertilization. Blueberries should only be fertilized as directed on the label. Instead of fertilizing at the time of planting, you should do so one month later. For optimal results, fertilize your plants twice in early and late spring, and always follow up with good watering.

6. Mulch the Plants

Mulching is the process of covering the exposed surface of the garden with a layer of an outside substance. When growing blueberries in pots commercially, mulching is typically used. The health of the soil is greatly improved by mulching with organic materials like pine bark, pine needles, leaves, hay, wood chips, sawdust, or other organic materials.

Sawdust can be utilized as mulching material, especially softwood sawdust that has been well-composted. For the first few years, using fresh sawdust with an additional 50 to 100 percent nitrogen might be essential to account for increased microbial activity. Well-decomposed sawdust doesn’t need as much extra nitrogen.

Composted sawdust is helpful when combined with mulch. Sawdust can be added to the soil. Peat moss added to the planting soil results in increased yields as well. Well-kept mulch helps keep the soil cool, loose, and consistently moist while assisting with weed control.

A 4-foot strip of soil, 4 to 6 inches deep, must be covered with mulch in the center of a row of blueberry plants. As mulch ages, it has to be renewed. Mulch degradation encourages root growth and enriches the soil with organic resources.

Root exposure could happen if mulch is not renewed as it degrades due to aggressive root growth. The benefits of mulching continue as long as the mulch is changed as needed.

7. Water the Plants Regularly

The roots of blueberries resemble a jumble of threads and are hairless, and they are delicate to changes in soil moisture because they lack root hairs. In the daytime, water the plants. Keep the soil damp but not drenched. During the growing season, water them at least every week and up to 4 days per week when the fruit ripens.

Maintain soil moisture up to 1 inch in depth. Water the plant evenly from all angles. Smaller berries may result from insufficient water as the buds begin to form in the late summer and when the fruit grows the following summer. Large and bland fruit can result from using too much water.

8. Prune the Blueberries

For pruning blueberry bushes in pots, you should only remove damaged or rubbing canes for the first two to three years. Remove the large fruit buds in the first year to encourage vegetative development and aid in establishing the root system. Pruning regulates the crop to improve the quality of the fruit.

In a few years, when the bushes have reached maturity, cut off older central canes and prune laterals that point inward toward the main cane. Late winter or early spring is an ideal time to prune. A cold winter could destroy the new branches, so fall pruning is not advised.

9. Harvesting the Plants

After watering the plant regularly, the next step is harvesting. Summer is when berries ripen. However, the exact timing varies depending on the variety. In other words, planting two or three distinct types will allow you to lengthen your harvest seasons more than planting just one.

With variances ranging from a few days to many weeks, some ripen slightly earlier in the season than others. The central element in determining when the fruit will ripen in your climate zone. Depending on your state, the blueberry harvest season lasts from March through September.

The earliest harvest is in Florida, starting in late March, while the latest is in Maine and Idaho, finishing in late September. You can have fresh blueberries throughout the majority of the year by growing a few different cultivars, as there are numerous distinct blueberry kinds with various harvest times.

Conclusion

Blueberries are one of the easiest-growing fruits because of their short roots. Grow them by keeping these points in mind.

• Pick the correct location and the correct size of pot to grow your blueberries in it.
• Add soil to the pot and put your seeds in it to grow your berries. Add fertilizer and mulch your plants. Prune them at the correct time.
• Water your blueberries regularly. Your plants are ready to harvest starting from summer.

Blueberries can be used to make plenty of dishes and eaten raw directly from the bushes as well, and you can easily grow them without a garden at home. Follow this step-by-step guide to grow your very own berries.