Blueberries

Photo credit: Oregon Department of Agriculture on Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Now is a good time to get blueberries in the ground. Blueberries generally do well in our climate because they like acidic soils. You can grow them in the ground, in raised beds or in containers. They are attractive plants that can look good planted with other shrubs and perennials. The fall color of the leaves is usually excellent.

Blueberries are partially self-fertile so you don’t necessarily have to plant more than one variety. However, doing so will probably result in more berries.

When planting, select an area with full sun (at least six hours) and be sure that your soil is well-draining. Add a generous amount of organic matter (compost, rotted leaves, etc.) to the planting hole and mix it in well with your native soil. Blueberries have shallow, matted roots that spread. It is therefore recommended that your prepare the planting hole wide. Plant the root ball so that the top is level with the ground. Water well and keep the ground around them moist.  Mulch well with a thick layer of compost, sawdust or ground bark. Since the roots are shallow, avoid cultivating around the plant. Wait until early next spring (before the buds begin to open) to fertilize with an acid-loving fertilizer (the type used for rhododendron and camellia).

For container plantings, use a large pot (at least 10 gallon size). A wine barrel is a good choice but any other type of pot can be used. Use a general soil mix or one for acid-loving plants. Mulch and water as you would with in-the-ground plants. Container plants will require more frequent watering because the soil dries out quicker. Keep the soil slightly moist and make a habit of monitoring how much rainfall we get – a few sprinkles doesn’t necessarily give enough water to fully saturate a large pot.

We currently have the following varieties in 2 gallon pots for $27.99.

We currently have:

‘Bluecrop’ – Midseason, upright growth. Semi-evergreen, self-pollinating. Red fall foliage. 4-5′ tall x 4-5′ spread.

‘Blueray’ – Early to midseason, vigorous, tall, flavorful crisp berries. Burgundy fall foliage. 5′ tall and wide.

‘Chipewa’ – Midseason, large berries with sweet flavor. Fiery fall color. Compact shrub, 3-4 ft tall, 1-2′ spread.

‘Northblue’ – Midseason to late, large fruit with hint of wild blueberry flavor. Red fall foliage. 3-4 ft. tall with 4-6 ft. spread.

‘Sunshine Blue’ – Midseason to late, attractive shrubs (evergreen) with heavy crops of tangy berries. Red/burgundy fall foliage. 3-4′ ft.