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Growing Blueberries In Containers
Growing blueberries in pots is very difficult with standard varieties. Blueberries grow very large and need considerable resources to be healthy.
Fortunately, however, breeders have developed a type of dwarf blueberry bush that can be successfully grown in containers. It is not recommended that you attempt to grow standard varieties of blueberries in pots, because they simply will not thrive.
You will probably need to order your blueberry bushes from a mail-order catalog or online. Most local garden centers and nurseries will probably not carry the dwarf varieties that you need. In fact, I hardly see any blueberry bushes in my local area. I'm not sure why, but I do know a lot of people who grow them. Maybe it's difficult to keep them healthy in their containers in the store until they are purchased. At any rate, everyone I know that grows blueberries ends up purchasing theirs online or through catalogs.
When you receive your plants, they will probably be bare-root plants. You will need to plant them in very large containers, preferably those large, wooden planter boxes that are used for small trees. These containers drain rather well, and they stand up well to all sorts of weather. Plus, they're very attractive. They need to be at least 2x2x2 feet, and if you can get them larger, it would help.
Blueberries require soil that draings very well, but that keeps moisture consistently. The best type of potting mix for blueberries is the type that is made for rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. If you can't find this type, any soil mix that is acidic and containers a lot of organic material like peat moss or sphagnum moss will be fine.
Make sure you choose the proper location for your blueberries from the start. Once these containers are filled, they will be very heavy and very difficult to relocate.
Fill your container about 1/3 to 1/2 full of potting mix. Then remove your plant from it's nursery container if there is one. If the roots are very compacted, gently loosen them, but be sure not to damage them. Place the plant so the root ball is about 4 inches below the top of the container, then fill the pot with soil, making sure not to bury the plant any deeper than it was in its original container. Blueberries need their roots to be right at the surface of the soil, but need a light mulch over the top. So add a bit of light mulch over the top of the roots right after you water the plant thoroughly. Mulch could be pine needles, moss, or coarse bark.
Blueberries need constant moisture, but should never be water-logged. This is why proper drainage is important. You should water very regularly, or provide a drip watering system if possible. In hot weather, you will need to water blueberries every day.
Blueberries are naturally hardy, but you should protect delicate roots during the winter by wrapping the container in blankets, bubble wrap, or quilt batting. As long as the roots are protected, they should live through the winter just fine.
As with the soil, you should use fertilizer that is made for rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. They should be fed every month starting in the spring. You should probably skip July, then fertilize again in August. After August, you should not fertilize any more until the next spring.
Mature blueberry bushes should be pruned lightly, but not until they are three years old. Once they have reached three years, you should begin pruning early in the spring every year. Just remove some of the oldest branches, and snip off any very weak looking twigs. Then you can trim all of the remaining stems by 1/3. Removing a third of the branches forces new growth, and new growth bears the most fruit.
Varieties of blueberries that grow well in containers:
Sunshine Blue - This is the ONLY variety that is recommended for Southern container gardeners. It is only about three feet tall, is not very particular about its soil, and only needs about 150 hours of winter chill. It has large berries that ripen in July.
Northsky - This is a great blueberry for very cold climates. It only grows about 18 inches in height, but may spread as much as three feet. Its berries ripen in the middle of the summer.
Bluecrop - This is a drought-resistant variety, and may be a good choice for very busy gardeners who might not be able to water consistently. It is cold hardy, and produces very well. It grows large, light-colored berries that ripen in July.
Earliblue - This is similar to Bluecrop, but ripen in June rather than July. |
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