Blueberries are sometimes referred to as nature’s candy, with a juicy, sweet flavor few can resist. But there’s really no reason to try and resist them, as this fruit is among some of the healthiest foods you can eat.
These purple berries offer long-life health benefits that far exceed their tiny size, thanks to being packed with antioxidants that help boost the immune system, and guard against cancer and heart disease.
They’re rich in proanthocyanidin, something that’s been shown to aid in weight loss, fight cancer and help one to enjoy younger looking skin.
Blueberries are also a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, manganese, and potassium.
Why wouldn’t you want to grow buckets full of blueberries with all that nutrition and flavorful taste too?
Eat them right off the bush, add them to plain yogurt or use them in smoothies and baking.
Of course, you probably just want to know how you can grow your own, right?
The good news is that blueberries are long-lived, dependable, and some of the easiest fruit to grow organically.
Certain species are native to particular regions of North America, but some type of blueberry bush can be grown just about anywhere, provided you have acidic soil with a pH below 5.0.
They can also be grown in containers filled with a bark-based, acidic planting mix.
Tips to Grow Blueberries in Pots
No matter where you live you can grow blueberries in pots. Here are the container, soil, mulch, and fertilizer requirements to aid your success.
1. Blueberries produce satisfactory yields if planted in containers or raised beds with mixtures of peat moss, sand, and pine bark. This will give it the acidic soil it needs to thrive. Depending on the size of your plant, you only need a container between 12 and 18 inches deep.
2. Sandy soils are ideal for growing blueberries. If you are growing in sandy soil, drip irrigation should be provided because most blueberries are not drought tolerant. Do not plant blueberries on heavy clay soils that have poor internal drainage, which will cause root decline and poor vigor.
3. Blueberries are a low maintenance plant and are easy to grow, but they are sensitive to excessive fertilizer. Instead of one high-dosage feeding, apply fertilizer two or three times a year at low rates. Organic slow-release fertilizers are best.
Avoid fertilizers that contain nitrate forms of nitrogen, which may slow plant growth. Instead, use fertilizers with nitrogen in the form of urea or ammonium.
Check the fertilizer package to determine the form of nitrogen that it contains. The most effective and most commonly used nitrogen fertilizer for blueberries is ammonium sulfate (21-0-0).
4. Mulch is vital for growing blueberries, especially during the first 2 years of planting. It helps acidify the soil, control weeds, conserve soil moisture, and moderate soil temperatures. Apply a layer of mulch 2 to 3 inches deep over the exposed soil in your container.
Appropriate mulches include peat moss, pine straw, pine bark, leaves, and grass clippings. Do not use barnyard manure, which has a high salt content.
5. Once the fruit begins to ripen, protect your berry harvest from birds by isolating the crop. Netting continues to be the most complete and effective way to reduce bird damage in small fruit plantings. It is the most durable and with proper care, may last up 10 years. You can purchase bird netting or find something at the local fabric store. This fabric or netting is placed over the plant once the bush has stopped flowering and sets fruit.
