It ’s so easy and successful to raise blueberry in pots that you might require to give it a effort even if you have enough way in your garden for this antioxidant - rich yield . If you require to grow blueberry but your soil is n’t right for them , you should grow them in pots . Blueberry plant life can thrive and bear yield in containers in any domain that receives full sun . Just be aware that grow blueberry plants in pots ( or anywhere else ) requires some forbearance . As with most fruit - bearing species , it can take a few geezerhood for plants to produce fruit .
Growing blueberries in containers is a corking pick for gardeners short on outer space . With the right conditions , techniques , and care , blueberry bush bush can produce an abundant harvest home on your patio , balcony , or front steps .
Choose the Right Container
The first step is pick the utter container for your blueberries :
5 - 7 gallon jackpot , minimum – Blueberry roots run deep , so grant adequate room .
Full drain holes – Holes in the bottom allow supererogatory water to run out out .
porousness – Unglazed terra cotta wood plastic and more work well . Avoid non - breathable material .
Shorter over taller – Wide , shallow pots are better than narrow and deep
For each blueberry bush , select a container at least 16 - 18 inch wide and deep Rectangular or oval shapes work good than round pots . Match your container vogue to your quad whether traditional terra cotta , modern metal , or rustic wood .
Choose the Best Blueberry Variety
appear for compact bush variety suited to container when buying blueberry plants :
‘ Top Hat ’ – An other season dwarf reaching just 2 foot tall . unfearing and very productive .
‘ Peach Sorbet ’ – A mid - season Chuck Berry with a seraphic flavor . Grows 2 - 3 feet tall .
‘ Pink Lemonade ’ – fairly pinkish fruits in mid - summer . A heavy give dwarf assortment .
‘ Sunshine Blue ’ – For late harvests of tasty berries . Semi - dwarf at 3 - 5 foot .
‘ Jelly Bean ’ – Early , compact bush utter for small space gardens .
find fault 1 - 3 variety with different harvest multiplication to enjoy blueberries all time of year . Buy young plants from your local greenhouse or an online seller .
Prepare the Right Soil Mix
Blueberries require acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 - 5.0 . So mix this soilless potting medium :
1 part peat moss – Helps acetify the soil and retain wet .
1 part pine tree bark fine or coconut coir – Provides airflow to roots .
1 part perlite or vermiculite – ameliorate drainage to forestall soggy filth .
you could also use a pre - miscellaneous acid potting ground formulate for blueberries , azaleas , or rhododendron . Incorporate some compost for nutrients . Soilless mixes enfeeble well and are easy to keep uniformly moist .
Plant Your Blueberry Bushes
Fill the clean house containers about midway with inclined soil mix .
get rid of the plant from its nursery pot , tease roots , and place in the container .
Surround with more potting mix up to 1 inch from the rim .
Water exhaustively until it drain from the bottom .
Allow 1 - 3 foot between plants if establish multiple Dubya .
It ’s best to implant blueberry in early spring when the soil has warmed . Bury the root ball a bit mysterious than it was growing in the nursery pot . Firm the soil softly and water well after planting .
Water Your Blueberry Potted Plants
Consistent lacrimation is essential for container blueberries :
determine soil moisture day by day . body of water whenever the top few inches become teetotal .
Avoid letting pots completely dry out , which damages roots .
Use rainwater or non - alkalic water since blueberries choose acidulent condition .
Leach salt monthly by watering until it flows from the drain holes .
install a drip mold irrigation system with a timekeeper makes container lacrimation easy . Mulch around plant to reduce evaporation . If leaves appear wilted , increase watering relative frequency . Proper water is key !
Give Blueberry Bushes Full Sun
blueberry bush bushes produce the sweetest , plumpest Berry when grown in full sun :
Place containers in a pip receiving at least 6 hour of direct sun day by day .
South or west - confront exposure is ideal .
Light afternoon tad assist berries hold back moisture in very hot climates .
Avoid reflected heat from construction or pavement .
Move pots to accompany the sun as needed . deficient sunlight typically ensue in thin , tasteless fruit . Adequate sun exposure really maximizes the takings .
Fertilize for Abundant Fruit
While blueberry plants are light eater , occasional fertiliser boost ripe ontogenesis and fruiting :
Use an acid - base blueberry fertilizer or azalea food . Do not expend general use chemical formula !
practice in former spring , mid - spring , and mid - summer . Also feed after harvest home .
Sprinkle around each bush and start in lightly . Reapply every few month .
constituent fertilizers like cottonseed meal or fish emulsion also nourish container blueberries .
Feed your blueberry , but do n’t exaggerate it ! Proper fertilization prevents alimentary deficiency for the best crop of berries .
Prevent and Treat Common Blueberry Problems
Watch for these likely issuing with container blueberries :
wench – back plants with netting as Charles Edward Berry ripen to keep forth hungry doll .
Aphids or mites – Treat infestations with constitutional insecticidal soap nebulizer .
Overwatering – Excess wet causes base rot . appropriate soil to dry between watering .
Underwatering – Too little water makes leaves wilt . Check territory often .
Sunscald – If leave of absence appear burned , move to light afternoon shade .
humble yields – Insufficient pollination lead to few fruit . Hand pollinate flowers using a lowly brush .
Catch problems ahead of time and take corrective action to maintain healthy , productive plant . take out any diseased berries or offshoot promptly .
Harvest and Enjoy Your Blueberries
The good part about growing blueberry in containers is picking that first good Chuck Berry !
harvest time blueberries when they ferment deep blue-blooded . Leave some green ones for later .
Pick by gently twisting berries off without pulling the George H.W. Bush .
Handle carefully as blueberry contuse easily .
delight fresh or continue by terminate , freezing , or make jelly .
murder any shriveled fruit to encourage new berry production .
Take some berries indoors for a gorgeous summertime table arranging !
Selecting a Planting Site
Lucky for the plants , you might have to move the pots around during the day to check that they get enough sun . With big stool , putting the containers on trilled casters makes it easy to follow the sun .
Types of Blueberries
Moreover , its important to choose a blueberry species and cultivar that s ripe for your climate . Blueberries come in four principal species , with the highbush species being split into northern and southern types . Here are some of the most popular cultivars of each :
There are more cultivars within the specie . To ascertain which ones will thrive in your field , contact a local sodbuster or a nursery professional . You may also settle to choose a multifariousness based on the desired size of the fruit . When eat Berry straight from the bush , bountiful one are better , while small ones are better for cooking thing like pies , crisp , and fix .
Growing Blueberries in Containers! // Garden Answer
FAQ
How long does it take for blueberry bushes to produce fruit ?
How do you grow blueberries in a pot ?
If you ’re grow edible industrial plant on a mat open such as a patio or driveway , place the containers on brick or pot understructure to verify excess water can get out through the drain holes . 3 . Prepare the Perfect Soil Blueberries involve acidic soil to thrive , ideally with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0 .
Can blueberries develop in pots ?
Just be cognizant that growing blueberry bush works in pots ( or anywhere else ) requires some patience . As with most fruit - stand specie , it can take a few year for plants to create yield . Plant blueberries in containers in the spring or late fall in most area . In the coldest zones , expect to institute the bushes in containers until early to mid - fountain .
How to turn blueberry in container ?
Remember that we mentioned blueberry know acidulent soil , so a crucial part of successfully growing blueberry bush in containers is create the correct stain surround for optimal ontogenesis . The ground needs to have a pH orbit between 4.0 to 4.8 for the Bush to imbibe urine and nutrient while also farm the berries . 5 .
When should you embed blueberry bush in containers ?
plant life blueberry in containers in the spring or late fall in most areas . In the cold zone , look to engraft the bushes in containers until too soon to mid - spring . as luck would have it , you may require to move your containers around during the day to assure the plants get the postulate amount of sunshine .
