If a local farmer handed you a cup of fresh picked blueberries as a gift, what would you do with them? Some people can eat blueberries out of hand, but the berries are a little too tart for my preference for that. There are so many great recipes that can include fresh blueberries, from blueberry muffins, to blueberry waffles and blueberry pies.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for a generous local farmer to hand you a cup of blueberries. It is not hard to grow your own blueberry plants and pick your own fresh blueberries every summer. With all the varieties of blueberry plants available, there are plants that can be successfully grown in just about any state in the continental U.S.
Some people who plan to live in their current home for a long time and have a sunny side yard or back yard can plant the blueberry trees in the ground. The only thing you need to do to prepare the ground for blueberry plants is to dig a deep enough hole spaced about five feet apart for full size varieties, and check the pH level of the soil. Blueberries like a highly acidic soil, so make adjustments if needed to keep the pH level between 4.0 and 4.5 by adding sulfur or acid peat to the soil. Plenty of sun, regular watering and pruning the canes back once a year in the fall will give your blueberry plants the best chance for a successful growing season and plentiful harvest.
People who might be moving to a new home within a year or two, or who live in an apartment or condo without a backyard, do not have to miss out on planting blueberry trees. There are several dwarf varieties that grow well in containers. The containers can be placed in full sun on a patio or balcony and then moved to the new living quarters with the rest of the household goods.
Blueberries do not need a lot of care. When planted properly and watered well, they grow steadily and produce berries the second year. Other than an early frost, the only thing you have to protect blueberries from are birds. If birds are getting to the berries before you do, try draping a large netting over the trees and using natural bird scare tactics like moving, shiny garden decorations and pinwheels.
The best, plain English and thorough web site that I found about planting and growing blueberries is the Cornell University Department of Horticulture web site. The University’s gardening advice is not just for New York gardens, they address the best varieties of blueberry plants for all the different temperate zones and provide information on many other fruits and vegetables. Their “Guide to Growing Fruit at Home” is available for a free download as a PDF file or you can click on the link for each type of fruit individually.
If considering growing blueberries in your home garden or in containers, be sure to shop from reputable nurseries and order a plant that is three years old. Plants that are three years old have a much greater chance of surviving the shipping process and adapting to a new home. With proper care and a little luck, you should be collecting your own cup of fresh picked blueberries the next summer.
