Blueberry Growing

Tip Sheet

Chose plants best suited to your climate.  There are many varieties to choose from. At Skyridge Farm, we have over 15 types of blueberries. Purchasing a variety of plants ensures you harvest berries throughout the summer.

Dig a hole for your plant, twice as wide as its pot and soak with water.

Add organic matter when planting.  Try grass clippings and leaf litter.

Blueberries thrive in acidic soils: ph 4.5-5.0.  Clay soils can be amended with peat moss and sand; limey soils can be amended with extra sulphur to help reduce alkalinity. Peat moss, pine bark, and pine needles can be used to organically reduce pH. You can use fir sawdust, piling six inches or more around the base of bushes to keep the soil acidic.

Cover with a 3 inch layer of mulch to prevent weeds and water loss. Shredded bark and leaf litter work well.

Fertilize regularly.  Foliar sprays are a very efficient way to give your plants the nutrients they need.  Other fertilizers can be spread on the ground.

Water evenly and sufficiently to encourage deep roots.  Young plants benefit from 3 gallons of water every 3 days.

Prune after the 3rd year. Once established, you can remove dead or diseased branches, branches that are crossing, as well as controlling the size and shape of the bush. Prune during the late winter when the plant is dormant. In the spring, thin blossoms to prevent over-fruiting until branches are sufficiently strong to support the full weight of the fruit.