Fruit · Bush fruit
Blueberries
Vaccinium corymbosumBlueberries are a long-term investment: slow to size up but rewarding for decades once settled into the acidic soil they demand. Two different varieties nearby noticeably improve fruit set and size. The one rule: get the soil pH acidic before planting, since it rarely forgives alkaline ground.
Sow depth
Root ball at soil level
Spacing
4–5 ft apart
Sun
Full sun
Germination
1–2 seasons to establish
Time to harvest
730–1095 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow blueberries
- Sow from about 2 weeks before your last expected frost until about 4 weeks after your last expected frost.
Plant into acidic soil — test and amend to a pH around 4.5–5.5 first.Set container-grown bushes at the same depth they sat in their pot.Mulch with pine bark or needles to hold moisture and keep soil acidic.
Water with rainwater — tap water can raise soil pH over time.Plant a second variety nearby; cross-pollination boosts yields noticeably.Prune out old, unproductive wood each dormant season to renew growth.
Wait for a dusty bloom — fully ripe berries turn deep blue-purple and detach easily.Pick over the bushes every few days as berries ripen unevenly.Berries hold well on the bush, so there is no rush to strip them.
Companion plants
Keep fromBrassicas
Planting alongside other acid-loving shrubs makes shared soil amendment and mulching more efficient.
Watch out for
Chlorotic (yellowing) leaves — Alkaline soil locks up iron and turns leaves yellow between the veins. Acidify soil and mulch with pine bark or sulphur.