How to Grow Blueberry Plants in Northwest Florida

Test the soil prior to planting your blueberry patch in the early spring. The University of Florida reports that the best time to plant blueberries is between mid-December and mid-February, as soon as the soil is workable. Blueberries require soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.2. A soil-testing kit will help you pinpoint your soil's acidity level.

Loosen the top 12 inches of soil with a spade or pitchfork, and amend if necessary. Add lime to the soil if the pH falls below 4.5, or peat moss if the pH is above 5.2. Mix the amendment in with the broken soil according to the packaging instructions.

Prepare the holes for the blueberry seedlings. Dig holes 5 feet apart in rows spaced 10 feet from each another. Set one blueberry seedling in the center of each hole and back fill. Pat the soil to remove air pockets.

Water the blueberries weekly with a soaker hose. Maintain moist soil to a depth of 2 inches at all times. The average yearly rainfall in Florida is 50 inches, not quite enough rain to sustain the water needs of blueberries. In some areas of northwest Florida, twice a week waterings may be necessary if there is no rain.

Spread bark chips or straw around the blueberry plants to improve drainage and reduce weed growth. A 3- to 4-inch layer should suffice. Mulching also protects the roots of the blueberries from the hot Florida sun.

Harvest the blueberries as they ripen in the summer. Harvest times in northwest Florida depend on the cultivar. Jewels, Stars and Emeralds ripen between mid-April and mid-May, while rabbit eyes ripen later in the season, usually between late May and July. Use your fingertips to twist the fruits from the branches when they are light blue in color.