How to Grow Dwarf Blueberries

Prepare a potting medium of 1 part sphagnum peat moss and 1 part shredded pine bark. Mix thoroughly in a separate container and set aside. Blueberries require well-drained, acidic soil, and this medium ensures those needs are met.

Fill the bottom of a 5-gallon container with enough of the potting mix to ensure the blueberry is planted at the same level in the new container as it was in the container from the nursery. Place the blueberry in the pot and continue to fill it in with your potting mix. Don't pack the mix down; put potting mix in the pot, water it to let the mix settle and place more mix in the pot. This method ensures there is enough mix to fill the pot without compromising drainage.

Place 2 inches of pine bark mulch or hardwood mulch in the container to help conserve moisture. Place the container in full sun.

Water frequently and in small amounts. Test the container with your finger to ensure the top 1 or 2 inches of potting soil are dry before watering. Blueberries do not tolerate overwatering. Occasionally flush accumulated salt and mineral buildup from the soil by allowing water to freely run from the drainage dish for a minute or two.

Apply a slow-release acid fertilizer about four weeks after you plant your blueberries. Reapply the slow-release fertilizer each spring and supplement it with fast-acting liquid fertilizers every two weeks during the spring and early summer. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the label of the product you use for application rates.

Bury your blueberry pots in the soil before the first freeze to protect the roots from frost damage. Cover the buried container with a 4-inch layer of mulch. If you don't have a place to bury the containers, wrap thick blankets around them and secure the blankets with rope or twine. Fill the empty space at the top of the container with mulch. Don't bring the plants indoors; they require a chilling period in order to bear fruit.