How to Plant Blueberries in Southwestern Ohio

Check pH of the soil. Provide a sample of the soil from your garden to a chemical testing laboratory and have it assessed for pH and organic content. Blueberries grow best in soils that have an acidic pH ranging between 4.0 and 4.5.

Amend soil pH. If the pH is not sufficiently acidic, ask the testing lab expert about what can be added to the soil to amend this. Generally, this can be achieved through the addition of compost created from oak leaves, bark and pine needles, or by adding sphagnum peat moss into the top layers of the soil. Perform a retest of the soil and confirm that it has gained sufficient acidity to support the growth of blueberries.

Prepare the soil. Blueberries grow well in loamy or sandy soil that is well drained. If the soil is sandy, no preparation is required. If your garden has loamy soil, prepare raised beds of soil to plant blueberries. This will help in improving the water drainage and ensure the plants grow well.

Select the cultivar. Of the three major types of blueberries -- Highbush, Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush -- the one prescribed for Ohio is Highbush. There are various Highbush cultivars like Bluejay, Bluecrop, Collins, Bluetta, Berkeley, Elliot and Herbert. These cultivars differ with respect to properties like yield, size and quality of the fruit. Speak to your local extension office about which cultivar can give you a good batch of blueberries.

Choose the plants. Generally, it is recommended that at least two cultivars be planted together to allow cross-pollination. This will lead to a better yield of blueberries that are larger in size. Use plants that are around two to three years old for planting.

Place the plant. Begin planting in early spring. Dig a hole that is 18 inches in depth and width. Mix one cubic foot of peat moss into the top soil so that the hole is filled to about 4 inches from the top. Position the plant here and add the remaining soil-peat mix to cover the roots completely.

Ensure right spacing. Place cultivars alternately at distances 5 feet apart. Maintain a distance of about 10 feet between rows.