How to Grow Highbush Blueberries in Hoop Houses

Plant hoop house blueberries in late winter to take advantage of the summer growing season. Wait for nighttime air temperatures to reach 45 to 50 degrees F, and plant dormant nursery seedlings for a quicker, more successful result.

Use 15-gallon pots with drainage holes to ensure balance, drainage and space. Blueberry bushes thrive in pots as long as they offer root space and adequate drainage. Larger pots limit the need for transplanting.

Mix a loose, nutritious and moisture-retaining potting soil for best success. Combine one part organic compost to one part bagged garden loam and one part peat moss, and fill the pots three-quarters full. Don't use garden soil because it may bring weeds and pests with it. This mixture provides a rich and acidic foundation for acid-loving highbush blueberries and encourages quick drainage and root expansion.

Plant several different highbush cultivars for efficient pollination and harvest. Choose from cultivars such as Patriot, Northland, Bluedrop, Blueray, Meader, Jersey, Nelson, Blue Gold and St. Cloud. Plant one bush per pot, in holes as deep and wide as their root balls. Prune the top one-half of each plant off to encourage growth.

Put the blueberry bushes in rows in the hoop house. Give each bush 4 to 5 feet in the row and leave 8 to 10 feet between rows for walking and plant growth. Keep each bush in full sun for best growth and blooming, and leave the doors of the hoop house open for air movement. Use greenhouse fans to move the air on still days.

Water the blueberry bushes with 2 inches of water every week to maintain moisture. Feed them when their first leaves grow to full size. Give each bush 1 tbsp. of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer, per manufacturer directions. Repeat the feeding every six weeks into mid-summer.