My Blueberry Bushes Are Growing Slowly

Blueberry Lifespan

• Blueberry bushes live for up to 30 years and require years of growth before they reach maturity. Expect slow, steady growth for 3 to 5 years, and give the bushes 3 years of growth before expecting a harvest.

Site and Season

• Blueberries grow quickest with appropriate placement and season. Plant blueberry bushes in late winter when the ground dries, in sites with full sun and quick year-round drainage. Lack of sun, standing water and still air retard bush growth and fruiting. Give each bush 4 to 6 feet of space for growth; crowded plantings also restrict growth. Expect the bushes to produce new growth through spring and summer, but don't expect new growth in winter. The bushes enter a dormancy period at that time, and resumes growth in spring.

Soil and Nutrition

• Blueberries thrive in loose, nutritious and highly acidic soil and fail in sweet, alkaline or tight soil. Amend soil at planting with sand, organic compost and peat moss to provide a crumbly, rich foundation. Give blueberries resources for growth with 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer during the growing season. Apply fertilizer at last frost in spring and every 6 weeks thereafter, until mid-summer. The bushes can't produce foliage, blossoms or fruit without this nutrition.

Maintenance

• Give blueberry bushes the right ongoing care to produce better, healthier growth. Water the bushes with 1 to 2 inches of water every week and use mulch to conserve soil moisture. The Ohio State University Extension suggests sawdust, wood chips and peat moss mulches for additional acidic nutrition, and recommends a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch at all times.