Blueberries & Planting Sizes

Season

• Blueberries do best with late winter and early spring plantings, which allow them to establish in cool, moist weather for a summer of growing. Plant blueberry seedlings ahead of the last frost in spring, in February to March.

Site and Space

• Blueberries need full to filtered sun, air circulation and drainage to bloom and bear their fruit. Find sites with the right sun and drainage, and set aside four to five feet of space for each highbush blueberry, and six feet for each rabbiteye blueberry. Leave eight to 12 feet of space between multiple rows for good air movement and sun exposure.

Soil Preparation

• Mix wide planting sites for blueberry bushes to give them nutrition, drainage and room for root growth. North Carolina State University recommends preparing sites 18 to 24 inches wide, while the Ohio State University Extension suggests amending soil in 4-foot-long sections. Dig into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil and loosen it, then add 4 inches of peat moss, organic compost, leaf mold or humus for loose, acidic and moisture-retentive soil.

Blueberry Seedlings

• Start the blueberry plot with 2- to 3-year-old nursery seedlings for best, quickest success. Twelve- to 36-inch seedlings transplant successfully with a full root ball.

Maintenance

• Blueberries require adequate moisture and nutrition for mature growth and eventual blueberry harvest. Water them with 2 inches of water a week to keep the soil moist, and use 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to maintain moisture. Use acidic mulches like sawdust, wood chips and peat moss, which add nutrition to the soil as they break down. Implement a careful fertilizer routine with blueberries to achieve maximum healthy growth. Give the plants 1 tbsp. of azalea 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 granular fertilizer in midspring after planting, and every six weeks thereafter until midsummer. Increase to 2 tbsp. of fertilizer per application in the second year, starting in early spring, and increase to 1 cup of fertilizer per application in the third year and on. Supplement this fertilizer with ammonium nitrate, per manufacturer's directions, to achieve more vegetative growth.