How to Grow Blueberries
Blueberries are a great berry to grow. They dont need a lot of room, they only need a little bit of attention, they taste great, and they offer a lot of great health benefits. If you love blueberries but dont want to spend $3 to $4 per pint then you should consider growing your own.
Select a Blueberry Plant That is Right for You
There are a lot of different varieties of blueberry plants that you can choose from. The first variety of blueberry plant is the high bush. This variety needs a lot of space as they grow into bushes that can be as tall as 8 feet. If you live in an apartment, or if you have a small garden, then the half-high blueberry plant is a better option. It only grows to 24 inches and some types of this variety can even be grown in a planter.
When to Plant Your Blueberries
The best time of the year to plant blueberries is during early spring when the roots are still dormant. The month that you plant your blueberry will depend on where you live. Northern states in the U.S. will need to wait until April before they plant, however, warmer states can plant earlier.
How to Plant Your Blueberries
When you buy your blueberries make sure that you also pick up a bag of peat moss. In your garden dig a hole that is about 18 to 24 inches deep and about 2 feet wide. Center the plant in the hole making sure that the root system is snuggled into the bottom of the hole. Then, as you hold the plant, fill in the hole with 50 percent peat moss and 50 percent top soil. After backfilling the hole feed the plant with blueberry food mixed with water.
Caring for Your Plant During Its First Season
The first year of a blueberries life it will not bear fruit. This is the year that the root system will be developing. You will want to feed this plant every two to three months during the growing season.
Caring for Your Plant During Its Second Season
During the blueberries second growing season it will blossom and bear fruit. However, it is a good idea to prune the flowers off of the blueberry plant during its second season. This will allow the plant to devote its resources to root development instead of berry production. This will help produce a larger, healthier crop of berries during its third season. Make sure that you feed and irrigate the plant during this season.
Caring for Your Plant During Its Third Season
The third season is when your blueberry plant will produce its first good crop of berries. To ensure a good crop of berries make sure that you feed and water your plant properly. You will also want to keep the area around the blueberry plant free of weeds. Use mulch to keep weeds from growing around your bush.
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