Growing Blueberry Plants in the Home Garden

Thinking about growing blueberry plants in the home garden this year? Blueberries are extremely healthy for your family's diet, filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C. They also rate fairly low on the Glycemic Index, which means less of a blood sugar spike than noshing on a candy bar or other sweet treats. With so many health benefits and how easy blueberries can be to grow, you'll definitely want to consider this little plant in addition to your strawberries and fruit trees.

Learn about other fruits in this slideshow.

Although blueberries do not need a lot of space, many home gardeners don't find the success they desire with these plants. This article will help you grow blueberry plants that thrive and produce fruit year after year.

Blueberries require acidic soil conditions to thrive. For the blueberry plant to grow well, the soil must be acidic before the plant is placed in the ground and that pH level needs to be sustained throughout the life of the plant.

Another drawback to trying to grow blueberries is that the gardener must be patient. It can take three years to see the first fruit crop from a blueberry plant and many plants do not produce their best harvest until they've been established for five to six years. Birds are also a big culprit in harvesting blueberries, often plucking the fruit off the plant before it can ripen fully.

Even though there are challenges present with growing blueberry plants in the home garden, it is still worth the effort when the gardener sees that first crop and tastes the sweet, tangy deliciousness of those first blueberries.

For the best results, have your soil tested for pH balance and get advice from the local garden center on how much sulfur or other products to add to help acidify the soil. The plant will yield fruit usually from mid to late summer on into early fall, depending upon the variety of plant.

Spring is the best time to plant blueberries. Wait until the danger of frost has passed, test your soil and get the pH to 4.0 to 5.0, and then plant to a depth of about 18 inches. Make sure to allow about six feet between plants, if you are planting several blueberry plants. Blueberries self pollinate. If you plant two or more blueberries together, you will get a better harvest than planting a single plant. Although mature plants only need one to two inches of water per week, new plants typically have shallower root systems and need a little more water than normal.

Once you have the right soil conditions, blueberries can really be planted anywhere. Many home gardeners choose to create raised beds in which to plant their gardens, as it is easier to control a small area of soil and get the proper acidity and fertilization. If you choose to plant your blueberries in a raised bed garden, it may be best to keep them separate from other garden plants due to the special soil conditions they require. Be sure to allow enough room for the plants to spread out as they grow.

Blueberries grow well in most of the United States, but where you live can determine which variety will thrive best in your area. For example, northern highbush varieties tend to do better in the northern part of the U.S. Those in Zone 6 and warmer zones should look at southern highbush or rabbiteye plants.

Blueberries, under the right conditions, can be fairly easy to grow and maintain. Inexpensive bird netting should be placed over the plants to protect them from birds. The plants need a lot of sunshine and plenty of water. Follow these few rules and you'll have a bounty of blueberries before you know it.

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