Growing Blueberries, Planting Blueberries, How to Grow Blueberries

Tips for growing blueberries in your garden. How to plant, grow, care for and harvest blueberries in your backyard for best fresh blueberry results!

Even for gardeners who lack a lot of gardening space, growing blueberries can be successfully achieved for years of enjoyment.

Not to mention the nutritious berry harvest in the summertime as an added bonus.

The shrubs which grow to about five or six feet high make an attractive hedge, a background for vegetables, or a boundary between properties.

Two plants each of several of the most popular varieties should provide sufficient fresh berries with a surplus for freezing and preserving.

A mixture of varieties, typically two of each variety is required for pollination.

By growing blueberries that are early-to-late harvest types, a harvest of berries from early to midsummer can be expected.

Planting Blueberries

How to Grow Blueberries

If your soil grows rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and other plants that prefer acid soils, you will have no trouble growing blueberries.

Mulching and Fertilizing Growing Blueberries

Blueberry Plant Pests--Birds!

The pests you have to worry the most about when growing blueberries are the birds.

They can decimate the crop, of given free rein.

Many birds just seem to love blueberries.

Light weight netting is available to throw over the bushes to ensure the luscious berries are saved for your family.

The best way to cover blueberry bushes for protection from the birds thieving all your delicious berries is to use black plastic mesh.

You can purchase these protective covers at local garden centers and they will last for years.

However, I have seen robins hop from the ground, and climb up inside the netting to try and sneak a few blueberries anyway!

Mylar Streamers and Scare-Eye Balloons

Some growers also use shiny Mylar streamers, or a balloon-type scare-devices with an eye in the center that is supposed to help scare the birds away.

These types of devices can be helpful, but be sure to move them around frequently, as the birds become will become accustomed rather quickly if the devices aren't moved or changed.

Cannons, hawks, falcons, and loud music have also been tried by a few desperate gardeners! Hopefully you won't have to resort to such tactics.

Harvesting Blueberries

Pick only ripe berries because partially ripened ones are sour tasting.

Blueberries do not become sweeter when they are picked from the bushes but they do become softer.

To know the time is right, after the blueberries show full color, wait about a week before harvesting.

On the other hand, berries on the plant never ripen all at once, so frequent picking is necessary.