Add a mulch of straw around the top of the pots to reduce the chance of the potting medium freezing. Get rid of twiggy growth at the ends of the branches that fruited the previous year. While you can purchase ericaceous compost, it is worthwhile looking for a peat free variety to be kinder to our planet. Blueberries are native to North America. However, different species are also sometimes referred to as ‘blueberries’ â most frequently the ‘European blueberry’ or bilberry/ blaeberry, (V. myrtillus). Sometimes they require a partner for pollination. Yes, you can grow blueberries in pots, infact they grow very well, just make sure the pot is big enough to house the size of the plant. Remove any dead, dying, damaged or diseased stems, or any that have bent down to touch the ground. The berries are ready to harvest when they change colour from green to a dusky blue. A position next to a sunny, south facing wall can be ideal as the thermal mass of the structure will help to keep temperatures more consistent and a little warmer. When pruning, the aim is to: If you have done everything right, you should be able to harvest your blueberries from mid-summer onwards. Both young, pot grown and bare root blueberries should ideally be planted into containers no smaller than 30cm (12 inches) in diameter and ideally larger. (Especially ceramic pots that can crack if the soil inside freezes solid.). Where and how to plant Blueberries need a freely draining, acidic and preferably sandy soil where the topsoil is enriched with organic matter , such as cocopeat. Mature blueberries need a container at least 24 inches deep and about 24-30 inches wide. For best results, you could consider adding some mycorrhizal fungi into your containers at this stage, before you fill in around your plants’ roots with your growing medium. All blueberries grow to around 2m or less, so they're also absolutely ideal for small gardens. Growing blueberries in containers how to grow blueberry. They will require at least 6 hours of sunlight a day for best results. Top Hat (zones 4-7). Introduction: Coloradoâs high pH soils prevent us from producing blueberries in the ground but not in pots! Use reclaimed wood to make your planters. They can often be eaten straight from the bush, and can also be cooked up and used in a wide range of recipes. Containers and pots for growing blueberries should have enough of drainage holes, since blueberries prefer moist, but not soggy soil. The legs do no let the pot sink in the ground even if it is placed on soft soil. In 2014, she and her husband moved to their forever home in the country. As soon as your plant outgrows the 30cm (12 inch pot), or if you have purchased a larger blueberry bush, 50cm (20 inches) is really the minimum diameter you should consider for your pot or other container. After the fruits have been harvested, the foliage’s fabulous fall colours give the plants plenty of ornamental appeal. This tubing makes it easier to set it at an angle and to make sure that the nutrient solution flows directly to the plant roots. Bare root blueberries can also be chosen and ordered in fall, for planting out during the dormant period. Which option you go for should depend on where you live and the conditions to be found there, not just the characteristics of the variety in question. When she is not gardening, Elizabeth spends a lot of time working remotely on permaculture garden projects around the world. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The width is considered the drip line. Blueberries do like relatively moist conditions, but don’t like to ‘paddle’. Blueberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow in an indoor garden due to the fact they can be grown successfully on a windowsill with limited light and ⦠There are two common species of blueberry. Water plants with rainwater, not tap water, unless you have no alternative in a drought. Keep the compost or soil moist, but not soaking wet. Placing bird netting over the plants a few weeks before the blueberries are ripe. She is undertaking ongoing work for NGO Somalia Dryland Solutions and a number of other non governmental organisations, and works as an environmental consultant for several sustainable companies. Lowbush blueberries (V. angustifolium etc.) Blueberries are one edible crop that does well when grown in containers, so in this article, we’ll take a look at how to grow blueberries in pots. Of course, there are also a huge number of other cultivars to consider. You can be successful planting blueberries in pots, as long as you have a sunny location and use acidic potting soil. There are actually a number of different plant species within this genus that are given the name ‘blueberry’. The same principles can be applied to growing blueberries in pots, but they must have the same soil conditions as ⦠When planting smaller shrubs, start with a smaller container and repot as it grows. But why grow them in pots or other containers? When choosing plants, be aware that blueberries need friends. Even if you do have acid soil suitable for these ericaceous (acid-loving) plants, you may find that blueberries do better in pots than they do in the ground. When each variety crops should also have a hearing on which varieties you decide to grow. Growing blueberries maximizes small spaces and keeps fresh, nutritious fruit nearby. Amongst other things, she has designed private gardens in regions as diverse as Canada, Minnesota, Texas, the Arizona/California desert, and the Dominican Republic, commercial aquaponics schemes, food forests and community gardens in a wide range of global locations. You will also have to make sure that the potting medium stays acidic. Fortunately, there are plenty of other pots you can choose that are not made of plastic. The content on BrownThumbMama is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Winter care Uses for the blueberry Blueberries are primarily grown for their berries, but they also make wonderful garden or hedging plants. Smart Pots are made in the USA and are BPA and lead free, which is important when youâre growing food. Unless you have acidic soil where you live, or can amend the soil accordingly, growing blueberries in containers is the best way to get a worthwhile crop. Repot in late summer - early fall so roots have enough time to grow before winter. Getting the watering right is really the number one challenge when it comes to growing blueberries in pots. Well, blueberries lend themselves to this sort of cultivation because of their needs and requirements. For home gardeners whoâd like to grow blueberries, Brent recommends filling each Smart Pot with a combination of a good-quality peat moss (40%) mixed with the smallest size of pine bark mulch (60%). Raised beds or patio containers are good options for areas where the soil is not ideal. She graduated from allotment gardening to organically managing 1/3 of an acre of land, including a mature fruit orchard,which she has turned into a productive forest garden. Dwarf blueberries will be smaller, and growth can be limited to as little as 2ft. Some popular American blueberry cultivars to consider if you want to grow blueberries in pots are listed below with links to purchase online. Be sure to leave a little space at the top of each container. Instead of a flat tray, this system uses tubes or channels for the grow tray. Ought to Pot: The Best Blueberries for Container Gardening. What is more, blueberries are attractive plants too. While blueberries are relatively easy plants to grow, a lot of people struggle with them. Check the pH of the soil in spring and add sulphur chips if it needs lowering. In heavy, soggy soils, root rot can develop and kill the plants. Take care to keep the plants at the same depth as they were previously planted. Bear in mind that if you are growing varieties that need companions for fertilisation, these should be clustered close together. In cooler climates, it is also best to place your blueberries in pots in a sheltered position, to protect them from strong winds and colder temperatures. So this is important to bear in mind when you are choosing where to place your blueberries. The same principles can be applied when growing blueberries in pots. The pH of the soil/ compost in your pots or containers should be at 5.5 or lower in order to avoid any problems. Start with a pot that is at least 20 to 24 inches wide or larger. Blueberries grow well in containers, and if they have the right soil conditions, blueberries are easy to grow and will reward you with bundles of deep purple berries. One of the specifics when growing blueberries is ⦠As always, the answer is in the soil. You will have to pass over the pick from each plant several times to get all the berries as they ripen. But you could also consider integrating a drip irrigation system for pots and containers into the rainwater harvesting system on your home. Blueberries are relatively easy to look after. The leaves of the plants act like an umbrella. Let’s begin by taking a look at which plants we actually mean when we say ‘blueberries’: Blueberries are perennial fruiting shrubs in the genus Vaccinium. Just make sure that they have sufficient drainage holes. Potentially in an unheated and sunny indoors space. In fact, growing blueberries in containers and pots is considered the best way to grow and enjoy these fruits. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug administration.