Growing Blueberries at Home

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the most popular small fruits to grow at home in the Chattanooga region.  They bear an abundance of wonderful berries to use in jams, pies, pancakes, as a topping for cereal or oatmeal, or just eat them freshly picked right off the shrub.  The plants fairly low maintenance, and make a beautiful edible addition to your landscape in beds, as a hedge or in rows, and have lovely red fall foliage.

Types and Characteristics

There are many new varieties to choose from with different ripening dates, flavor variations, and even different color berries other than blue.

There are four main types of Blueberries:

• Northern Highbush blueberries grow best in the northern U.S. and Canada.  They are generally self-fertile, but you will get higher yields, larger berries, and a longer production season if you plant some different Northern Highbush varieties close together.

• Southern Highbush do well in southern areas of the north and northern areas of the south (more moderate climates like TN, KY, VA, NC, and along the west coast).  Plant several different varieties of this type for better cross-pollination.

• Rabbiteye These types primarily prefer the Southeast and the Southern Hemisphere and are generally regarded at the best for our area.  Most Rabbiteyes need a few different varieties of the same type for good cross-pollination.

• Lowbush – mostly wild native varieties. Usually found in the New England and Appalachia.  They have a wildly intense sweet flavor and usually stay around 18” tall.

NOTE:  To ensure good yields, make sure you plant different varieties of the same type that bloom at the same time.  You will also have a longer harvest window if you choose varieties that ripen in early, mid, and late seasons.  (Refer to the Blueberry Chart below.)

Planting

Determine the planting site the summer before planting. Kill any existing vegetation by tilling the soil or by using recommended herbicides. Take a soil sample from the prepared area to determine the soil pH. The ideal pH for blueberries is in the 4.8 to 5.2 range.  This is very important for blueberries!

If it is necessary to reduce the pH, apply sulfur in accordance with instructions. Apply sulfur several weeks before the intended planting date to allow time for levels to balance out.

Blueberries should be planted while dormant, usually from November through March. Plants should be spaced 5 or 6 feet apart if in a row. At full growth, they produce a hedge at this spacing. Between-row spacing should be at least 10 to 12 feet to prevent complete overlapping at full growth.

Dig holes larger than the existing root system and insert the plants. Be sure the roots are not crowded or wrapped around themselves. If container-grown plants are used, be sure the roots of pot-bound plants are cut once or twice to allow better root spread and development. Place roots into the hole and firmly pack soil and peat around them. Water the plants to settle soil around the roots and add a 6-inch layer of pine mulch or pine straw on top of the soil surface.

Pruning

Do not prune for the first two years.  After that, you can prune while they are still dormant (Jan – Feb) before bud swell begins.  Each year remove the oldest canes, the newer ones produce more fruit. You can also remove lower branches and any that may be touching the ground.

Fertilizing

Do not over fertilize! Fertilization should not occur until plants have had their first flush of growth.  Budbreak is an appropriate time for fertilization. Using Fish Emulsion or Mushroom Compost is a good idea.  Not only does it fertilize, but it helps to maintain pH.  Ooltewah Nursery also carries organic fertilizers that are acidic for blueberries.

VARIETY	TYPE	GROW ZONE	RIPENING SEASON	DETAILS	POLLINATES:
Alapaha	Rabbiteye	6-9	Early	Good sweet flavor, firm, large fruit	Vernon, Austin, Premier
Becki Blue	Rabbiteye	7-9	Early-Mid	Heavy producer/Med-Lg fruit w/good fall color	Tifblue, Powder Blue, Premiere, Climax
Blue Suede	Southern Highbush	6-9	Early	Robust, sweet fruit, deep red fall color	Self-fertile, but for higher yield use Camellia or Palmetto
Bluebell	Rabbiteye	7-10	Mid	Large, light blue, sweet & juicy flavor	Self-fertile, but higher yield w/other Mid varieties
Blue Ridge	Lowbush	5-9	Mid	Native to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Black/blue, sweet taste	O’Neal or Star
Blueberry Buckle	Lowbush	6-10	Early	Great flavor, with small, boxwood-like, glossy leaves	Self-fertile, but higher yield w/ Blueray, Duke, Elliot
Blueray	Northern Highbush	4-7	Mid	Med-Large, firm, Lt. blue, classic flavor	Duke, Elliot, Legacy
Brightwell	Rabbiteye	7-9	Mid	Medium, light blue, delicious fruit	Self-fertile, but higher yields w/ Premier, Austin, Powder Blue
Climax	Rabbiteye	7-9	Early	Medium, with good color, flavor, firmness excellent.	Premier or Austin
Duke	Northern Highbush	5-8	Early	Large, light blue, mildly sweet flavor	Premier, Climax, Becki Blue
Elliot	Northern Highbush	4-8	Very Late	Dark blue, tangy & sweet	Bluecrop, Blueray
Legacy	Northern Highbush	5-8	Mid – Late	Superior sweetness & flavor	Duke, Bluecrop
Ochlocknee	Rabbiteye	6-9	Late	Deep blue, large, sweet	Powderblue, Titan
Pink Lemonade	Rabbiteye	4-8	Mid - Late	Medium, glossy, bright pink fruit w/mild flavor	Powderblue, Climax, Brightwell
Powderblue	Rabbiteye	7-9	Late	Light blue, juicy, sweet	Tifblue, Climax, Premier
Premier	Rabbiteye	6-9	Early	Dark blue, sugary sweet	Powderblue, Alapaha
Suziblue	Southern Highbush	6-9	Early	Large, firm fruit, good flavor	Rebel, Star
Tifblue	Rabbiteye	6-9	Mid	Small-Medium, tart but sweet, rich flavor	Climax, Brightwell
Titan	Rabbiteye	6-9	Mid	Massive, delicious flavor	Vernon
Top Hat	Lowbush	3-7	Mid – Late	Medium, slightly tart fruit Great for small gardens or Containers	Self-fertile, but will yield better when planted with other mid-late varieties
Vernon	Rabbiteye	7-9	Early	Firm, but tender skin w/ a harmonious, sweet flavor	Alapaha
Woodard	Rabbiteye	8-10	Early	Silvery/blue, sweet & juicy	Climax or Premier