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  3. How to grow blueberries

How to grow blueberries

For most of us, blueberries aren't the first thing to spring to mind when deciding what to plant. But despite the expensive price tag at the supermarket, they're actually dead easy to grow.

How to Grow Blueberries

Step 1: Timing

For best results plant in spring and autumn – that’s March to May, or September to November. LOCATION nn Blueberries are a bush, so you can decide if you want them in a pot, in the garden, or for something different – plant a whole hedge of them.

Step 2: Plant Types

  • Your local store should stock the best blueberry type for your region. But broadly, you want to stick to Southern Highbush in the warmer North Island or Northern Highbush in the cooler South Island. The Rabbit Eye variety will fruit nationwide.
  • Within each of those types, there are different varieties of plants, which you can mix and match for maximum cropping – talk to your store about this.

Step 3: Pollination

  • You’ll probably do alright with one just one type of plant, but if you want loads more fruit – it’s a good idea to cross pollinate. Quite simply, that’s just planting different varieties of plants from within the same type. For example, we are planting Vaccinium ‘Tif Blue’, Vaccinium ‘Powder Blue’, and Vaccinium ashei ‘Centurion’ – which are 3 different varieties of the Rabbit Eye type.

Step 3: Soil

  • If you’re planting into the ground, the soil will need some prep. Blueberries prefer acidic soil so mix in some peat for acidity, bark for drainage, compost and aluminium sulphate.
  • If you’re growing in a pot or trough, you can use some Strawberry Mix and some aluminium sulphate.

Step 4: Planting

  • It is important that the soil is prepared prior to planting. Blueberries need an acidic soil with a pH of around 4.5. Most New Zealand soils have a pH of between 6 and 6.5.

If planting in a pot or trough:

  • Add a base layer of Strawberry Mix.
  • Add aluminium sulphate and mix it through, this will help keep the soil acidic.
  • Remove your plants from pots and place into trough.
  • Top up with soil, and press around the base of the plants.
  • Water in well.

If planting in the ground:

  • Dig a hole twice as big, and twice as wide as your pot.
  • Add a base layer of Strawberry Mix.
  • Place your plant in the hole, adding more or less soil so it sits at the correct height.
  • Backfill with soil and mix through some aluminium sulphate to help keep the soil acidic. Then press down firmly.
  • Water in well.

Step 5: Watering

  • Make sure you give them a good water in when you first plant them, and then water regularly all the way up to harvesting. Not enough water could cause undersized berries and a poor crop.

Step 6: Feeding

  • Blueberries don’t need too much in the way of feeding. They like a slow release acidic fertiliser. Acid Food has the right blend of NPK, with more Potassium (K) to help with fruiting.
  • Stay away from Blood and Bone, lime, and nitrate based products because they’re too alkaline.

Step 7: Pests & Disease

  • The plants are pretty much disease free, just watch for waterlogged soil which can cause root rot.
  • Protect against birds with a fruit net.

Step 8: Harvesting

  • Pick off the first year’s flowers to help get the bush established.
  • After a couple of years your fruit will be ready to harvest.
  • It’s well worth the wait, because your plants will last for 10-15 years.
  • Northern Highbush are ready in summer, the Southern Highbush from late spring through summer, and Rabbit Eye fruit from late summer. So, for maximum fruiting plant a couple of different types.

Step 9: Pruning

  • On the whole – only prune if the branches are getting in the way. The fruit comes from last year’s wood or growth. So, anything you prune won’t fruit.