GreenlyHow to grow Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum · highbush blueberry
Perennial shrub producing edible berries, requires acidic soil and cold winter dormancy.
Quick facts
| Type | Berry |
|---|---|
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil pH | 4.5–5.5 |
| Frost | tolerates light frost |
| Soil for sowing | from 5 °C |
| Germination | 30 days |
| Sowing to harvest | 730 days |
| Where it grows | Greenhouse, Open ground |
When to plant
Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.
Care
Greenhouse
| Stage | Watering | Temperature | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | every 3 days | 8…22 °C | nitrogen, at the start of the stage; nitrogen, 30 days into the stage |
| Flowering | every 3 days | 8…22 °C | phosphorus and potassium, at the start of the stage; micronutrients, 20 days into the stage |
| Fruiting | every 2 days | 10…24 °C | potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 21 days into the stage |
| Harvest | every 2 days | 10…24 °C | — |
Open ground
| Stage | Watering | Temperature | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | every 4 days | 5…20 °C | nitrogen, at the start of the stage; nitrogen, 30 days into the stage |
| Flowering | every 4 days | 5…20 °C | phosphorus and potassium, at the start of the stage; micronutrients, 20 days into the stage |
| Fruiting | every 3 days | 8…22 °C | potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 21 days into the stage |
| Harvest | every 3 days | 8…22 °C | — |
Growing notes
Light
Full sun yields best fruit; tolerates light shade but reduces yield.
Soil
Acidic, well‑drained soil rich in organic matter; pH 4.5–5.5.
Care
Keep soil consistently moist, mulch with pine needles or sawdust to maintain acidity. Prune in late winter to remove old wood and encourage new shoots. Protect flowers from late spring frosts with covers if needed.
How to tell it is ripe
- Berry is dusky blue all over, with no green or red left.
- Skin carries a light, whitish waxy bloom.
- A ripe berry rolls off the cluster easily under your thumb.
- Taste one: berries turn blue a day or more before they are fully sweet.
- Roll ripe berries off the cluster into your palm when they are dry, handling them little so the bloom stays on.
Pests and diseases of Blueberry
- Vine weevil
Sources
Figures cited from these sources.