Blueberries are a hardy green leafed shrub which provides ample berries of health giving properties to those who are able to growth them successfully. Despite being easy to growth there are a few rules which must be followed in order to keep plants healthy and a few more which will ensure an abundant crop.
The Correct Soil and Water for Blueberry Plants
Blueberry plants must be planted in an acidic or ericaceous soil; the plants are native to the peat and bog landscapes of North America and so whilst fully hardy will not tolerate lime or alkaline soil types. In addition Blueberry plants appreciate consistently wet soil; not only will large amounts of water aid plant growth, in addition this will help the formation of large succulent fruits. Where additional watering is required it is recommended that rain water is used as this will reduce both chemicals and lime reaching the plant if living in a hard water area.
If living in an area with an alkaline soil then fortunately blueberries are an ideal candidate for growing in a pot. The gardener should choose a large receptacle and fill with an ericaceous peat based soil. A tray should be used to collect run-off water which will aid moisture retention in the soil. If growing in a container than daily watering may be necessary during summer months when there is little rain fall.
Increasing the Yield of a Blueberry Plant
There are a number of elements to consider which will aid a blueberry plant to maximise its fruiting potential. The first consideration should be to consider the number of bushes planted. Ideally the gardener will be able to plant three varieties which will aid fruit production in a number of ways. Firstly by planting multiple varieties the fruiting season will be extended overall as some shrubs fruit early in the season whilst others wait until later in the season. Secondly cross pollination of varieties tends to give a higher yield than were just a single variety is planted.
Whilst blueberries are a nice treat for the tending gardener, competition will be fierce from birds and other berry eating creatures. In order to protect efforts netting or fruit cages may present the best solution to protecting fruit without resorting to more drastic measures. Other pests such as ants and green fly may be harder to prevent especially if chemicals are not to be resorted to.
In order to increase long term fruit yields a certain amount of pruning may be beneficial. To prune a blueberry remove old and diseased canes at the start of the season. The pruning of old canes should take place to ground level, a clean cut should be made using heavy duty secateurs or a lopper. One should however be careful not to over prune as fruiting occurs not on fresh growth but on that of the previous years wood.
Ben Groves - Ben Groves graduated from the University of Abertay, Dundee in 2003 with a 2:1 in Business with Economics. Since graduation Ben has held a ...
