The width is considered the drip line. Blueberries have fairly shallow roots so while a fairly wide pot is required, it does not have to be extremely deep. The height of the pot should be around 2 feet. There are many, many varieties of blueberries and if you are growing in the garden or field it is important to get a variety that will grow successfully in your zone.
For zone 4 and colder, you would be best served by one of the low bush or half-high varieties. When you grow blueberries in pots, you can be a bit more flexible in varieties since you can easily move them and protect them from the harsher weather and elements and deer. While you could grow high bush blueberries in pots, consider their height 7 to 8 feet and spread feet at maturity and decide if you really want to grow in a huge pot.
You can get a very good harvest with half high varieties grown in pots. Some of the popular half high varieties that grow well in pots include North Blue, Polaris, Chippewa and Northland. Lastly, you will get many more berries if you grow two different varieties. The bees will cross-pollinate the plants and result in a far larger harvest.
I like to get an early variety Polaris , a mid-season variety Northland and a late variety Chippewa to extend the harvest as long as possible. In Minnesota, the blueberry harvest typically begins in mid-July and extends to mid-to-late August with the right varieties. SUN: As with most berries and vegetables, full sun is required for a good harvest. Full sun is considered to be 6 hours of sun per day. Blueberries can withstand much more sun than that, but 6 hours is probably the minimum.
SOIL: There are two primary considerations when it comes to soil; acidity and drainage. Blueberries prefer an acid soil, but they also like a well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients. Sand is well drained, but the nutrients and minerals leech out of it quickly.
Clay will hold water too long and blueberries do not like to have wet feet for long. Mix it together very, very thoroughly as water will wick off peat and not get to the roots if it is just layered into the pot. Mulch the top with some pine needles, or wood chips to conserve soil moisture.
The peat will be enough acid for the first year. After that fertilize with a fertilizer made for blueberry plants available in all nurseries. For keeping them acidic over time, scratch in a little elemental sulfur around the drip-line in the Fall.
It will be slowly incorporated and help keep the soil acidic. This is an organic way to help with acidity. Miracid works also, but is not organic. Your local extension service is a good place to ask these questions.
The bees love to cross pollinate. The more varieties you have the better. It also helps to extend the season if you select an early variety, a mid-season variety and a late variety. For them to produce fruit, at least two plants of two different varieties are required for cross-pollination—three plants are even better. Place the pots fairly close together, about 2 to 3 feet apart. Moreover, it's important to choose a blueberry species and cultivar that's right for your climate. The four main blueberry species are highbush, lowbush, rabbiteye, and half-high.
Within these species, there are many cultivars to choose from. To learn which cultivars will thrive in your area, contact a local farmer or a nursery professional. You may also decide to choose a cultivar based on the desired size of the fruit. Larger specimens are great for eating berries from the bush , while small berries are usually preferred for cooking things like pies, crisps, and preserves.
If you've grown other fruit-bearing plants , you know you're in it for the long haul. Your plants can happily produce fruit for years with relatively little care, but you'll want to start them off right.
For blueberry plants, that means opting for the largest pot possible, planting one plant per pot. Choose a container that's at least 18 inches deep and boasts ample drainage holes.
Half-barrels and other deep, wide containers work well for keeping blueberry plants in for the long term.
Plant your blueberry bushes into their containers, burying them as deep as they were in their nursery pots. If necessary, top with additional soil, leaving the top inch or so of the container empty. Immediately water the pot thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate any air gaps around the plant's roots.
Once your growing season is over, you'll want to protect your blueberry plants for the winter season. Blueberries are tough plants, but if you live in a cold-winter climate you should move your containers against the side of your home or into a protected area to keep them out of the wind. You can also mulch your plants with straw or wrap them in burlap.
Insect and fungal problems can sometimes occur on blueberry plants. If you need to treat your plants, make sure to use a fungicide or pesticide that is safe for edible plants. Blueberry maggots and cherry fruit worms can also be occasional problems. While these pests are treatable with systemic pesticides, be wary of their use, as many are toxic to pollinating insects. If yellowing of the leaves occurs, it's probably a sign that the soil pH is too high and is causing chlorosis. To rectify the issue, acidify the soil with fertilizer made for acid-loving plants.
Problem Insects in Blueberry Fruit. New York State Horticulture Society. Leaves are Turning Yellow and Drying Out. Plant Village, Pennsylvania State University. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. They are deciduous so lose their leaves in winter, however the foliage colours richly in autumn. The white flowers are like those of pieris, and of course the fruits are very appealing. Like all ericaceous plants they have a dense, fibrous root system and they need plenty of moisture.
Therefore it is important to choose a pot that is large enough and will not dry out too quickly. A deep pot that is around 45cm in diameter is ideal. You need a lime-free growing medium for blueberries. If you use ordinary multi-purpose compost or a standard potting compost the foliage will turn yellow, growth will be slow and stunted and the plants are unlikely to flower and fruit.
Vitax Ericaceous compost provides the perfect growing conditions. It retains the right amount of moisture and contains the correct balance of nutrients to ensure healthy growth, prolific flowers and that means plenty of fruit. Water your new plant thoroughly before you start. Then partially fit the container you have chosen with Vitax Ericaceous Compost.
Now carefully remove the blueberry from its growing pot and set it aside. Place the growing pot inside the patio pot and fill around it with the compost, firming lightly with your fingertips. When the compost is two thirds of the way up the pot add a handful of Vitax Azalea, Rhododendron and Shrub Fertiliser; this is specially formulated for Ericaceous plants.
Continue to fill up to the top of the pot and firm lightly. Then slip the growing pot out of the compost and drop in the blueberry plant.
It will fit perfectly and be planted at just the right level. Regular watering is essential.
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