How to Grow Blueberries USA

Soil & Growing Conditions

Soil pH range

4.5 5.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Propagation	0	Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring or semi-ripe cuttings in early summer (RHS).
Establishment	3	Establishes in acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) or ericaceous compost, in a sheltered site; pot-grown plants need winter protection (RHS).
Flowering and fruiting	6	Small bell- or urn-shaped flowers are followed by edible blue-black berries; plant 3 cultivars for optimal pollination (RHS).
Full maturity	9	Reaches full maturity over a notably long 10-20 years, 1-1.5m in height and spread (RHS).

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	4.5 - 5.5
Drainage	well-drained, moisture-retentive, acidic
Lifecycle	perennial
Edible parts	fruit

At a Glance

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Small round blue berries, ready July to September.

Diseases

Honey fungus

Armillaria spp.

RHS 'Brigitta' cultivar page: "May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)."

Powdery mildew

RHS 'Brigitta' cultivar page: "May be susceptible to... powdery mildews."

Foot and root rot (general)

low

RHS names this directly.

Pests

Vine weevil

Otiorhynchus sulcatus

RHS blueberry cultivar pages: "May be susceptible to vine weevil larvae damage especially if container grown."

Nutrient Issues

Blueberry, Grown in Acidic Soil

Plant multiple cultivars for pollination

RHS: planting three different cultivars together gives optimal pollination and yield.

Sources

1. NC State Extension - Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry)

   Perennial shrub hardy USDA zones 3a-8b, reaching 6-12ft tall and 6-10ft wide; space 6-12ft apart. Full sun or partial shade. THE SOIL IS THE WHOLE CROP: blueberry needs acid soil, ideally around pH 5.0, and tolerates clay, loam or sand provided drainage is good. Self-fertile, but planting more than one cultivar that flowers at the same time gives larger berries and higher yields; choosing early, mid and late cultivars stretches picking from June to mid-September. Remove all the flowers in the first year after planting so the plant puts its energy into roots. From the third year, prune in late winter to take out dead wood and keep the shape. Pests and diseases: spotted wing drosophila, stem blight, anthracnose, mummy berry and botrytis; birds and deer are a frequent problem, so net the ripening fruit.

2. Oregon State University Extension Service - Growing blueberries in your home garden (EC 1304)

These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 8 sources behind this guide (NC State Extension, Oregon State University Extension Service, Royal Horticultural Society and others) is in the references of our UK guide to blueberries; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.