subject: How To Plant Blueberries [print this page] Planting Blueberries Planting Blueberries
Knowing how to plant blueberries has many advantages. You can enjoy the wonders of this tasty fruit at anytime you want and also add several different flavors to various meals and pancakes. Growing blueberries is in itself a very simple process.
Picking the Right Location
Blueberries favor areas with rich amounts of sunshine. As in most of the plants, a proper draining mechanism is of utmost importance. Excess amounts of water will force the plant to die. Soil material can be composed of clay and sometimes the use of rocky soil is also recommended. Large amounts of acids are not required in the soil. A pH level from 4.0 to 5.5 is generally considered to be good for growing blueberries. However, it is known that a larger acid content in the soil would not harm the plant. Blueberries give the sweetest fruit in spring season.
How to Plant the Blueberries
A hole of approximately 2 feet should be dug. The depth of this hole should be a minimum of 18 inches deep. The maximum depth of the hole can be 24inches deep. Once the blueberries have been planted, they will have to be covered with peat. Regular watering of the plant is also necessary. 4 to 6 ft of space needs to be left if the blueberries are being planted in a high bush fashion. 3 ft to 4 ft covers mostly the half bush. Approximately 5 to 6 inches of mulch needs to be added on top of the soil to allow moisture to stay. Pine needles and sawdust can be used as "mulch". Wood chips and crushed leaves also come under the mulch category.
Once the blueberry plant has been planted into the hole, the small branches on the side should be chopped off. The plant will bear more amounts of fruit in the later years if the blossoms are cut during the initial two years. Addition of right amounts of fertilizers is also essential. They should be added in two installments. The first installment should be covered up in spring and the second during summertime. Buds require the summertime addition of fertilizers.
Tips for Pruning
Winter is the best time for snipping of blueberry plants. Two things must be kept in mind during planting and pruning blueberries. Firstly, buds for the next year will appear during the summer and secondly, only in the second year will the buds pop out of the plant.
The pruning process should be started by cutting off any of the dead branches present in the plant. The next step involves trimming the stalks seen in the bush plants. Half of the new growth should not be chopped off. The process of pruning reduces the amount of fruit produced but the size of berries is generally seen to be much larger.
Avoiding Birds
You need to keep the blueberry plants away from birds as they can spoil the plant. The best method to do this is by using a net over the plant. Some people add a much larger number bushes around the plant to keep the birds away. This is a good method as it allows both you and the birds to share the blueberry fruits.
Extra Tips
The fruiting period of blueberries demands much larger water content. Although we have seen that sunlight is essential, but a fruitful blueberry plant can be grown in a much cooler climate as well. Planting blueberries in different seasons is also a good idea as this would allow you to have some fruits in the summertime and some in the spring.
The different blueberry varieties can be known from you local plant supplier. The varieties are generally known to be area specific, so it's best to know which variety is the best for you and your area.
Blueberries are not only known for their delicious taste but also the nutritious value that they carry. They are rich in vitamin C content and antioxidants. If eaten properly they are known to cure several diseases and also help fight against some. Some of the diseases are cancer and heart attacks. Research has shown that blueberries also help in keeping vision of eyes intact.
Hard work always pays and this is true for planting blueberries too. Although you need to work hard to get the desired fruit but the taste is always going to be sweeter.
