Blueberries
are very easy to grow in containers and the bushes will live and produce for
years under the right growing circumstances.
Use this tips for successfully growing organic
blueberries in containers so you can harvest several pints of juicy blueberries
the first growing season and every season thereafter.
Container and Location
You will
need containers that are at least 12 inches deep and equally as wide to provide
enough room for the roots to grow.
Select a sunny location for container. Full sun
is best, but the bushes will do fine with at least 6 hours of daily sunshine.
Acidic Soil
Blueberries
prefer an acidic soil with a pH level of 4.5-5.5. Use an acidic potting soil
mixture in containers and add two cups compost per container to raise acidity
level and feed the bush.
Each time the blueberry bush is watered,
minerals will leach out and the acidic level will decline. Keep the soil at the
proper pH level by sprinkling a handful of cottonseed meal on top of the
container soil once a month. This will keep the bush fed and producing strong.
If you prefer a different organic food besides
cottonseed meal, that can be used instead. The key is to feed small doses to
the container blueberry bush each month instead one large feeding in the
spring.
Organic Mulch
Keep the top
of the soil covered with an organic mulch like pine needles or dead leaves.
Blueberries are native woodland bushes and grow best when their natural habitat
is re-created.
The organic mulch will also help keep soil acid
balanced and help retain soil moisture.
Plant Choices
You will need at least two blueberry bushes for ideal pollination and an abundant harvest. Select berry varieties that have different fruiting times so you can maximize the length of the harvest season. Also, select plants that are hardy in your particular growing zone so they can survive the winter weather. In harsh climates, place containers in a protected area during the winter.
How To Plant
Position each bush so the top of the root ball will be one-half inch above soil level when planted. The roots of a blueberry bush are very shallow because they must have air to survive and if they are planted too deep in the container the roots will smother and the bush will die.