Blueberries are one of nature’s perfect foods and they have many health benefits. They improve blood fat balances, reduce the triglycerides, and raise the good or HDL cholesterol. Many people who eat 2 to 2.5 cups of blueberries per day had improved cognitive functions such as an improvement in their memory and the slowing down or postponing the onset of cognitive problems associated with aging. Eating blueberries helps improve eye health, preventing cancer, and bone health. The polyphenols are associated with the building of strong bones. Polyphenols are the pigments that give the blueberry its color. The only bad thing that I have found from eating blueberries, pertains to people who have kidney or gallbladder problems. Blueberries contain oxalates that can crystallize when they become too concentrated in body.
You can buy blueberries at the grocery store. But they are often very expensive for the amount you get and they have pesticides on them. But if you want to save some money and have the assurance that your blueberries are grown organically and are safe to eat right off the tree, then why not grow your own. Blueberry bushes, depending on the variety, are hardy in zones 3 through 9. Also, depending on the variety, the fruit ripens early season to late season.
There are different types of blueberry bushes. Some can grow outdoors in the ground, while others are small and grow well in a container. The size depends on the variety chosen. The Northcountry Blueberry bush grows to a height of 2 feet, with s spread of 2 feet. The Jersey blueberry bush grows to 6 feet in height and spreads to 8 feet.
Prepare the Site
At least 3 months before you plant your blueberry bush outdoors, it is a good idea to test the soil. Blueberry bushes need a pH level of 4.5 to 5.1. By adding lime to the soil, you can rectify a low pH level, but if your ground has a high pH level, then add some sulfur. Mix the lime or sulfur into the top 4 inches of soil.
Find a sunny location to grow your blueberry. The area should have no nearby trees, bushes or other plants because they will take moisture away from the blueberry plant.
Remove all the weeds and other vegetation within a 5-foot diameter circle. In the center of the cleared area, dig a hole that is at least 1.5 feet deep and 2 feet wide. Scuff the sides and bottom of the hole with the edge of your shovel or spade, so the roots can penetrate easily through the walls. Amend the soil so there is an equal amount of peatmoss and soil mixed together.
Pour water into the hole and allow it to drain naturally away. This will ensure that there is moisture deep into the soil. Remove the blueberry plant from the container after the water has drained away. Examine the rootball. If you see visible roots winding around the outside of the rootball, tease them away with your fingers.
Planting the Blueberry Bush
Position the rootball in center of the hole. Check to make sure that the top of the rootball is level with the ground. Adjust the soil beneath the rootball until it is level or 1/4 inch higher than the soil.
Fill in the hole with amended soil tamping the soil lightly as you go. After you have finished filling inthe hole, give your blueberry bush a good drink of water.
Prune the blueberry making it half its size. You will also need to remove any small side branches. Give the blueberry plant a good drink of water. A layer of organic mulch that is 3 to 4 inches deep will help the soil retain moisture and help keep the weeds from growing. You will need to water your blueberry every week if the weather is dry.
Remove Blossoms
For the first 2 years, remove the blueberry blossoms. Yes, I know you will be eliminating your chances of eating those delicious blueberries, but if you do this, you will have a higher blueberry yield on the third year.
Fertilize
Fertilize the blueberry plant with 1 ounce of 20-0-10-5 fertilizer four weeks after planting. Check the fertilizer label and find the ones that have an ammonium form (ammonium sulfate) rather than the nitrate form (calcium nitrate).
Read and follow the label directions on the fertilizer you choose. Most dry fertilizers are sprinkled evenly over the soil, keeping it 12 to 18 inches away from the base of the blueberry. Carefully scratch the fertilizer into the soil with a rake.
Water the fertilizer into the soil, allowing the water to soak deeply into the soil. Every year in the spring before they leaf out, fertilize your blueberry. Each year, gradually increase the fertilizer by 1 ounce, until you are giving them a total of 5 ounces.
Do not use muriate of potash because this contains chloride, which is toxic to blueberry plants.
Do not fertilize after the blueberries bloom. Do not fertilize late in the fall, because this may encourage the blueberries to grow when they should be dormant.
If you follow these simple tips, you should be successful in growing a blueberry bush of your own and enjoying the fruit in the third year.
Sources:
Buy Blueberry Bushes: Grow Your Own Blueberries
Nova Scotia Agricultural College: Growing Wild Lowbush Blueberries in Nova Scotia
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Wild Blueberry
Michigan State University: Michigan Lowbush Blueberries
Gardening Guides: Grow Blueberries
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Fertilizing Blueberries
Michigan State University Extension: Hints on Growing Blueberries
Blueberry: Gardening Council
