Propagation

Seed:  When growing blueberry from seed, it’s necessary to stratify them for 60–90 days at 41 degrees before planting.

Seed Depth: <1/16″
Space Between Plants: 2′
Space Between Rows: 2–4′
Germination Soil Temperature: 60–70°F
Days for Germination: 30–50
Sow Indoors: Seeds can be started at any time of year.
Sow Outdoors: Plant out only after all danger of frost has passed.

Vegetative: Lowbush blueberry can be propagated by taking stem cuttings, division of suckers or rhizomes from mature plants, or layering. An acidic medium like composted pine bark and/or pine straw mixed with well-rotted manure will work well for rooting. For any method, keep the growing medium moist but avoid overwatering. When you are transplanting a lowbush blueberry, plant it slightly deeper than it was in the pot.

Climate

Grows best in cool climates, tolerating winters with low temperatures regularly below 0°F. This hardy bush occurs naturally in alpine and sub-alpine areas, cliffs and ledges, grasslands, and open woodlands. A true native of northeastern United States and east and central Canada soils, wild blueberry bushes be found as far south as West Virginia and west as Minnesota and Manitoba.

Light

Natural: Full Sun. Will tolerate partial shade.

Artificial: Will grow well under fluorescent lamps. Needs at least 10 hours of light per day.

Growing Media

Soil: Prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soils with a high amount of organic matter. A pH of between 4.0 and 5.2 will keep plants healthy and nourished. This acidic pH can be attained with amendments of sulfur. If your pH is above 6.5, it would be a good idea to plant in containers or a raised bed filled with an acidic soil mix. If your soil is very heavy, consider adding a coarse sand.

Soilless: A mix of equal parts sand and composted pine bark and/or pine straw will provide the acidity and drainage necessary for healthy plants.

Hydroponics: Will thrive in a variety of hydroponic or aquaponic systems. One big advantage to using hydroponics when growing blueberries is that pH and nutrient levels are easily controlled to meet the needs of this picky plant.

Aeroponics: You can quickly produce rooted cuttings in your aeroponic system.

Care

Water: Requires moderate to heavy levels of water. Regular watering during the growing season is necessary to maximize fruit production. They don’t like waterlogged soil, so ensure good drainage. If the water you irrigate with is very alkaline, you can add vinegar to increase its acidity and avoid raising your soil pH.

Nutrients: Requires a low level of nutrients. When transplanting, mix composted leaves or pine needles in a bucket, which will provide organic matter and help keep soil pH low. Slow-growing plants will benefit from periodic applications of fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium. You can also add cottonseed meal, an amendment with a low pH.

Foliar: Will benefit from a foliar feedings of kelp solution or nettle tea. If your plant is looking yellowed, it may be a sign the pH is too high, resulting in the inability to take up necessary iron. Foliar applications will boost nutrients and give you time to amend the soil with an acidic mulch or side dressing.

Pruning: Will benefit from a thorough pruning every 2–3 years. There is no need to prune lowbush blueberry bushes in the first 2–3 years, but you should remove flower buds for 2 years after planting to give the plant time to put its resources into becoming fully established, resulting in greater fruit yields in later years. Once established, annual pruning is usually unnecessary unless the plant is very crowded or has a significant amount of dead wood. Every 2–3 years, burn or mow back the majority of the plant in the late winter. These plants will not produce in the following season, so divide your efforts over alternating areas for uninterrupted production.

Mulching: Use mulch to help keep soil moist and reduce weeds. High-acid mulches like pine bark and aged sawdust will keep soils in the required pH range.

Troubleshooting

Pest(s):

• Birds
• Bears
• Rodents
• Deer

Disease(s):

• Bacterial blight
• Leaf spot

Deficiency(s): Iron deficiency results in new growth producing yellow leaves with green veins. This is usually caused not by a lack of iron, but by an alkaline soil pH. Amend soil with acidic mulches or sulfur to lower your pH back into the acidic range, or if growing hydroponically, use pH-lowering products.

Rotation and Companion Plants

Rotation: A 3- to 4-year rotation out of blueberries will break insect and disease life cycles. However, this may not be practical for the small-scale home gardener.

Companions: It’s a good practice to plant several varieties of lowbush blueberry bushes to allow for cross-pollination. Another benefit is that you can extend the harvest season by planting varieties which mature at different times. Because of their requirement for acidic soil, areas where blueberries will grow are unlikely to provide a hospitable environment for many other garden plants.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest: Pick when berries are plump with a grey-blue color and about to fall off the bush. Fruits with any red or green coloration are not ready. The sweetest berries can be harvested by gently shaking the branches of the bush and catching the berries that fall. Harvest time can vary from May to late summer, depending on where you live and the variety of your blueberry bush, so it’s best to harvest based on color rather than specific timing.

Storage: Fresh berries can be refrigerated for later use. Generally, maximum storage time is about a week.

Other Info

History: Although some relatives of the lowbush blueberry may have existed outside of North America prior to trans-continental travel, the lowbush blueberry actually originated in North America in the northern regions of the US and in Canada. The Native American tribes of these regions would use blueberries as a food source all year round by eating them fresh in the summer and then smoking them in the fall to help them keep throughout the winter.