Craving delicious fresh berries but don’t have a garden to grow them? Don’t worry! Learn How to Grow Blueberry in Container in limited space!
Blueberries are suitable for growing in a pot because they have a shallow root system. Growing them in a container is an excellent idea, as they attain a height of just 3-5 feet. So even if you have limited space, you can grow them easily! Learn How to Grow Blueberry in Container and enjoy them delicious and fresh!
Botanical Name: Cyanococcus
USDA Zones: 3-10
Soil pH: 4.5-5.5
Check out our article on growing Strawberries in containers here!
Choosing a Container
The container size also depends on the variety of blueberries you are growing. Large pots, between 16-22 inches deep, are going to be perfect for growing blueberries. You can also go for wine or whiskey barrels, buckets, and large tubs. Just make sure that they have sufficient drainage holes. Compact varieties like TopHat and Sunshine Dwarf can do well in smaller pots.
Best Blueberry Varieties for Containers
- Pink Icing: With large flavorful berries and beautiful foliage, this variety looks stunning in decorative pots. It grows 3 feet in height with 4 feet spread.
- Patriot Blueberry: Growing berries in abundance, the plant also grows cute looking white flowers. Attains a height of 3-7 feet with 3-5 feet spread.
- Peach Sorbet: If you want a beautiful blueberry plant then this one, with its peach-emerald foliage and abundant blueberries, will amaze you. Grows 1-2 feet high and 2 feet wide.
- Jelly Bean: Like its name, the berries taste like jelly! The plant’s elongated foliage with hints of red also looks gorgeous. Grows a foot high with 2 feet spread.
Growing Blueberries in Pot
Propagation
You can propagate blueberry from seeds and cuttings. Buying a healthy plant from a nursery is a better option as it is going to fruit faster!
Planting Time
The best an ideal opportunity to plant them is in Spring and Autumn. Spring is a superior decision as blueberries will get time to settle down in summer and get more grounded before winter shows up, in this manner limiting the danger of freezing.
Requirements For Growing Blueberry
Position
Place the container at a location where it receives a minimum of 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. However, save them from exposing too much in the harsh afternoon sun, as the plants can overheat.
Soil
Blueberries thrive in acidic and well-draining soil. The beauty of growing them in the pot is you can make the best soil mix for the plants! Fill the pot halfway with regular potting mix and a half with acidic potting mix, which you can get from a garden center near you or try online. You can also go with the soil mix meant for Azalia clerodendrum.
You could also opt for 2 parts each of shredded coconut coir, sphagnum peat moss with 1 part perlite. Mix them all well and you’ll have a perfect growing medium!
Watering
You’ll have to water the plant routinely to guarantee the dirt is consistently sodden. Check the dirt with your finger, in the event that it feels dry about an inch or two from the surface, water the plant altogether. You can likewise finish off dress with pine bark to enable the dirt to hold its dampness.
Blueberry Care
Fertilizer
A slow-release, acid fertilizer is going to work just fine. Start by applying it 4 weeks after you have planted the blueberry. Afterwards, top dress using a growing medium in the coming spring. You can also go for a water-soluble liquid fertilizer such as 10-10-10, once every 1-2 months. Do follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for dose on the label carefully.
If you want to use organic fertilizers, using a blood meal, fish meal, sphagnum peat, or cottonseed meal is a great idea.
Pruning
Cutting and shaping blueberry is necessary. Sometimes, bushes make weak growth, and this creates little flower buds and lesser fruits. Avoid any serious pruning in the first 3 years–just snip away only the weak, damaged, and diseased shoots.
Do remember that a well-run bush should have 6-8 main shoots. From the 4th year, you can start trimming the oldest, unproductive stems. The best time to prune is early or mid-spring when new buds appear.
Mulching
As the plant has a shallow root system, mulching the plant is necessary, especially in Spring. Using a wood bark works well. You can also go for compost as it goes best with a slow-release fertilizer if you are planning to use it.
Frost
Although the shrub is not sensitive to frost, the flowers can be damaged. If there are chances of frost in your area, move the container to a protected place.
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases rarely attack blueberries. Just watch out for birds when the berries start to ripen. You can use a bird netting to keep the berries safe!
Harvesting and Storage
Between June and August, the berries will be ready to harvest! After they turn blue, wait for few more days as the longer they are going to stay on the plant, the sweeter they’ll become. Pluck few ones put and taste them before you harvest the entire plant. When the berries are ready, you just have to touch them, and they’ll come right to your hands.
Store them in a deep freezer to enjoy them for long!
Health Benefits of Blueberry
- Blueberries are rich in Vitamins, Fiber, and Manganese.
- They also have one of the highest antioxidant levels that helps in the reduction of oxidized LDL in the body.
- The fruits contain potassium and calcium that helps in maintaining low sodium levels in the blood.
- The berries also aid in healthy digestion and weight loss.
