Growing Blueberries? 7 Quick Facts
Growing blueberries? It’s time to pick now that it’s mid-July! I was lucky enough to have a blueberry patch behind our old home and even have some bushes here in Virginia!
There are so many varieties that a person can actually pick and eat fresh blueberries from the 4th of July until mid -September! Growing blueberries & harvest time can be fun for the whole family!
Thinking of growing Blueberries?
Before you order any blueberry bushes here’s a great website with a lot of valuable information;
https://www.blueberrycouncil.org/growing-blueberries/planting-blueberries/
Also this quick checklist will also show you at a glance what is needed to grow this popular fruit.
Quick facts about growing blueberries
- Blueberries need full sun.
- Blueberries require acidic soil.
- Plant two or more varieties for successful pollination.
- Plants won’t have much fruit the first 2 to 3 years.
- Harvest is bigger after 5 years.
- Blueberry plants grow slowly and reach full size in 8 to 10 years.
- Each winter, prune out old, weak and dead wood.
So as you can see there is some work involved in caring for your bushes but the idea of having lots of fresh blueberries to pick is well worth the effort.
When Can I Pick Blueberries?
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
- Blueberries are typically ready for picking between June and August.
- Don’t rush to pick the berries as soon as they turn blue. Wait a couple days. When they are ready, they should fall off right into your hand.
- If you plant 2-year-old blueberry bushes, they should start to bear within a year or two. (Pick off any flowers that form the first year or two after planting, to allow the bush to become established.) Be aware that full production is only reached after about 6 years (depending on variety).
