Once again, I am sorely tempted to try growing something brand new (to me) in my garden. This time the temptation is in the form of bare-root blueberry canes on display at a local nursery.
Blueberries have long been considered a cool-weather crop, requiring cold winter and mild summer temperatures, but heat-tolerant, low-chill requiring cultivars are available. 'Misty', 'O'Neal' and 'Bladen' are three blueberry cultivars recommended by University of California at Davis for our area's climate.
Check with the staff at the nursery or garden center to verify that the bare-root blueberry canes they offer for sale are at least 2 years old.
Blueberry bushes do not produce until they are 3 to 4 years old; planting 2-year-old canes will reduce the waiting time and make the intensive labor necessary before planting seem more worthwhile.
Blueberries require acid-soil with a low pH factor as well as a lighter-weight soil with very good drainage. Most of the soil in our area is heavy clay and both the soil and the water here are alkaline with a high pH factor. Planting blueberry canes begins by finding a spot that will get at least six hours of sunlight a day. To lighten the soil and improve drainage, large amounts of compost or humus must be turned into the soil. The canes also can be planted in raised beds or on a small hill of amended soil which will help drain excess water away from the roots. Soil pH factors can be lowered by adding elemental sulfur (1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet) or aluminum sulfur (6 to 8 pounds per 100 square feet) to the amended soil.
Plant the canes 8 to 10 feet apart. Blueberry roots are shallow and will spread wide. Planting holes should be dug accordingly.
Mulch is essential for weed control and water conservation since blueberry roots are drought-sensitive. After planting, spread a 3- t 4-inch layer of heavier mulch such as bark chips around the canes, keeping the mulch a few inches away from the cane wood. Bubbler irrigation, trickle irrigation or multiple drip emitters around each cane will help keep the soil moist during the hot summer months. Check moisture levels frequently to adjust as needed.
Prune back the canes by one-third after planting, removing dead or damaged wood at the same time. Each winter, during the dormant season, prune out older canes since blueberries produce on 1-year-old wood.
Feed four weeks after planting with an all-purpose fertilizer and plan on digging a cup of elemental sulfur a couple times a year at least to keep pH levels low. Spread a half cup of the same fertilizer around, but not on, the plants three to four times during the growing season.
Great article! Here's my question: where in the Fresno area can you purchase blueberry bushes that are 3 years old and likely to bear fruit within a growing year? My mother (89 years old) is a terrific gardener, but obviously she would need the most mature plants I can find for her! Thanks, Deborah
ReplyDeleteI don't know where in the Fresno area you can find three-year-old blueberry plants (you might check with nurseries). I bought one-year-old plants last year and they had a few berries. This year there are going to be many more. I was at Lowe's yesterday and saw blueberries in gallon containers, although I don't know the age of the plants. You might want to check them out soon, before they are gone! Blueberries are not like fruit trees, which take a few years to produce a decent crop. They seem to be happy producing from the start!--Gard'n Judy
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