You may want to select varieties that ripen at different times or feature large fruit (best for fresh eating and desserts) or small fruit (best for muffins and pancakes). Bushes with brilliant fall color or different growth habits offer the gardener lots of choices to use throughout the landscape. For blueberry lovers, allow at least two plants per family member.
For planting directly in the ground, work up a planting area approximately 2-1/2 feet in diameter and one foot deep. Remove 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil. Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix well.
Blueberries thrive in acidic soils. One 4-cubic foot compressed bale will usually be sufficient for four to five plants, for raised beds mix equal volumes peat moss with acid compost or planting mix. Your garden center representative can recommend a soil acidifier if necessary for your soil.
For newly planted stock, use 2 tablespoons of 10-20-10 (or similar fertilizer) in late spring or once plants are established. Be careful! Blueberries are very sensitive to over fertilization. For subsequent years, use 1 ounce of fertilizer for each year from planting to a total of 8 ounces per plant. For organic fertilizers, blood meal and cottonseed meal work well. Or you can use the following: Fish meal or bone and blood meal for nitrogen. Bone meal and powdered seaweed can add potassium and phosphorous. Coffee grounds or sphagnum peat can increase acidity. Avoid using fresh manure.
