Growing Blueberries | How to Grow Blueberries

When we first moved to our present home we had no idea we would be growing blueberries in the near future.

At times we had noticed that wild blueberries grew on the edge of some of the swamps but there usually weren't many berries because on low land the spring blossoms would freeze most years. But the plants were the same and the deep mucky soil would offer better digging. And so it did... right up to our knees in ooze and filth. But the plants popped out and being wet transplanted excellent. We brought home about 100 clumps at a time and into the field they went. We were working at the beginnings of growing blueberries.

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In order to start growing blueberries The field had been cleared of brush, debris and most of the bigger rocks. It was then disked. One prerequisite for growing blueberries is acid soil, which we had naturally. Lime should never be added to soil intended for blueberry growing. If blueberries already grow in your area then this project would be feasible.

If, however, great quantities of expensive additive, which lowers PH, have to be added to the soil then the economic feasibility decreases.

We chose a hillside location for our blueberry patch for two reasons. First of all our bottomland is our best land for growing vegetables and good soil is at a premium. Secondly, a higher location would provide some frost protection during early May blossom time and good water drainage as well.

One important consideration for growing blueberries is water. Blueberries need an abundance of water to grow a good crop of large berries. Since they are so small to begin with (300 berries / pint usually) any increase in size of the berries means easier picking, which is done by hand. Greater productivity overall is also maintained. What we did was make furrows 6' apart across the hill. This effectively made 6' beds with walkways already in place. In this way runoff water (even thunderstorms) was caught and slowly fed the berries.

We planted two rows down each bed and mulched heavily with wood chips to retain moisture and discourage weed growth. The curse of every small fruit grower is perennial grass so mulch heavily. Each clump of plants was transplanted with a 4' spacing. Blueberries spread by way of underground shoots that grow away from the mother plant filling in spaces much like raspberries. It took literally thousands of plants to fill one acre. We found out later that several nurseries sell plants and we could then appreciate the cost involved in setting up a wild blueberry patch, even though our plants were basically free for the taking.

When we got started growing blueberries , Our first real crop was about 3 years later when we picked about 200 quarts.

Now our production has leveled off at about 600 quarts. Last year wild blueberries sold at 9$/qt. CDN for the whole season so our little enterprise was very profitable to say the least. Production does vary due to rainfall and spring frost. The plants are very hardy and we've never sprayed any chemicals on the patch. One thing we do every spring now is to prune back 2 or 3 rows nearly to the ground with a weed eater. Blueberries need new growth to produce flowers and fruit buds similar to apple trees. With severe pruning every few years the plant grows feverishly to produce new woody growth and the following year a bumper crop is usually obtained. Growing blueberries was fun.

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In this way dead branches and old undergrowth is removed as well making way for productive growth. In years past the pioneers who depended on wild blueberries for part of their livelihood would burn off half of the patches in the spring accomplishing the same goal. In our area burning is not allowed any longer and the wild patches on crown (government) land have grown up to brush mostly.

You can use the same methods for growing blueberries that are high bush varieties. We did too.

By transplanting a few plants we've made growing blueberries a part of our economic strategy just like the pioneers who preceded us. Wild blueberries are now grown commercially just like our little venture in and eastern . Plants are available from many sources or from the wild just like we did. There are apparently over a dozen varieties of wild blueberries and we've purchased some to experiment with which varieties might do well here. Several show promise but a grower would have to try his own experiments to see which ones consistently performed well.

With the patch now at home the picking is still the same grueling work it always was but the trip to the patch and back is a leisurely stroll now. We can pick at cooler times of the day as well which is refreshing. Growing blueberries has been fun.