Cultivation Basics

Blueberry Cultivation 

Blueberries belong to the Azalea family and require similar growing conditions. The spineless shrubs can be either evergreen or deciduous, vary from 1-3 metres in height and are long lived (30+years).

The fruit has a waxy bloom and is borne in bunches on the end of branches. It ripens from early summer to autumn depending on the location and variety.

Preparation and Planting 

Soil must be acid (pH4.5-5.5), well drained and have high organic matter. Plant in full sun. Planting distances for the larger varieties should be 1.2m between plants and 3-4m between rows. When planting tease out the roots over a handful of sphagnum moss placed in the planting position and do not plant deeply. An application of 30gms (max) per plant of a slow release fertilizer at planting is advantageous. As the plants are surface rooted they respond well to a deep mulch of straw or chip.

Maintenance 

Remove flowers in the first years to encourage growth. Irrigation is necessary, particularly in summer. Applications of fish and seaweed fertilizers to assist with root health and strong growth during spring and post harvest. Prune out weak wood. Keep the center of the plant open. Delay picking until the fruit is sweet. A blue berry is not necessarily a ripe berry and ripening is uneven through the bunch. A mature bush can yield between 4-7kg depending on the variety.