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 Don’t let a lack of space or poor soil stop you
from growing blueberries. Simply plant a few blueberries in
containers and enjoy their spring blooms, fall color and tasty and
nutritional fruit for snacking, baking and including in healthful
meals.
Blueberries prefer moist well-drained acidic soil. Most of us don’t
have this type of soil. We can, however, create the ideal conditions
with a quality potting mix. Or make your own with a combination of
sphagnum moss, pine bark and rice hulls or perlite for drainage.
Incorporate a slow release fertilizer at planting to provide needed
nutrients for 6 to 8 weeks.
Grow one blueberry in a 5-gallon pot with drainage holes. You only
need one plant to have fruit but growing two blueberry plants more
than doubles the harvest. Plus, you’ll have more flowers and
colorful fall foliage to brighten your patio, deck or balcony.
Select a blueberry suited to your growing region or one of the
compact blueberry cultivars like Top Hat, Jelly Bean, Blueberry
Glaze, and Peach Sorbet. Perpetua is not only compact but produces
both a summer and fall crop.
Place your container in a sunny location. Check soil moisture in
your container gardens daily. Water thoroughly and often enough to
keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy wet.
Dress up the container and keep the roots cool and moist with mulch.
Cover the soil surface with shredded leaves, evergreen needles, or
shredded bark.
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Birds are the biggest pest of blueberries. Simply
cover the plants with netting as the fruit begins to develop to
protect your harvest from hungry birds. This is a much easier task
when dealing with a couple of potted plants versus a large in-ground
planting.
You will need to provide a bit of winter protection if your winters
are cold. Place your potted blueberries in a sheltered location and
cover the container with woodchips to insulate the roots. Or sink
the container in a vacant spot in the garden. You can also store
your plants in an unheated garage for winter. Just be sure to water
the plants anytime the soil is thawed and dry.
And even if you don't get a big harvest – the flowers and fall color
make great additions to any landscape. Visit MelindaMyers.com for
tips on harvesting, storing and preserving blueberries.
Melinda Myers is the author of numerous books, including Small Space
Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD
series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV &
radio program. Myers web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo credit: Melinda Myers, LLC]
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