Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Growing Blueberries in Containers

Last year was a bit of a disappointment for summertime tomato growers here in Northern California. An abnormally long, cool spring and summer led to a late, small crop of those desirous red orbs. The weather, however, was perfect for the latest addition to many backyard gardens here: blueberries!

The 2011 blueberry harvest from our six plants was outstanding; there was plenty for us, as well as the birds (note: this spring, add netting).


The development of southern highbush blueberry varieties meant we could start growing this tasty fruit. Up until about 15 years ago, blueberry growing was relegated to the cooler, more humid climates.


 According to the UC Cooperative Extension, rabbiteye blueberries grow in the southeastern part of the country and thrive in hot, humid weather but are not cold hardy. Lowbush blueberries grow in the northeastern states and Canada. Northern highbush blueberries grow from Florida to Maine and the northern tier states and have a high chilling requirement that limits their adaptability.  

Southern highbush blueberry varieties have a low-chill requirement and are heat tolerant. Although they are self-pollinating, blueberry fruit set will increase and berries will be larger if two varieties are planted together. Most varieties grow 4 to 6 feet tall here. A few, such as Sunshine Blue (3'), are more compact.

A UC Master Gardener variety trial in Santa Clara found that the following varieties grew the best, produced the biggest crops, and had good to excellent flavor: ‘Reveille’, ‘Misty’, ‘Sunshine Blue’, ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Georgia Gem’ and ‘O’Neal’. Other varieties that may also work well include ‘Blue Ray’, ‘Cape Fear’, ‘North Blue’, ‘Ozark Blue’, and ‘Sharp Blue’. 


In our yard, we have had success with Sharp Blue, Jubilee, South Moon, Blue Ray,  Sunshine Blue and Misty.

The southern highbush blueberries will thrive in containers, as long as you keep a few basics in mind:

• Plant blueberries in a good-sized container. You can start them off in five gallon containers, but a 15-gallon or larger is preferable. We use watering troughs from the local farm supply store. With holes cut in the bottom, of course.
 




• Give them acidic soil. Use a one-third mix of potting soil intended for camellias and azaleas, peat moss, and small pathway bark, along with a handful of soil sulfur. This will give the blueberries their ideal pH growing range of 5.5.

• Blueberries need consistently moist soil, but be sure the pot has good drainage.


Blueberry flowers
• Because containers can heat up here in the summer, place them where they can get some afternoon shade.

• Feed blueberries with an organic fertilizer. Apply during the blueberry-growing season, late winter through summer.
Organic fertilizers such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, fish meal, and alfalfa meal can be applied at a rate of 1 pound per plant.

• Having several containers with different varieties will improve pollination and give you an extended harvesting season. If you want a sure choice, go with Sunshine Blue. Although a smaller shrub (about three feet tall), it has very low winter chill requirements and tolerates higher pH soils better than other varieties.
Ripening Dates for San Joaquin Valley (source: UC ANR)


The University of California advises growers of blueberries in containers to replace the soil with fresh potting mix as well as root prune the plant every 3 to 4 years.

Pruning Blueberries. Even though most of the blueberry bushes intended for here only get about five feet tall, they would benefit from some judicious pruning. According to the American Horticulture Society book, "Pruning and Training", blueberries should be pruned in late winter, when the fruit buds are readily distinguishable. Prune back the shoots growing horizontally and any weak growth, cutting to an upright shoot or low bud. Prune out the oldest and weakest wood near the base of the plant to encourage strong new growth and remove any growth spreading out toward the ground. Cut out no more than a quarter of the bush annually.

However, as we know, all gardening is local. That pruning advice is intended as general guidelines for a nation of blueberry growers. What about the blueberry gardener here in the Central Valley?

Ed Laivo, Sales Manager at Devil Mountain Nursery in Clements, has some different ideas, based on his own experience. "For our area, the southern highbush blueberry varieties are best," says Laivo. "Most advice refers to the northern highbush blueberry. The southern highbush blueberry is more tolerant of our heat and lower humidity, doesn't require as much winter chill and has been bred to be planted in the ground in full sun here."

Blueberry branches have a limited number of productive years, perhaps two or three. Laivo says to remove them after Year Two. "For major pruning, I wait until February, before the buds open," advises Laivo. "Then, I'll prune back the plant lightly after harvest to keep the plant in bounds."

Contrary to the advice in the American Horticulture Society book, Laivo says that the winter pruning can be as much as 50% of the plant. "But try to remove totally any branch that is over three years old. Those won't be very productive. By pruning those out, you'll spur new branch growth at the base."

And if a blueberry planting is in your future garden plans, Laivo says to get more than one. "Blueberries will yield a much bigger crop when paired with another variety," he says.
        
 

Laivo also advises planting blueberries in large containers, not in the ground. That way, you can give the plants the exact soil they need. "The trick is the soil mix," says Laivo. "Blueberries like a low pH around 5.5. And they like to grow in actively decomposing organic matter."



That's an important point for those who plant the southern highbush blueberries in the ground. Blueberries benefit by incorporating well-decomposed organic matter into the soil. And the best organic amendment? Compost. Blueberries are in the same family as azaleas and rhododendrons (Ericaceae); wherever those plants are thriving in your yard is probably a good location for the southern highbush blueberries.

In a year or two, your biggest concern after planting these shrubs may be: what can I do with all the fresh blueberries? 

 

How about blueberry smoothies! 

Our recipe for this quick to make treat:






1 Cup Blueberries
2 Cups Orange Juice or Apple Juice
1 ripe banana
1 Cup Yogurt
1/4 Cup skim milk
1 Tbs protein powder (optional)


Blend, and enjoy!


Sources for southern highbush blueberry information:
Dave Wilson Nursery
Fall Creek Nursery

9 comments:

  1. I have blueberries in the ground & though I have to work to make the naturally alkaline soil (Roseville's heavy clay) acidic enough, I find it's worth it. My latest project is to take some of the compact varieties you mention and use them for foundation plantings in front of the house. Again, lots of work, but my blueberry obsession won't be denied. Sometimes it's as much about achieving something difficult as it is about the fruits of labor.

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  2. Great article. Went out and bought 4 plants for my yard. Added peat moss and an acid blend bagged soil. My soil is around 6.5 so should have good luck with the compost addition.

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  3. Might you share how you painted your water troughs? I have 6 of the 20 gallon troughs and can't imagine just spray painting each one of a can of spray paint. Thanks for excellent article!

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    1. The paint for all three bins was a one gallon container of tractor paint from Tractor Supply Co.

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  4. Great instructions on growing blueberries in containers. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.

    Impressive post, indeed!

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  5. If you have them in containers in zone 3, do you need to bring them into a sheltered place for the winter (like unheated garage), or do they do ok outside?

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  6. Excellent article Fred! I find 'Bountiful Blue' Blueberry disappointing in yield on the Central CA coast. Have you heard anything about this?

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    1. Bountiful Blue (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a northern high bush variety, although it is advertised as doing well in low chill areas. Also, it helps pollination to have another blueberry variety nearby there in your Garden of Eden. You may want to try adding some of the southern high bush varieties mentioned above. Interesting, too, the USDA map for Vaccinium corymbosum highlights only the south and eastern portions of the US. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=VACO

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  7. Down here in Orange County, my favorite is Reveille. The yield is not as high as the other SHB, but the flavor and crispness makes up for it. I'm pulling all of my Misty plants out which will leave me with Star, Jewel, Southmoon, Bountiful Blue, Oneal, Sunshine Blue, Pink Lemonade, Ozarkblue, Powderblue, Suziblue, Emerald, and Legacy. Apart from thr later season for Sunshine Blue, I'd probably pull them out too. I've tried them in the ground for 2 years with the DWN blueberry mix and so far ao good! Bountiful Blue has beautiful foliage and the taste is good. Othe than Pink Lemonade, the rest taste very similar. This year we had so many berriews, I did not net the plants amd let the mockingbirds at it. Last year, with the netting I had to help release birds thay got inaide but couldn't get out.

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