Plant blueberries: when and how to do it

The planting blueberry seeds It is a very little used process, since it is much more productive reproduce the plant by cuttings, which are planted directly in their final location. If you are interested in trying to do it by cuttings, we recommend this other article in which we explain How to make cuttings.

If you still want to try your luck with your own seeds, you should know that it is convenient sow blueberry seeds between fall and winter. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Before sowing them, it is important to leave them for about 24 hours to soak in a glass of water.
2. From there you can transfer them to a medium-sized pot with universal seed substrate.
3. Plant up to two seeds in each pot.
4. Water them abundantly to provide them with moisture both before and after covering them.
5. The second time use a sprayer so they don’t end up washed away.
6. Leave the pot in a semi-shaded location and water it again whenever the soil dries out.
7. When spring comes, these should start to germinate.

If you choose growing blueberries from cuttings or seedlingswhich is the most common and fastest, the start of winter is the best time for it. The good thing about this is that they represent a good opportunity to take advantage of those spaces in the garden that are empty in winter, with the summer crops already removed.

As they need an acidic soil and they become bushes of considerable size, an ideal option is to place them on the outer limits of the orchard or plot, so that they act as a natural barrier against the wind and their need for acidic soil does not harm the rest of the land. .

Now that you know that the beginning of winter and the end of autumn are the best times to plant blueberry cuttings or seedlings, you have to take a good look at what the needs of this plant are.

ground and space

First and foremost, blueberries, like many Fruits of the forestneeds a more acid soil usual. You can acidify your soil by adding pine needles that you mix into the soil a few months before you plant the blueberries. If you think you need more, the best thing you can do is consult a specialist who tests the pH of the soil so that they can recommend how much sulfur to add to the soil to achieve the desired pH. If you dare on your own, pH measurement methods can also be purchased for you to use yourself.

As we have mentioned, it is best to place them outside in the limits of the garden. The next thing is the space to respect between the seedlings. Depending on the species of blueberry, you should leave from 1 m distance between plants, up to 4 m for larger species and variants. Pay attention to what sizes your purchased strain reaches and space accordingly.

Regarding the soil, in addition to acidity, it is important that it has very good drainage. This is because you will need to water your blueberries heavily, and if the soil becomes waterlogged, the roots of the plant can be spoiled. For this reason, a floor that easily eliminates excess moisture is necessary, avoiding puddles.

temperature and location

As far as temperature and location are concerned, this plant withstands low temperatures and even frost quite well. So much so, that it can withstand temperatures of up to -30 ºC in winter. In fact, it needs to spend the cold months below 7ºC, or in spring it will not bear fruit with the usual force.

As it resists cold so well, heat is indeed dangerous for this shrub. If you live in an area with mild summers, there is no problem, but if your climate is very hot, you will need to locate your blueberries in a semi-shaded area, or both the plant and its fruits will be greatly affected.

How to plant blueberry seedlings

Finally, when you plant your seedlings, follow these steps:

1. When the ground is prepared, make a deep hole to bury the blueberry seedlings a few centimeters deeper than they were in the pot,
2. Carefully remove the plant from the pot, being careful not to break the roots, and place the seedling in the hole.
3. Cover all the roots with soil and press down a bit to compact it, making sure the stem is straight and supported.
4. When you finish placing the seedlings, you can water.

The step by step to follow, in reality, is like when a transplant of any other plant is done, from a pot to the ground or land. Here we leave you a practical guide with the steps to transplant a plant such as blueberries, so that you have more knowledge when doing it.

Now that you have the necessary notions to sow, take cuttings and plant blueberries, you may be interested in knowing several tips on the cultivation of blueberries.

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