Can i plant blueberry bushes in the fall

Planting early-, mid- and late-season hybrids extends the harvest and produces a variety of tangy, tart, spicy and sweet berries. Highbush blueberries are popular fruits for eating and cooking.

Early-season southern V. Blueberries grow best in partial shade to full sun and moist, sandy, porous, well-draining soil with a pH of 4. Plants have shallow, tender and somewhat fragile root systems; those that are not kept well hydrated may die during dry periods.

Because plants cannot tolerate overwatering, set them in dirt mounds to control moisture. To create a berry hedge, space blueberries plants 3 feet apart. In the garden, make rows about 4 to 5 feet apart. Water the plants thoroughly when first planted. The bushes will need watering for long periods of time once a week. This will ensure the roots have plenty of water without standing in it for very long, which can cause root rot. Increase water to twice a week in the spring and throughout the growing season.

Mulch around the plants with pine needles or shredded oak leaf mulch. This will add to the acidity of the soil while helping to keep in moisture and keep down weeds. Blueberries do not compete with weeds or grass well, so keep them a few feet from the trunk of the plant.

Fertilize the plants with an acidic fertilizer in the spring when you first notice the buds swelling. Repeat once during the growing season and again at the end of the summer. In early spring prune off any dead or diseased wood. Blueberries prefer acidic soils. A fail-safe way to grow blueberries in almost any soil is to incorporate peat moss into the planting medium.

Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix well. One 4 cubic foot compressed bale will usually be sufficient for plants. For raised beds mix equal volumes peat moss with bark not cedar or redwood , compost or planting mix.

Talk to your local garden center. If planted in rows, allow 8 to 10 feet between the rows depending on equipment used for mowing or cultivating. In most areas, it is ideal to plant in the fall or spring although in many regions you can plant year round.

If you purchased containerized blueberry plants, remove from pot and lightly roughen up the outside surface of the root ball. Then mound soil up along sides of exposed root mass and water in well. Blueberries do best with inches of mulch over the roots to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and add organic matter. Bark O Mulch, acid compost, sawdust and grass clippings all work well. Repeat every other year.

Do not use bark or sawdust from cedar or redwood trees. It's a good idea to allow blueberries to get established before allowing them to bear fruit. If you start with smaller plants, simply remove most of the flower blooms as they appear. In future years, blueberry plants should be heavily pruned each year to avoid over-fruiting which results in small fruit or poor growth.