Blueberries Grow Well in Containers
Today’s podcast is all about blueberries: choosing, planting, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting, and protecting. Among the experts we talk to on the complete podcast for paid subscribers are Sacramento County Master Gardeners Anne Moore and Shenna Mealey, as well as fruit plant experts Tom Spellman and Phil Pursel. Free subscribers will hear only Master Gardener Anne Moore’s blueberry advice. Give it a listen! A transcript is attached to this newsletter (available for paid subscribers).
One note that may confuse you: Master Gardener Anne Moore discussed pruning blueberries in the winter; Tom Spellman insists on doing that chore in the summer. One thing is true: blueberries are very forgiving plants. Listen to what each has to say, and choose what is right for you. I tend to trim the plant in the summer, and remove the old wood in the winter. Whichever you do, your blueberry plants won’t hold a grudge against you.
At our former residence, the blueberry harvest from our six plants was outstanding; there was plenty for us, as well as the birds (note: add netting). The six southern highbush varieties that we planted there included Sharp Blue, Jubilee, South Moon, Blue Ray, Sunshine Blue and Misty.
That was about 10 years ago. Since then, we’ve moved. However, there is always room for blueberry plants in our yard. Time and experience has refined our blueberry taste buds and we are developing a more functional approach to blueberry culture (that’s fancy talk for saying, “We want bigger blueberries. They’re easier to pick!”). Our choices included O’Neal, Jewell, Bluecrop, and Emerald. Ten years later, they are alive, well, and still producing every May and June.
The development of southern highbush blueberry varieties is a boon for Central Valley gardeners, who must cope with hot summers and low chill winters.
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’ (a large berry variety). Other varieties that may also work well include ‘Blue Ray’, ‘Cape Fear’, ‘North Blue’, ‘Ozark Blue’, and ‘Sharp Blue’.
Closer to home, blueberry trials and taste tests done at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center by the Sacramento County Master Gardeners over the years produced these results:
Here’s a link to their complete report, “Growing Blueberries in the Sacramento Region”.
After the paywall:
• More details about growing blueberries in containers.
• More blueberry pruning methods (!)
• Fruit expert Ed Laivo’s formula for the best container soil for blueberries.
• A Transcript of the complete podcast.
