Back to Info Sheets	Blueberries While Blueberries are native to Newfoundland, the growing of blueberries in the garden is fairly new.  The planting site should be in full sun and protected from any strong winds.  Soil Unlike other garden plants Blueberries require a low pH soil in between 4.5 and 5.2.  Our soils in Newfoundland are generally acidic enough, however if you have limed the area recently, 8 - 12 months, you may want to test your soil using the Rapitest soil tester kit. Try to avoid areas that collect water and drain poorly.  If the soil is a heavy clay you'll want to amend it with compost or peat moss. Planting Container grown plant are best planted in the spring, but  summer and fall planting are also fine.  Dig a hole two times the diameter of the rootball. Mix the soil you remove with compost or peatmoss in a 1:1 ratio.  You will also want to plant blueberries slightly deeper than they are grown in the pots.  This is different from how you would plant other fruit bushes.  Prune out any dead or weak branches. Water plant throughly after planting. Care and Maintenance Follow planting by mulching with two to three inches of mulch to conserve moisture.  Reapply your mulch when the old layer breaks down.  Four weeks after planting apply two ounces of balanced fertilizer around your plant. Apply in a circle around the blueberry 15 to 18 inches from the base of the plant.  Every year there after you can increase the amount of fertilizer according to Table 1.  Apply fertilizer once in spring of split your application for half in spring and half  six weeks later.
© Murray's Garden and Horticultural Services Last updated: March 8, 2008