Planting Guide For Blueberries

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you're just starting out gardening in 2023, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening! Seedling Trays! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3xiKAgi Amazon USA: amzn.to/3DWD2DR Amazon UK: amzn.to/3RRlrCQ pH/Water/Light Meter Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3yafmrV Amazon USA: amzn.to/3OKRW30 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3nvEIM4 Composting Tumbler! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39CgtYw Amazon USA: amzn.to/39Dha49 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3yLsKVf Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql Hand Pruners: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8 Watering Can: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YR3p94 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa Spray Gun: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z Gardening Gloves: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU

[@aaronhart3575]

What do I do if the PH is too low ? I used acidic potting soil for my potted blueberries and the PH is a one and I can’t find any info on how to raise it .

[@eileenbartnick7202]

Thanks for all the great info, Jeff! I LOVE my blueberry plants!! I have 12, most are several years old, but I just can't help myself from picking up new ones, 😂 !! I would be interested in learning more about taking cuttings to propagate new plants. Also, I have found the perfect solution for protection from the birds. NOT bird netting, because the holes are too big, the berries pop thru it, and birds can get caught in it. The best is a fabric, called tulle (the material used for bridal veils). It's so easy to put on your bushes after pollination, with clothes pins. Birds don't even want to light on the material. It's perfect! Happy gardening and have a wonderful day!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

GREAT tip on the netting fabric Eileen!! And I agree, for sure, we gotta do a cutting video soon....this spring for sure!

[@eileenbartnick7202]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Great! I'll be watching for it! I buy the tulle fabric by the bolt. There are many different uses for it. Another good one is, I made drawstring bags to draw up around individual bunches of grapes. The birds couldn't get to those either! Have a great day!

[@jacoblanglois]

i recently bought some new blueberry plants and you helped fill some gaps (especially how close to plant for cross-pollination, i wasn't sure) that i was having a hard time finding an exact answer for. Lots of of other sources provide rough descriptions, such as "close", but fail to define what that actually means. Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Jacob, happy to help. Best of luck with the new patch... Come back and let us know how it goes!!

[@stuartsimpson3628]

planting bare root blueberries for first time this weekend perfect timing on the vid thanks....

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Stuart, what varieties are you planting?

[@michaelmarchione3408]

It has been many many years since we had blueberry plants. They started out very well until the deer ate them. Thanks for the how-to! Maybe we should try it again? Take care!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Michael, they definitely are a deer favorite unfortunately!

[@davidsdesign543]

I can't tell you how happy I am with this video. I've been dying to see a good video on growing blueberries for ages. And I couldn't have wished for it to come from a better source! Very grateful!

[@nightowl9176]

What an amazing video. You are explaining everything so thoroughly and clearly. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@bbales2305]

SUPER!!! Getting setteled into my new allotment that's 300 m2 and was a mess when I took it over - BUT - I'm so interested in starting with growing blueberries! It'll have to wait maybe even til next year but THIS is a GREAT video to get me started once I can !!! THX 👍👊😉

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Love it! Soooo smart. Any time you can get perennial, low maintenance crops into areas that large, your farming life is going to be so much more fruitful!

[@tiff8998]

Thank you for your videos, I'm learning a lot. Even the type of berry to plant. I'm just getting started and i feel confident after watching your videos that i can do this.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Tiff, thanks so much for watching!

[@teriannwakeman4636]

I've been looking at a number of blueberry planting videos recently as I'm getting ready to add a row of B. berries to the edge of my orchard. One important thing no one has mentioned is the number of winter chilling hours different varieties require. The people producing the videos seem to be from a climate that receives a lot of chill hours. I'm in a mild coastal climate and many varieties will not get enough chill hours to create fruit. I have a neighbor who has a dozen or so blue berry plants purchased at a local big box store. she doesn't see berries every year and when they appear they are low in number. I checked her varieties against a chill hour chart and each requires more chill hours that we normally get. I suggest adding a bit about choosing blue berry varieties suitable for local climates.

[@laurieebert961]

I really appreciate your videos. I just found you and have learned so much. I have 4 blueberry, 1 blackberry, and 3 raspberry plants. The blackberry does well as well as 1 raspberry, but the blueberries need better soil. I live in zone 5b, south of Chicago, and it's quite cold. So I'm thinking I will remove the berries from their grow bag and replant follow your directions once the temps are a bit warmer. I can't wait to watch the rest of your videos. I really started gardening in 2020 and have so much to learn. Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Laurie, thanks so much for watching and for the support! Zone 5b I do think blueberries do much better in the ground with a much larger thermal mass over the three colder months.

[@naomidaum8277]

OK! I'm sold on your knowledge and care quality. New subscriber coming right up!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Naomi, thanks so much for watching and for the support! :-)

[@katherine1408]

Really good video thanks you. Calm delivery, lots of practical information, good speed and length. Often for other gardening videos I speed them up as they're so slow and rambling but yours was perfect.

[@heatherjolly8389]

You're such a great teacher

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Heather! :-)

[@carmens5541]

Looking to add blueberries this year, thank you for the video, very helpful!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Carmen, best of luck!

[@danielbencar4068]

YOU ARE THE BEST.. THANK YOU SIR !!! LOVE your channel 😉 !!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for watching and for all the support Daniel!

[@sonyabarkwell6077]

Once again the Information is spot on and easy to follow!Love your channel keep it coming!Love from Canada!

[@Kathleen67.]

I grew up on low bush in Northern Minnesota; my favorite treat was the mint we'd find amongst the blueberries. Tall bush is foregein to me. I'll give em a go one day I expect.

[@Susan.I]

We had two bushes and our daughter at 3 years ate them along with the birds!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha some for everyone!

[@Ludick.J]

Horse manure is high in acid and might be a great way lower the ph. Also horse manure works great to fertilize grass. That might why they grow so well together with blueberries.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's a great point. I know some of the commercial farms, the real big guys use it throughout the year.... So you must be on to something.

[@Michael-s2p3p]

Great videos. Well structured including your end of video summary. Thanks.

[@garyhamilton2979]

Would it be possible to have a video on growing blueberries from cuttings? Looking forward to seeing your work this year.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

100% Gary! I got a bunch already started now!! :-)

[@Decade.Glass.Studio]

Awesome! I have some stock tanks I was hoping I could plant some blueberries in so this video is perfect! Thank you 😊

[@Isolden11]

OMG!!! Thank you for posting this, we are planting our first blueberry bushes this year! I was wondering if I could ask if you have any info on how to do it!!!!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Linda, what varieties??

[@waynesell3681]

Bought my first plant last spring, plan on adding another this year. Have the elemental sulphur already after using to much wood ash in the garden raising pH. Second season after applying to garden and plants are better for it.

[@aida087]

BEAUTIFUL blueberries Ripe Tomato, trying to grow blueberries and thank you for sharing!! 😂🙏🙏

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! Once you set them up, they really are low low maintenance!

[@andrewmcfarland8181]

Nice video, you have done well Padwan

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha cheers! :-)

[@Lumi1992]

do you have a link to the 10 gallon bags?, i see some are deeper than others and some are wider.

[@SchulzArt]

Yep!! I see blueberries forming!! ❤

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

Just starting out with blueberries, but I've been growing dawn redwoods for thirty years, and they take a pH of 4.5 as well, so I'm ahead of the game on building acidic soils! I also grow everything in straight compost, as I make several cubic yards of it a year. I also noticed that you and I both still spell sulphur with a "pH," LOL.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh, blueberries sure gong to LOVE you.... I have no doubt!!

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thanks! I'm the guy who turned dawn redwoods loose in Appalachia to study them in a native environment. It's called the Crescent Ridge Dawn Redwoods Preserve, if you want to Google it.

[@caroleangel9287]

Always great information! Thank you!

[@donnakacz6460]

Hey Jeff I found the planting blueberries from seed. Thanks honey

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Donna, you going to u give it a try?

[@johnanderson3405]

Pine needles also make a great mulch for blueberries. They lower the ph and suppress weeds. 😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Definitely! Many use them with great success.

[@emylytle7149]

I lost two blueberries I guess it got heated so much during summer and it just didn’t go 🤦🏻‍♀️😔 now I only have two left 😩😩😩 I will transplant it in a bigger pot so I can give them more fertilizer 😊👩‍🌾👍thanks Jeff awesome show. Missed it so I’m just watching it late. I was cleaning all my dried leaves and composting so I can transplant my yellow straight squash and onions 👍👩‍🌾😊 tomorrow it will rain for another 3 days 😬😩🤦🏻‍♀️ I hope it won’t get damage 🙄🥹 I don’t have my greenhouse set yet! 😔👩‍🌾

[@SteveRoscoe-t2t]

Thanks brother!!

[@michelerichard5523]

What is the biggest grow bag they will end up needing for their life span?Do u add the Elemental Sulphur each year or do a PH test first each season🙏

[@cltinturkey]

I understood everything through elemental sulfur. What is the liquid "solution designed to push the pH downwards"? I don't think you said what it is. Please let us know. Thanks! Good video. I had two blueberry plant cuttings from last spring. One is thriving, while the other died. I'll be acquiring and starting another for that cross pollination.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Great question.... Basically, it's a fertilizer that feeds the plant AND drops the pH. Fertilizers for Azaleas and Rhododendrons (they may even mention blueberries on the package). A quick easy way to get the pH back on track

[@cltinturkey]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank you!

[@richardmullins6735]

Thanks for the tips. Will newly planted blueberries suffer from frost?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I always wait until the last frost date to plant, but usually they are ok... They are tough plants!

[@deanablythe9394]

Thank you, this video was very helpful

[@darkestbarrierIV]

Good stuff. Any recommendations how far apart they should be planted in ground?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

4 feet apart is the standard for commercial farms Travis if you have the space, that should be fine.

[@rlbgardener6465]

Hi Jeff, great video as always. But how often should you add the elemental sulphur, once a year or more, when planted in containers. Thanks…

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I only do it once a year or ever less sometimes! :-)

[@rlbgardener6465]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thanks Jeff.

[@frankwerner9698]

I grow mine in containers. Fertilize and acid once in the spring. Water from the garden hose is very alkaline. So I buy the acid soil and add a small amount of extra acid in the spring.

[@rlbgardener6465]

@@frankwerner9698 thanks Frank, l’ll be getting me some this spring.

[@AnonZero0]

*Thank you.*

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers!

[@michaeliiensing4023]

The pine flakes for bedding that you find at TSC could those be part of the mix?

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Very nice👍👍

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers!

[@shake_shells11]

My local water has a pH of 8.5, I still need to add vinegar once a month to correct the pH.

[@gracegardenprince]

Good information 👍🎉

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Grace, appreciate the kind words!

[@J3ffFree]

I’m in zone 8a. I have some rabbit eye varieties that are already flowering due to a very warm February. However, now there is a late spring frost coming where temps will get in the 30’s. I was wondering what would be the lower temp range to look out for to protect them from?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I would let them do their thing. Any protection you give and they are only going to artificially warm up even more. If they are floweog early, there's no pollinators anyways. Let them run their course is I think your best bet.

[@roccoconte2960]

Nice video i use epsoma holly tone , could the sulfur burn the roots?

[@donnakacz6460]

Hi Jeff. I want to start from seed. I read I can just crush a blueberry in my fingers, dampened paper towel and into a baggies until it roots srouts.. Now should I start with a ten gallon container? How deep do I plant the seeds. Does it take just one seed? Bi don't want to bombard you with questions, how about, do you have a video on starting from seed? Love and God bless

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Donna, growing from seed is a lonnnnnnng process. No fruit for 2-3 years, but it CAN be done. Seeds sprout better when they are cold stratified (chilled) first. Go small with container size to begin with and move up chronologically with the plants as they age.

[@x0vioriginal633]

After buying two Powderblue blueberry bushes of the rabbit eye variety, I then learned you need two bushes of a different variety to get blooms to form. Powderblue isn’t self pollinating. But does this mean I need to get another type of rabbit eye variety bush other than PB or will two of these be okay? I could return one for Brightwell rabbit eye. Thanks

[@MikeB_2112]

I grow Powder Blues and cross pollinate with Brightwell and Tif Blue. They’ve all done pretty well in my warm zone 9b.

[@robertawilburn900]

How do you treat the soil in spring for established potted blueberries?

[@BradRocker]

Can you tell me which brand planter totes do you use in this video?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Brad I think these were actually no-name ones from Amazon!

[@shirleyjohnson1710]

About the sulfur, can it just be added to the top every few months ?

[@michelerichard5523]

Never grown in a grow bag. If a Blueberry can live 10 + years can a grow bag also hold out that long? Wondering about bark chips as well. Does it matter what tree they come from and I would think untreated would be a better organic choice🤷‍♀️

[@maryjones3394]

I am growing blueberries in zone 7 do I need to bring under the car port

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

No, definitely not. Blueberries need a true winter and need to go dormant!

[@haydehabdolahian7691]

We got at list 20 inch snow on the ground and 9 F today and tomorrow is first day of Spring 😢

[@mikyahalbena-yasharal3387]

What do you think about, adding a few worms, in the potting soil; so that it will naturally promote aeration?

[@lisamorgan9151]

What is the solution you applied for one application to drop ph? Thx

[@johnlorenzo1413]

You are awesome!😃☺

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks John, appreciate you man.

[@Joe-Skier]

Thank you, another excellent video as always! One question: I live in zone 5a Montana. I bought a couple small blueberries. We still are having hard freezes. Is it safe to plant these outside? Thanks again!

[@ed8ted8t]

Jeff, great info as usual! I've learned the hard way to get my blueberries to produce new canes and strawberries. We have natural clay heavy soil in our neighbourhood and never thought much of pH since our rain is slightly acidic and I was recommended a fertilizer for acidic loving plants. It wasn't until I repotted the blueberries in fabric pots and amended the container mix that it started producing new canes and finally some berries last year. Would you think it best to repot the blueberries (and how often) to freshen up the soil or can I simply top dress with elemental sulphur as required and mulch regularly?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's great to hear you figured it out Edward! I have many potted blueberry plants and they've been fine for years. They can outgrow them though...I try to keep mine in a minimum of 10 gallons in size.

[@ed8ted8t]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I just repotted 2 blueberry plants from a 25g to their own 15g and it was a bear to repot. The other one I just amended the top soil, added a couple of strawberry plants...that's the only energy I had left. lol

[@hgrudman]

What should you do with blueberries (established in well draining cloth pots) during the summer?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi Heather, there's nothing to do but harvest and water them. I fertilize mine after that just harvest, but that's it! Keep them weed free and moist!

[@frankwerner9698]

Mulch with straw and pine needles. If they are sitting on concrete or patio. Put stakes under them to keep from getting too hot. I live in 9b and have to water daily

[@terrylewis1548]

Is coco coir ideal or would peat moss lower ph be better?

[@satyamohabir5123]

I live in the tropics & my strawberries are very tiny but extremely sweet

[@SueLiscom-Bell]

My son sent me a 12 inch dormant (bare root) blueberry plant. The roots are covered in a white substance that hasn't come off when soaking it overnight in water. It is hardened. Any ideas? Is it okay to plant with this unknown substance on the root?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Fertilizer salts maybe? Those potted berry plants are fertilized like crazy.

[@jimmcdowell9017]

Jeff, I wish I could teach our catbirds to pick them for me, and not for them. Hard to keep em out, but that’s part of gardening.

[@principlemethods5281]

Can I plant them in normal soil and just fertilize with rhodendrum azalea fert?

[@AnnikaSparre]

Can somebody please tell me what he used to make the elemental sulfur activate quicker?

[@delanaespinoza]

What’s the liquid you added after you added the mulch?

[@friend07050]

Thanks

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers theresa! :-)

[@christiangregoire4209]

I seem to have a little issue with my pepper plants, it seems that my pepper plants keep getting some weird white /bug or moss.. Leaves.. How to semd you a photo

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh weird Christian.... Are you on the Facebook group?

[@nigl2807]

Good video but too late for my blueberry plant (R.I.P 6 months ago...). Would love a video on how to grow blueberries from seed to be honest :D

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh no, sorry to hear that! Any idea what may have been the cause? Blueberries from seeds for sure.... Definitely a lonnnng endeavor!

[@tarawilliams6375]

What company did you buy those grow bags from?!?!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

These ones are Wraxly and Vivosun Tara. I also have a batch from Lungar that I'm testing out.

[@anchorageprepper9008]

I wish we had buds on our plants. We still have 3 foot of snow cover on them. It’s going to take another minute 😬

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh man, the winter that never ends...!

[@GuillaumeSerrurier]

Apparently it's better to remove the buds in the first year after planting. To make the plant focus on the root system... I did it but i felt bad, they were nice looking😢

[@nigl2807]

Dont people usually advise to remove early flower buds for things like chillies and tomatoes if they come super early in the same vein of things?. (explains why my tomato plants fruit but foliage is like super sparse...)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I heard that too.. Kind of like strawberries.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

​@@nigl2807 yes that's for within a single growing season.... It's because in terms of a flower that produces a valid fruit, the early ones are often poorly pollinated ava the later ones often run out of time for the fruit to mature. So you want to maximize the ones in the middle

[@Jaci57]

Minha preocupação maior é as medidas do solo e os fertilizantes.😢

[@shenellelawrence7683]

Do they grow in tropical countries?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Not really no... They need a winter chilling period.

[@shenellelawrence7683]

Thanks for replying

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@shenellelawrence7683 no problem!

[@SteveRoscoe-t2t]

Sad news to report the deer ate all my blueberries plants wrapped, will i rebuild??? Heck yeah

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@SteveRoscoe-t2t noooooooo! Ate all the branches and everything Steve?

[@SteveRoscoe-t2t]

@TheRipeTomatoFarms right down to the mulch !!!

[@SteveRoscoe-t2t]

Options????

[@SteveRoscoe-t2t]

After careful consideration I have decided i will move on. From the blueberries I have Saskatoon berries in cold stratification for the springtime a little bit of sadness

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

what do you with your blueberry containers over winter?

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

btw, all around our nieghborhood, are the low bush growing wild!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Greg, they are a cold hardy plant, I don't do anything with them. Water thoroughly in the fall mulch heavily, fertilize after last harvest, and grows in larger containers for more thermal mass... That's it!

[@daniellechute5735]

Cold hardy to what temp? I live in zone 2b where Temps often get down to -40...would containers withstand this? Containers would be ideal in my small urban backyard!

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

@@daniellechute5735 I am not sure about down to 2B. I believe he's in Zone 8 Vancouver. I'm in 7. Other side of the Continent (East Coast)

[@richardgarcia4681]

Impossible. There's still snow here in Calgary

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha hey Richard... Just flew through YYC... YUP, lots of snow still everywhere!

[@BiddahSweet]

lol I do this and mine die it sucks so bad.

[@brettfoster6786]

You make it sound easy. It’s not , I think mine got too cold and only one is showing small signs of life

[@bonniecarlstrom6014]

👍👍🇺🇸

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Bonnie!

[@kingspal99]

the sniw noted off my flowers ....😢

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

:-)

[@bowmag803]

I grow rabbit eyes blueberries plants

[@kingspal99]

potash right out the burner will lower ph

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Great idea!

[@kingspal99]

what an out Epson salt to rise oh...

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Magnesium sulfate is never bad... But it's also not this miracle amendment people make it out to be...

[@davidkoba]

bark and coco fiber is not the best. peatmoss and pummice is better.

[@myrustygarden]

Excellent advice Jeff what type of bark are you,mulching with? I know the farmers here seem to use a lot of pine bark. Have a fab weekend, Ali Langley 👍🫐🫐🫐

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Ali, this was pine bark as well, both for the soil mix and the mulch!

[@LyssaSews]

im assuming we can not grow these inside year round? 🥲 i moved to an apartment and i brought my blueberry bush with me bc im crazy and i love my plants. no wonder the poor thing is struggling to provide berries. it has made it through several winters outside. im obviously new to gardening.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Melissa.... Like strawberries and garlic, that's a hard no. They need a winter dormancy to complete their life cycle.