Start a New Blueberry Patch! (Varieties, Soil Prep, and Planting Tips)

Blueberries in your backyard? It's easier than you think! Learn the secrets to planting and growing THRIVING blueberry bushes in your landscape. This video covers everything you need to know, from picking the perfect blueberry variety, to prepping soil, to planting tips. Watch now and get ready to transform your garden into a blueberry paradise!
At The Fruit Grove, our goal is to provide the best possible information, tips, recipes, and advice to help you start and utilize your own fruit grove, whether it’s just one tree or a whole backyard orchard!
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[@DP-ih6nt]

Had a guy from a blueberry farm here in Florida give me the best advice for planting blueberries. He said dig the hole and fill it up with pine bark nuggets (no soil!!!) leaving enough space to sit the plant down in it to where the plant depth will be level with the ground. Then sit the plant down in the hole and fill in around it with more pine bark nuggets, and top off at ground level with more pine bark nuggets. I planted 4 blueberry bushes this way, and they took right off, producing a harvest the first year!! They are now 5 years old and the harvest just gets better and better every year!

[@TheFruitGrove]

That’s a great idea! I know there are many growers that use straight pine bark as a medium. The tricky part (for some of us) is finding good quality pine fines/nuggets.

[@bennym1956]

Bought 2 varieties from Lowes so they grew well in my zone. Dug 2 holes beside house in spring, threw in some soil mix, put lattice on wall so they would grow up with support. On 4th year of getting abundant supply of blueberries, walk out side door/porch, reach over and pick fresh for breakfast. Easy. Btw, never tested the soil. Got good dirt. Will throw coffee grounds out around them every once in a while.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's great! You must have the right soil, and the right varieties planted.

[@gardentours]

Blueberries are a great solution. They have beautiful blossoms in spring and you can harvest them until autumn if you choose different varieties and they look amazing in fall.

[@TheFruitGrove]

I'm excited to see how they add color to my garden in fall.

[@taranwinslow2615]

Amazingly informative, well edited, everything I wanted when I clicked on it! So glad I found your channel!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks for the feedback! Welcome!

[@MsPeacelove01]

This was really helpful thank you. It’s changed my plan of location and timing of planting out my new blueberries. Less sun in my desert climate and leave off planting till I’ve amended the soil. Great tips.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Glad to help! Good luck growing your blueberries.

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

excellent video....well done...I'm planting 3 Chinese Chestnuts & 5 Jiro Persimmon trees in Oct, but want 2-3 Blueberry bushes too...Planted 2 Keiffer pear & 2 Jiro Persimmons last May....They're doing well..

[@bethberry320]

Thank you for this video. I have a patch where I was, considering what kind of food I could grow. I also live in Texas, in Austin, so our soil isn’t as acidic as yours. I’m getting mixed messages about whether blueberries grow in the ground or not here. You really help me choose which varieties to get. I’m going to give it a go. I love blueberries and we are Incorporating food in our small plot of land. I do have two potted blueberries.

[@TheFruitGrove]

It may be tricky, but I say go for it. If you pay attention to the soil pH you may be able to amend enough for them to grow. Or, if all else fails, grow in containers!

[@lisawilliams9980]

Very informative! Thx

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks!

[@blahdeblaaah9445]

This is great! I put some blueberry bushes in the ground last fall I got on sale. I’m gonna throw some more mulch on there per your recommendation. Thanks!

[@TheFruitGrove]

No problem! I don't remember if I mentioned this in the video, but I used chopped-up leaves and pine needles and my blueberry plants love it.

[@Jmitch95]

Very informative video! Your video is the only one I need to watch for my blueberries! Thank you!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks so much! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@bjstark5069]

Hi I just happened upon your channel and subscribed. I'm in Zone 8b Texas also, so glad you are! I look forward to your videos and learning more about backyard gardening in Texas!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Hello neighbor! Thanks so much for subscribing!

[@mc2e100]

This is a Berry good Video

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks - and you're berry welcome

[@Ayla_HotMessGardens]

New subscriber. I am planning a blueberry patch, glad your video popped up for me.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Welcome! Good luck with your planning and planting.

[@johnpapadopoulos9057]

Wonderful tutorial. Thank you.

[@franklempka2159]

Hi, you would make a excellent teacher.

[@deltorres2100]

I bought three bushes over the fall so I will start. I put them in pots for now, but I’m going to put them in the ground in a spot I have in my backyard, which gets a really good amount of sun not full sun, but still a good amount, but I was thinking man if we all had just planted trees, you know long long time ago of all varieties man we would had such a great garden and eat off. You know what we grow I have a pear tree that I planted 22 years ago in memory of my mom after I buried her the fruit now that comes off that pear tree is beautiful last year they were so big like softball size and I get about 300 pounds but the tree had never been pruned and it was really hard to get the fruit so this winter I have hired somebody to come and give it a really good pruning. It was pruned so much that I was scared that I wasn’t gonna get fruit but I already see the blossoms coming out. I’m so happy that means I’ll get fruit and it’ll be a lot easier to grab being that I’m older it was hard me and my husband were hard but we do do a lot with the pairs pair, preserves, pear, jammed, pear, jelly, fresh, eating pear, trees, blessing I was just gifted a crab apple so it’s already two years old so I will be planning that and my sons house cause I don’t have no more I really don’t have place to add another tree but he lives very close and I will once the apples come in, I be making crabapple jelly and I’m excited. I also got a fig tree that that I planted. I have a small space I planted so but it’s it’s crazy how now after Covid everybody is planting we really should’ve been planting years ago. I know some fruit trees take 5 to 7 years to get fruit…, but I still want to plan a few if I can even let my children’s home because I think it’s important to have those fruit trees when we were growing up when I was a little girl it was like it was nothing to us. we had a kumquat tree a low Quadri we had a elderberry ,mulberry. Oh my God and they were just like in the wild just growing we even had pomegranate bushes. I didn’t think nothing of it and now that I’m older I’m like man I want another one you know.. (Houston,Tx)🌱🌱🍐

[@TheFruitGrove]

I would love to plant pear trees! I'm trying to find a spot in my garden to squeeze in a couple. I also am starting elderberries and pomegranates. I'll update with progress!

[@joncloutier9597]

Excellent video. You just saved me a lot of expense the way was going at it. Nicely done. Very informative. Thank you very much.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Great to hear! Good luck with your planning and planting.

[@Jules-740]

I want a really tasty variety. I need blueberries yum yum!

[@nightowl9176]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks!

[@josieg.6268]

My blueberry bushes are taking off. I use a Canadian brand Pro Spaghnum peet moss, shredded pine bark and acidifier.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's great to hear, since I did something similar!

[@mlmiller2267]

Yep, that seems to be the winning recipe! I am doing container growing and when I used this mixture, they started flourishing immediately.

[@bellgrowsak]

Great video! I've been trying different berry varieties in different locations in my yard and I'm just crossing my fingers they do well through this winter haha. I live in Alaska zone 4b so less varieties available but we have lots of native blueberries here

[@dr.greenthumb6535]

Bell, I suggest half high variety... I live zone 5, and patriot is unfazed by the winter chill 😎

[@bellgrowsak]

@@dr.greenthumb6535 thank you! That's great to hear - I think patriot is one of the varieties I have planted out there

[@TheFruitGrove]

I'd love to hear how they do!

[@Thingys-Jill]

This was a really informative video. I blew it last year with the 4 blueberry bushes I planted. Not acidic enough soil, not enough water, probably planted too deep and definitely got scorched. This year, I'm going to try again. I added soil acidifier last fall and expect to do it again pretty soon. Thanks for a great video!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Happy to help! Good luck!

[@baugustine3879]

You can find formulas out there that will tell you how much elemental sulfur to add for x sq/ft of soil to lower it 1 pH. Just remember that elemental sulfur is 99% sulfur and the Espoma soil acidifier is only 30% sulfur. Found that out the first year I planted my blueberries.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Absolutely - the Espoma is very mild and is only good for a small pH change or around established plants. It's why I feel comfortable using it at planting time without being concerned about damaging the plants. If you have a bigger pH change I would use elemental sulfur the season before and give it time to do its magic on the soil. Thanks!

[@peterbedford2610]

My blueberry bushes were not producing almost any fruit. I decided to put azalea food in the soil. 4 months later they have exploded with fruit!!

[@TheFruitGrove]

How old are the bushes? Fertilizing can be such a tricky thing, but I'm glad you found what works!

[@peterbedford2610]

I think they are 3 years old. Maybe 4.

[@Barbaralee1205]

Me too. Best year ever!

[@Shakerhood69]

Nice work, l have 3 different varieties of blueberries to plant in a few weeks.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Nice!

[@carolinechronowski6080]

Great information!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Glad it was helpful!

[@furiahispanica3823]

I use Sphagnum Peat moss to keep acidity low, I tried everything else including sulfur soil ammendment only the sphagnum Peat Moss keeps it low, I recommend this along with mini pine bark nuggets. Most of all the harvesting comes out of Canada which makes it sustainable. Everything else is a given.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That makes perfect sense, and all the pros seem to recommend peat moss for acidity. I'm a big fan of pine bark too.

[@Suvesh907]

Happy to join your channel. I expect help to grow bluebarry.

[@jeffstieren4474]

Wow, you are amazing. I just picked up a mix of four blueberry bushes. I’m cutting two whisky barrels in half with drilling holes in the bottom. I’m excited for new plants.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Sounds great! I’m starting to experiment with growing blueberries in containers too.

[@jeffstieren4474]

@@TheFruitGrove Amazing as I just retired from owning a landscape company for the last 36 years. It's my time to play in the garden and I am excited. I have Whisky barrels that I'm cutting in half. I will have four half barrels. I just bought sphagnum peat, cow manure, pine bark and then I have a large compost area that I’m adding as well. I would love to show you once I get it all going. Last season I had massive tomato plants along with grapes and black berrys.

[@tinaknutsen]

@@jeffstieren4474 Not sure of your climate but be careful of your blueberry bushes drying out in your barrels or any other containers. I also have all mine in oak barrels 4 years and I am transplanting them in the ground; which was what brought me to this video to see how she did her bed! My husband’s first job was a landscaper for the city and one year they had him plant over 300 rhododendrons along the fence line at the cemetery!

[@jeffstieren4474]

@@tinaknutsen hello Tina. I tried blueberry’s in my garden and they never thrived. My ph was to neutral for them but perfect for everything else. This is why I went to the whisky barrels. I just planted them up yesterday. I’m very hopeful on them thriving as the amendments I did should be perfect. Time will tell.

[@tinaknutsen]

@@jeffstieren4474 Hoping you get a real good harvest! I found that tulle works good as netting to keep the birds and other critters from devouring the berries. It’s very cheap and I use tiny zip ties to close it. Fabric stores have it. And a box of wood steaks from hardware store.

[@emekasearthgems3376]

Thanks for sharing 💜 I learned something new!

[@letstalkhistory8691]

There is a difference between crossbreding and hybrids.

[@Inkling777]

I live in a neighborhood with lots of birds, which is a good thing. I've even planted some blueberries in the wood next to me for them. But I'd like to keep them from _my blueberries_ in _my yard._ I have heard bird netting is the way to do that. You might want to do a video on that topic.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That is definitely going to happen, probably next year. I didn't bother netting this first season since I only left a few clusters of berries on the bushes. But I know from other fruit plants that I'll have to work to keep the birds and squirrels away!

[@beverlycharles6534]

As long as the bushes are pollinated/ ripen around the same time. I have Northern Highbushes but want to add one new one that is Southern will they still help each other produce?

[@TheFruitGrove]

I believe so, as long as they are blooming at the same time. Northern highbush are typically self pollinating, but they should produce better with another bush nearby.

[@nadineb2726]

I really think a lot of the blueberries success has to do with your zone. And then obviously which type. In zone 9A I have had no luck. Furthermore, when I stepped into this whole landscape and food garden I underestimated just how horrible pests would be. All in all I think I'm done 👍🏼

[@TheFruitGrove]

I think that's true somewhat - but don't give up entirely! Have you grown in containers? You may be able to protect your fruit plants better. But pests are truly...pesky.

[@buffalojoe78]

You get a subscribe 👍. Very informative

[@TheFruitGrove]

Awesome, thank you!

[@roosman5322]

Any update vids on how they are doing?

[@TheFruitGrove]

Glad you asked! I'm working on one now and it should be out in the next couple of weeks. As a teaser - so far so good...

[@lorraineyanez4301]

I live in South Texas, it all burns😢.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yeah, but you get to grow all the great tropicals outside! Maybe try blueberries in a wheeled container that you can move somewhere shadier in the summer?

[@lorraineyanez4301]

@TheFruitGrove true, we can grow tropicals, but we do get a couple of scattered times in winter where the temperature dips into the 30s/20s, and that is chaos in our region. It happened about a week ago, so our cactus are mushy, and the new growth on our citrus trees died off.

[@LAyangfamily]

I live in Southern CA, my northern highbush blueberry plant is pretty happy and blooming. Actually, blueberry plant prefers to grow in a sunny spot which can receive at least 6 hours sunlight per day. Even though the peak of summer is not coming yet, but I think you might need to keep roots cooler and moist. Good luck.

[@mikeerickson2412]

I would like to plant some but I can’t even keep the birds out of my June berries

[@TheFruitGrove]

That is a real problem, and one I know I'll have to reckon with. Although I anticipate even more problems with squirrels since they decimated my fig crop last year. I'll have a video update on that in the future.

[@phattzdmann]

Only thing I would change is to not use peat moss, which is not sustainable. I would use coconut coir instead, which is sustainable and I find is more hydrophilic compared to peat moss. Coconut coir will do a better job of keeping those shallow roots hydrated.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Understandable about the peat moss. I'm trying to minimize my use of peat in general throughout my garden. In this case, for one thing, I had a bag from a few years ago that I needed to use up. Coconut coir is a great substitute in general (in terms of water retention)), but the pH of coir is much more neutral (5.5-6.8) than peat moss (3.5-4.8), so it's not very effective for acidifying. But I definitely understand not wanting to use peat because of sustainability. Thanks for the comment.

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

@@TheFruitGroveGardenerScott has a really good video on the efficacy of Peat moss Vs Coconut Coir. If you’re here in the states, we actually source our peat primarily from Canada’s peatlands and they have such an OVER abundance that it’s a non issue to buy it as it grows far faster than we are able to harvest. It’s seriously that much peat lol. Coconut coir on the other hand is a waste product primarily sourced from third world countries with incredibly low wages, and poor safety regulations. Peat moss (from canada) is the superior choice all around honestly

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks for the info @Herculesbiggercousin. I'll look into this!

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

@@TheFruitGrove just trying to help any way I can. Love the channel, keep it up!

[@webbztv9439]

Garden virtue signaling. Peat is okay to use.

[@godisincontrol32]

Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 I subscribed to your channel 🙏

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks for the sub!

[@godisincontrol32]

@@TheFruitGrove you're very welcome 😁

[@rfailing1]

noobie here....well I tried planting them on my "hippy farm" in 1972, but they died. Hmmm. Never did figure out what happened. This go-round may just be done right. Thanks for helping us out!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Good luck!

[@delanaespinoza]

I cannot find a blueberry that blooms late/very late. Do they exist?

[@TheFruitGrove]

I'm not sure - I suppose it depends on what you call "late"! My understanding is that Northern Highbush blueberries are among the latest blooming. Southern Highbush I believe is later blooming than Rabbiteye. I'd have to do some more research to get more specific! (And I will at some point.)

[@longbeardmcstruttin5876]

What does chill time mean

[@TheFruitGrove]

Short explanation - chill time/chill hours is the average number of hours spent below 45 degrees F (or between 32 and 45 F in some cases) in your area. Different fruiting plants have to have a specific number of chill hours to produce fruit. I'll make a video about this in the near future.

[@bettyturley6735]

I thought blueberry bushes grew in the woods?

[@TheFruitGrove]

My understanding is that they tend to grow in more open pine forests, which have more light because of the height of the trees, and boggy areas. extension.psu.edu/keys-to-establishing-a-successful-blueberry-planting

[@rawfoodwriter]

I prefer low bush, if you know what I mean 🙃

[@Brian-gx3rj]

Soooo.... you've never grown blueberries before this video?

[@TheFruitGrove]

True, which is why I'm showing how I chose the plants, prepped the soil, planted, etc. And I'll share as I learn about the process as the plants grow.

[@wanimudasir2576]

Hello ma'am I'm from india i have 3 variety blueberry 1 Bluecrop 2 Spartan 3 Rebbiteye how is growing my plants not working plz 🙏 help me to growing my plant's

[@TheFruitGrove]

My best recommendation without knowing any more information is to test your soil for pH and make sure it's within the 4.5-5.5 range if possible. The other general suggestion I have is watering - blueberries need very regular moisture so the roots don't dry out. Best of luck!

[@tulsiramdagur9580]

Hello friend, how are you? आपके द्वारा बहुत बढ़िया जानकारी दी गई है।आप बहुत सुन्दर है।I need information regarding fertilization and pesticides for blue berry plants.I can get your mobile number.