Growing Blueberries

Where to plant blueberry bushes

The Blueberry plant thrives in full sun in Northern France and prefers partial shade in the South. Choose a sheltered spot if possible.

To ensure good pollination and fruiting, it is advisable to plant at least 2 to 3 Blueberry bushes, either of the same variety or different varieties (including self-fertile ones). Space the plants 1.20m apart in all directions.

The Blueberry is extremely hardy (-30°C for the plant but -5°C for the flowers) and has a particularly long lifespan. In the garden, this shrub will blend beautifully into acid-soil beds alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, and heathers…

When and how to plant?

Blueberries are ideally planted in autumn or any time of year except during periods of extreme heat or frost.

Plant them in acidic soil (pH between 4 and 5.5), incorporating pure ericaceous compost or a mix of regular soil and peat, along with well-decomposed bark compost.

The root collar should sit level with the ground. Firm the soil and water thoroughly. In slightly alkaline soil, dig a hole 50 to 60 cm deep, line the edges with landscaping fabric, place a 10 cm layer of non-calcareous gravel at the bottom, then fill with a mixture of ericaceous compost.

Care and maintenance

The soil should remain cool but not waterlogged: the plant can tolerate moderate drought but dislikes stagnant moisture.

If watering is necessary, use non-calcareous and non-chlorinated water (such as collected rainwater, for example). Mulch the base with shredded bark, straw, or fern leaves. It may sometimes be helpful to place a protective net if birds become too greedy during harvest time. Every spring, add a layer of well-rotted compost on the surface.

Blueberries are rarely affected by diseases or pests.

Pruning the Blueberry Bush

For the first three years, allow the shrub to grow naturally. Fruits appear on two-year-old branches and become scarce on branches aged four years or more. Each year at the end of winter, remove old wood (branches that have fruited for 3 or 4 years) using secateurs. If formative pruning is needed, it’s best to do this in summer, just after harvesting the fruit.