How to grow Blueberries in the UK
Need special 'ericaceous' compost, so grow them in a big pot.
- DifficultyA bit more care
- WherePots
- Grows to120cm
- Time to first pickabout 26 weeks
- Typeperennial
When to sow, plant and harvest blueberries
| Plant | mid October to late March |
|---|---|
| Pick | mid July to mid September |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 120cm apart each way
Top tips for growing blueberries
- Use 'ericaceous' compost and water with rainwater, not tap water.
Looking after blueberries
- At planting: Water with rainwater from a water butt
Soil and feeding
Acid soil only - grow them in a pot. Blueberries need 'ericaceous' (acid) compost. Normal compost or tap water slowly kills them - use rainwater.
Pests and problems
- Blackbirds & sparrows: peck seedlings, pull out onion sets and steal ripe fruit
- Net the bush when the berries start to go blue - birds strip them in a day!
Harvesting and eating blueberries
Pick when they're dark blue all over, with a dusty bloom.
How to eat them: In pancakes or muffins.
Storing blueberries
Keeps 1-2 weeks.
- Keep in the fridge, don't wash until eating
Freeze on a tray, then bag. Keeps 12 months - great in muffins.
Good varieties of blueberries
- Duke: Early berries with great flavour.
- Bluecrop: Reliable heavy crops.
- Pink Lemonade: Pink blueberries!
Companion planting
Grows well with
- Lavender: bees for more berries
Saving your own blueberries seed
.
- Not one to save from - buy new plants or seed.
Where to buy blueberries plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Blueberries questions
When do I plant out blueberries?
Plant blueberries out from mid October to late March.
When can I pick blueberries?
Blueberries is ready from mid July to mid September. Pick when they're dark blue all over, with a dusty bloom.
How long do blueberries take to grow?
Roughly 26 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are blueberries easy to grow?
Blueberries are rated 'a bit more care' for beginners, and can be grown in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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