This post is in collaboration with my friends at Stark Bro’s, my #1 online source for fruit and nut trees, shrubs and other edible plants. All opinions and words are my own.
When I moved into my new house years ago, one of the first things I did was plant blueberry bushes in my garden. To me, it was like investing. The earlier I planted my perennials, the longer I could enjoy their wonderful benefits, and the bigger the plants got, the more interested I became in them (ahem, blueberries). Blueberries are not only beautiful landscape shrubs that lose their leaves in the fall, with many varieties turning bright red and orange, but they also always bear tasty berries.
Blueberries are also one of the easier edible perennials to get started with since they’re small (i. e. not 30 foot fruit trees) and don’t need a berry trellis, which is helpful for most blackberries and raspberries.
Want to grow this tasty fruit in your front or back yard? This planting guide tells you where to find the best varieties, what kind of soil and fertilizer to use, when to plant them, and how to do it. I promise, easy peasy!.
Before you pick blueberries or get a shovel, let’s take a quick look at when, how, and where they grow…
Fall is a beautiful time of year. The leaves are changing color, the air is crisp, and many gardeners’ thoughts turn to preparing their gardens for the coming winter and spring. If you’re wondering whether fall is a good time to plant blueberries, read on! I’ll walk through the key factors to consider when planting blueberries in the fall.
Why Fall Can Be An Ideal Time To Plant Blueberries
In most areas, fall can be a great time to get blueberry bushes in the ground. Here are some of the benefits of fall planting
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Soil preparation: Fall offers the perfect window to prep your soil before planting. Blueberries need acidic soil with a pH between 4.3-5.5. You can amend the soil with sulfur or peat moss in the fall, giving it months to alter the pH before planting.
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Plant establishment: Planting in fall allows shrubs to establish roots before winter dormancy. The plants will be primed for vigorous growth come spring.
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Avoidance of heat stress: Planting in fall enables plants to avoid summer heat and drought stress.
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Earlier fruiting Fall-planted blueberries can yield fruit 1-2 years earlier than spring plantings
So in many areas, the fall offers ideal conditions for getting blueberry plants off to a healthy start
Fall Planting Conditions By Growing Zone
While fall planting is suitable in many regions, the precise fall planting time frame can vary depending on your hardiness zone and local climate.
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Zones 7-9: These warmer zones can accommodate fall planting any time before the first fall frost. Mid-late October is typically suitable.
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Zones 3-6: Colder zones should target early-mid fall planting windows, generally September-early October. This gives plants a few weeks to settle in before the ground starts freezing.
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Zones 1-2: These very cold zones are best off waiting for spring to plant blueberries. The short growing season makes establishment challenging.
So gauge your fall planting timeframe based on your zone. Aim for 2-6 weeks before your average first frost date.
Choose The Right Blueberry Variety
To maximize success, it’s vital to pick blueberry varieties suited to your growing zone. Some tips:
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Northern highbush: Best suited for colder zones 3-6. Try ‘Northland’, ‘Northblue’, or ‘Northsky’.
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Southern highbush: Better for warmer zones 7-9. Good options include ‘O’Neal’, ‘Sunshine Blue’, and ‘Misty’.
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Rabbiteye: Preferred for zones 7-9. Leading types are ‘Powderblue’ and ‘Brightwell’.
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Half-high: More compact bushes good for containers. ‘Northcountry’ and ‘Northland’ are top performers.
Consult local nurseries to zero in on the best regional varieties.
Prepare The Planting Area
To give your fall-planted blueberry bushes their best shot, start prepping the planting area early in the season:
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Test soil pH: Blueberries need acidic soil, so test pH 4-6 months pre-planting.
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Amend soil: If needed, amend with sulfur 6+ months pre-planting. Use peat moss at planting time if no prior amendment.
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Pick a sunny spot: Blueberries need at least 6 hours of sun daily.
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Improve drainage: Ensure soil is well-draining; install raised beds if poor drainage.
Taking time upfront to create ideal growing conditions will pay off!
How To Plant The Bushes
When planting day arrives, here’s how to get your blueberry bushes into the ground:
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Dig holes 2-3 times wider than the root balls. Space bushes 2-6 feet apart.
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Carefully place each bush in its hole, spreading out the roots.
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Backfill the hole with native soil, creating a rim to hold water initially.
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Water each bush with 1-2 gallons immediately after planting.
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Surround bushes with 2-4 inches of organic mulch.
Be sure to keep new plantings well-watered through fall. Also fertilize with acidic fertilizer made for blueberries about a month after planting.
Ongoing Care Of Fall-Planted Bushes
The first year is critical for establishing newly planted bushes. Here are some tips for care after fall planting:
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Water: Supply 1-2 gallons per bush weekly if rain is lacking.
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Weed/mulch: Keep weeds clear and maintain a deep mulch layer.
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Fertilize: Feed with an acidic blueberry fertilizer in early and late spring.
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Prune: In early spring, prune any dead branches and shape bushes.
Giving bushes a little extra care while they establish will help them flourish!
Can You Plant In Spring?
While fall is ideal for planting in many regions, spring planting can also be successful:
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Shoot for planting in early-mid spring once the threat of hard frosts has passed.
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Follow similar soil prep, plant spacing, watering, and mulching guidelines as fall planting.
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Expect fruiting to be delayed 1-2 years compared to fall planting.
So spring planting is definitely an option too, just expect it to take a bit longer for bushes to mature and fruit.
Takeaway On Fall Blueberry Planting
Can Blueberries Be Grown From Seed?
Technically, yes. You can extract seed from blueberry fruit or purchase commercially available seed. While I’ve never tried planting blueberry seeds, I can’t say I’m too enthused about the idea. As with many perennials, planting from seed means you’ll be waiting forever for a harvest, minimum two years in the case of blueberries, likely longer.
You can also grow blueberries by “propagating” them, which means taking cuttings from the hardwood of blueberry plants that are already there and planting them. They will be ready to plant outside after one year. Like the seeding method, this requires some pretty advanced skills and watching over a seedling for a whole year. You’ll also have to wait a long time to get a harvest. In addition, not just any donor plants will do. You’ll want virus- and disease-free plants, preferably from different varieties, to improve pollination.
When Do Blueberries Grow?
Blueberries are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves every fall. In spring, new leaves sprout, and tiny powder blue (or sometimes pink) bell-shaped blueberry flowers emerge. Depending on the variety, between June and mid-September, these flowers will transform into blueberries, ready to harvest.
I Got SCHOOLED By An 83 Year Old Farmer On How To Grow Blueberries
FAQ
How late in the fall can you plant blueberries?
Can I plant blueberry bushes in October?
How to grow blueberries in the fall?
Will blueberry plants survive winter?
How far apart should blueberry bushes be planted?
It’s time to get your plants in the ground! In most areas, it’s ideal to plant blueberries in the fall or spring. You can plant blueberry bushes as close as 2 or 2.5 feet apart to form solid hedgerows, or space them up to 6 feet apart so they grow individually. If you plant in rows, allow 8 to 10 feet between the rows.
When to plant blueberries?
Let’s dive into the details of when and how to plant these juicy gems: 1.**Best Time to Plant Blueberries**: – **Fall** or **early spring** are ideal for planting blueberry bushes. – In **USDA Zones
Do blueberries grow on bushes?
Some culinary berries grow on shrubs, such as blueberries and gojis. Blueberries can double as landscaping plants with their bushy growth and beautiful fall color. Blueberry bushes in autumn. Many types grow on vining branches called canes and can turn into thickets, such as raspberries, blackberries, and elderberries.
When should you fertilize blueberries?
Follow the instructions on the label carefully – blueberries are sensitive to overfertilization! You’ll want to apply fertilizer one month after planting, not at the time of planting. For best results, fertilize your plants once in early spring and again in late spring, always watering thoroughly afterward.
