Growing Blueberries in Pots: A Step-by-Step Guide

It’s so easy and successful to grow blueberries in pots that you might want to give it a try even if you have enough room in your garden for this antioxidant-rich fruit. If you want to grow blueberries but your soil isn’t right for them, you should grow them in pots. Blueberry plants can thrive and bear fruit in containers in any area that receives full sun. Just be aware that growing blueberry plants in pots (or anywhere else) requires some patience. As with most fruit-bearing species, it can take a few years for plants to produce fruit.

Growing blueberries in containers is a great option for gardeners short on space. With the right conditions, techniques, and care, blueberry bushes can produce an abundant harvest on your patio, balcony, or front steps.

Below is a complete guide to successfully growing blueberries in pots. Follow these tips for healthy, productive blueberry plants:

Choose the Right Container

The first step is picking the perfect container for your blueberries:

5-7 gallon pot, minimum – Blueberry roots run deep, so allow adequate room.

Full drainage holes – Holes in the bottom allow excess water to drain away.
Porosity – Unglazed terra cotta wood plastic and more work well. Avoid non-breathable materials.
Shorter over taller – Wide, shallow pots are better than narrow and deep

For each blueberry bush, select a container at least 16-18 inches wide and deep Rectangular or oval shapes work better than round pots. Match your container style to your space whether traditional terra cotta, modern metal, or rustic wood.

Choose the Best Blueberry Variety

Look for compact bush varieties suited to containers when buying blueberry plants:

‘Top Hat’ – An early season dwarf reaching just 2 feet tall. Hardy and very productive.
‘Peach Sorbet’ – A mid-season berry with a sweet flavor. Grows 2-3 feet tall.

‘Pink Lemonade’ – Pretty pink fruits in mid-summer. A heavy yielding dwarf variety.
‘Sunshine Blue’ – For late harvests of tasty berries. Semi-dwarf at 3-5 feet.
‘Jelly Bean’ – Early, compact bush perfect for small space gardens.

Pick 1-3 varieties with different harvest times to enjoy blueberries all season. Buy young plants from your local nursery or an online seller.

Prepare the Right Soil Mix

Blueberries require acidic soil with a pH between 4.5-5.0. So mix this soilless potting medium:

1 part peat moss – Helps acidify the soil and retain moisture.
1 part pine bark fines or coconut coir – Provides airflow to roots.

1 part perlite or vermiculite – Improves drainage to prevent soggy soil.

You can also use a pre-mixed acid potting soil formulated for blueberries, azaleas, or rhododendrons. Incorporate some compost for nutrients. Soilless mixes drain well and are easy to keep uniformly moist.

Plant Your Blueberry Bushes

Follow these steps when planting your blueberry bushes:

Fill the cleaned containers about halfway with prepared soil mix.

Remove the plant from its nursery pot, loosen roots, and place in the container.
Surround with more potting mix up to 1 inch from the rim.
Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.

Allow 1-3 feet between plants if planting multiple bushes.

It’s best to plant blueberries in early spring when the soil has warmed. Bury the root ball a bit deeper than it was growing in the nursery pot. Firm the soil gently and water well after planting.

Water Your Blueberry Potted Plants

Consistent watering is crucial for container blueberries:

Check soil moisture daily. Water whenever the top few inches become dry.

Avoid letting pots completely dry out, which damages roots.
Use rainwater or non-alkaline water since blueberries prefer acidic conditions.
Leach salts monthly by watering until it flows from the drainage holes.

Installing a drip irrigation system with a timer makes container watering easy. Mulch around plants to reduce evaporation. If leaves appear wilted, increase watering frequency. Proper water is key!

Give Blueberry Bushes Full Sun

Blueberry bushes produce the sweetest, plumpest berries when grown in full sun:

Place containers in a spot receiving at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
South or west-facing exposure is ideal.

Light afternoon shade helps berries retain moisture in very hot climates.
Avoid reflected heat from buildings or pavement.

Move pots to follow the sun as needed. Insufficient sunlight typically results in sparse, tasteless fruits. Adequate sun exposure really maximizes the yield.

Fertilize for Abundant Fruit

While blueberry plants are light feeders, occasional fertilizer promotes good growth and fruiting:

Use an acid-based blueberry fertilizer or azalea food. Do not use general purpose formulas!
Apply in early spring, mid-spring, and mid-summer. Also feed after harvesting.
Follow package rates. Too much nitrogen leads to lots of leaves but few berries.

Sprinkle around each bush and scratch in lightly. Reapply every few months.
Organic fertilizers like cottonseed meal or fish emulsion also nourish container blueberries.

Feed your blueberries, but don’t overdo it! Proper fertilization prevents nutrient deficiencies for the best crop of berries.

Prevent and Treat Common Blueberry Problems

Watch for these potential issues with container blueberries:

Birds – Cover plants with netting as berries ripen to keep away hungry birds.
Aphids or mites – Treat infestations with organic insecticidal soap spray.
Overwatering – Excess moisture causes root rot. Allow soil to dry between watering.

Underwatering – Too little water makes leaves wilt. Check soil often.
Sunscald – If leaves appear burned, move to light afternoon shade.
Low yields – Insufficient pollination leads to few fruits. Hand pollinate flowers using a small brush.

Catch problems early and take corrective action to maintain healthy, productive plants. Remove any diseased berries or branches promptly.

Harvest and Enjoy Your Blueberries

The best part about growing blueberries in containers is picking that first ripe berry!

Harvest blueberries when they turn deep blue. Leave some green ones for later.
Pick by gently twisting berries off without pulling the bush.

Handle carefully as blueberries bruise easily.
Enjoy fresh or preserve by canning, freezing, or making jelly.
Remove any shriveled fruits to encourage new berry production.

Take some berries indoors for a gorgeous summer table arrangement!

With proper care and attention, container blueberries will provide a bountiful supply of sweet, antioxidant-rich berries all season long. Follow this complete guide for potted blueberry success!

Selecting a Planting Site

Lucky for the plants, you might have to move the pots around during the day to make sure they get enough sun. With big pots, putting the containers on rolling casters makes it easier to follow the sun.

Types of Blueberries

Moreover, its important to choose a blueberry species and cultivar thats right for your climate. Blueberries come in four main species, with the highbush species being split into northern and southern types. Here are some of the most popular cultivars of each:

Northern highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum) is the most common and productive blueberry bush for cold climates. Some of the most popular cultivars are Bluecrop, Blueray, Herbert, Jersey, Meader, Berkley, Coville, and Darrow.

Southern highbush is a hybrid of Vaccinium corymbosum and Vaccinium darrowii. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall in the south, and Golf Coast, Misty, and Ozarkblue are some of the most popular cultivars.
Lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium): This plant grows best in cold places and is native to the northeast U.S. S. and are sometimes called “wild blueberries.” There are no named varieties of lowbush
Rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum): This bush is mostly grown in the south and grows to be 15 feet tall. Some popular cultivars are Powderblue, Woodard, Brightwell, Pink Lemonade, and Delite.

Half-high is a newer hybrid of highbush and lowbush that is a bit less sweet. North Country, Northblue, Northland, and Top Hat are all popular cultivars that were bred to do especially well in containers.

There are more cultivars within the species. To learn which ones will thrive in your area, contact a local farmer or a nursery professional. You may also decide to choose a variety based on the desired size of the fruit. When eating berries straight from the bush, bigger ones are better, while small ones are better for cooking things like pies, crisps, and jams.

Growing Blueberries in Containers! // Garden Answer

FAQ

How long does it take for blueberry bushes to produce fruit?

Berry Plant Type	Years Until Fruit
Blackberry Plants	1-2 years
Blueberry Plants	2-3 years
Boysenberry Plants	2-3 years
Cranberry Plants	2-3 years

How do you grow blueberries in a pot?

If you’re growing edible plants on a flat surface such as a patio or driveway, place the containers on bricks or pot feet to make sure excess water can escape through the drainage holes. 3. Prepare the Perfect Soil Blueberries need acidic soil to thrive, ideally with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0.

Can blueberries grow in pots?

Just be aware that growing blueberry plants in pots (or anywhere else) requires some patience. As with most fruit-bearing species, it can take a few years for plants to produce fruit. Plant blueberries in containers in the spring or late fall in most areas. In the coldest zones, wait to plant the bushes in containers until early to mid-spring.

How to grow blueberries in containers?

Remember that we mentioned blueberries love acidic soil, so a crucial part of successfully growing blueberries in containers is creating the right soil environment for optimal growth. The ground needs to have a pH range between 4.0 to 4.8 for the bushes to absorb water and nutrients while also producing the berries. 5.

When should you plant blueberries in containers?

Plant blueberries in containers in the spring or late fall in most areas. In the coldest zones, wait to plant the bushes in containers until early to mid-spring. Luckily, you may need to move your containers around during the day to ensure the plants get the required amount of sunshine.