Planting a blueberry
patch requires patience
Brian Jervis: Ask a Master Gardener
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Q: How do I get started making a blueberry
patch? H.G., Tulsa
A:
Blueberries grow well in
Oklahoma as long as you have the proper soil and select the varieties that have
been shown to be best for our area. You also need patience. Berry production
should not be allowed until the third year after planting.
The best place to get started is by obtaining
the OSU fact sheet 6248, “Blueberry Production for the Home Garden.” This may
be obtained from the Master Gardener website at tulsamastergardeners.org, or from a web
search of OSU fact sheets.
Plant selection is key. There are three types of
blueberries that are grown in Oklahoma — Highbush, Rabbiteye and Southern
Highbush. Highbush has more cold tolerance and is recommended for areas north
of Interstate 40. Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush are suggested for central and
southern Oklahoma. The two Highbush varieties do best with more than one
cultivar for pollination.
Blueberries need full sun for best growth.
Planting on a north-facing slope will help prevent early spring frost damage
and will offer some wind protection in summer. The soil must drain well and be
acidic. The ideal pH for blueberry growth is 4.5 to 5.2; they will not grow in
higher pH soils.
Blueberries will not grow in overly wet soil;
good drainage is a must. To address the drainage and pH issues, raised beds are
ideal. Import soils with correct pH and high organic content. Because blueberry
soil requirement is identical to azaleas, commercial azalea planting mix serves
this purpose well.
These plants have shallow and inefficient roots.
They must have 1-3 inches of water per week, depending on the temperature. Drip
irrigation is ideal for keeping moisture levels in a desirable range. Heavy
mulching will not only help with conserving water, but will also keep out weeds
and moderate the extremes of temperature.
Blueberries may be planted in either spring or
fall, but spring is best. Specific recommendations about how to plant and
proper spacing are in the fact sheet mentioned above. Fertilization should be
based on a soil test, and blueberries do best if fertilized with smaller and
more frequent amounts of nitrogen than with other plants.
Pruning is best done after the spring flowering
and berry production. Berries are produced in early summer in most varieties,
on buds that were formed the previous growing season. Therefore, if one prunes
in winter or early spring, it would remove fruit buds. Pruning is usually done
to limit the size of the bushes and also to thin out limbs on the inside of the
bush to improve air flow.
Blueberries take time to develop a structure and
root system needed for maximum production. So for the first two years, all
blossoms and fruit should be removed so that energy can be used for development.
If fruit is not removed the first two years, they may not survive summer
stress. They may be harvested the third year with peak production occurring in
the fifth year.
Garden tips
•
Early February through
March is the recommended time to plant strawberries. It is important to plant
them in full sun and in well-drained soil. There are several types from which
to choose. June-bearing varieties do best in our area. They have a single crop
usually early May to mid-June. Ever-bearing strawberry is another variety that
fruits May to June, a few during summer and again in the fall. The quality and
size of this type of strawberry plant may not be as good as June-bearing
varieties. For full information about plant selection, planting and care of
strawberries in your garden, obtain OSU fact sheet "Growing Strawberries
in the Home Garden" online or in the Master Gardener office.
•
Mid-February is a good
time to begin pruning and fertilizing trees and small fruits.
0 comments:
Post a Comment