Blueberries: Plant Shrubs in Your Garden!

Growing blueberries at home is a great way to eat nutritious berries while saving money.

Success with blueberries depends on several factors:

• Choose the right variety for your climate
• Pick the right site or location
• Plant in fall 
• Amend your soil
• Water regularly

Here in Georgia, the best varieties are Rabbiteye Blueberries. Yes, you can grow some of the other types, but Rabbiteyes will provide the most berries with less care from you.

The best site for growing blueberries is full sun. Blueberries can also grow in partial sun or even shade, but more berries will be produced in full sun.

In Georgia, Fall is the best time for transplanting shrubs, including blueberries. They can also be planted in winter or early spring with much success, but blueberries planted in summer will require much care and watering to survive.

Unless you are very fortunate, your soil will need amending. Georgia soil is most often clay which does not drain well. Mix in compost or composted manure and shredded composted bark.

Water regularly, at least once weekly.

Blueberry Growing Tips for a Georgia Garden

Blueberry Bushes often sold in our local garden center stores will not grow here in Georgia—they are not able to tolerate our summer heat and humidity. There are several "Rabbiteye" varieties recommended for the Southeast. Highbush blueberries will not thrive in our area. When selecting blueberry plants for your garden, look for Becky Blue, Climax, Premier, Tifblue, or Woodard. For a good crop of berries, you will need 2 or more different varieties for cross-pollination. Although blueberry bushes normally occur in the woods, more berries will develop when the plants receive at least half a day of sun and plenty of water. The planting hole is important for getting the plant off to a good start. An effective planting method is to dig the hole twice as wide as the rootball and the same depth. Mix the soil with plenty of organic matter such as compost, manure, and peat moss. Place the plant in the planting hole and fill the hole completely with water before filling in with soil. After filling in around the roots with the amended soil, water again, and apply a thick layer of organic mulch to conserve moisture and keep the soil cool. Water weekly. You’ll be eating blueberries every year, as long as you get to them before the birds do!