Blueberries.......or not.

Beautiful, can't you just smell them? The sad news is, yours will likely never look like this. Before you buy blueberry plants, attend my "Fruit Growing Class" on March 31st. Blueberries are the neediest fruit plant to grow around here. Why? Our soil in the area is not the right recipe for blueberries. They like a low ph of 4.-5.0. Around here, soil is about 6.5. Now number wise, that doesn't seem like much difference, but it is. It takes a huge amount of soil amending to lower the ph, and then maintain it. It also takes several years to do this, not an easy task.

Folks who sell blueberry plants will make it sound so simple, add some peat moss, some sulphur and you're good! Blueberries also like consistent moisture. Peat moss, can be almost impervious to water, meaning it is hard for it to be wetted. So when that is added to the planting hole, it is difficult to keep the plants root system moist. You could water a single plant for 10 minutes, then stick your hand into the peaty planting hole and it could be dry! FOR REAL. I have tried 2 beds in my experience. The second one, I yanked out all the plants after 3-4 years, and said, NEVER AGAIN. It clearly is a case of wrong plant, wrong place. So, save your self the dissappoinment, frustration and money. Buy yourself some berries at the store and be happy!