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How to grow and care for blueberries at home

Charlie Albone shows you how. - by Charlie Albone
  • 09 Oct 2020

Blueberries don’t just taste delicious, they look deliciously good growing in your garden, too. This week, Charlie’s sharing everything you need to know to successfully grow blueberries at home – and not just in the veggie patch!

WATCH: Charlie shows you how!

Shopping list

Charlie used the following plants:

  • Blueberry 'Pink Icing' (Vaccinium corymbosum)
  • Blueberry 'Peach Sorbet' (Vaccinium corymbosum)
  • Fuschia 140mm (Fuschia 'Dainty Dancer')
  • Lavender 'Bella Blue' (Lavendula 'Bella Blue')

After more information on blueberries? Read on

To say that Aussies are blueberry lovers is an understatement, Australian farmers grow around 17,000 tonnes of blueberries each year with approximately 75% eaten fresh on shores. Blueberries are a great choice for your garden. Not only do they produce delicious fruit but they can grow in almost any sized garden, can create a hedge-look and have pretty white flowers - what more could you want?

Blueberry varieties

Did you know the first blueberry didn’t hit Australian shores until the 1970s? Now we’re spoilt for choice with so many different types of blueberries available:

  • Northern highbush or Bluecrop: best for cold climates like Victoria and Tasmania. 
  • Southern highbush or Sunshine Blue: best for warmer climates like New South Wales and Queensland.
  • Brightwell or Rabbiteye: one of the hardiest varieties around, best for moderately cool climates like New South Wales and Victoria.  
  • Sharpblue: known for its large fruit, best grown in New South Wales.
blueberries

Climate and aspect

The only thing that blueberries are fussy about is where they are planted. Whilst they’ll tolerate part shade they’ll thrive in full sun. Blueberries can grow throughout Australia just pick a variety that is best for your area. 

Blueberries
Getty

How to plant blueberries

The best time to plant blueberries is in late autumn and early spring. 

  1. The easiest way to grow blueberries is from a small bush (2 to 3-year-old plants) which you can generally purchase in late Autumn and winter from bunnings or your local hardware. 
  2. Blueberries like acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) that is rich in organic matter (like compost), so look for potting mix similar to mixtures made for camellias. Dig a hole bigger than the size of your pot and using your hands cover and submerge the plant firmly with soil. 
  3. Lay an organic mulch mix at the base keeping it 3-5cm away from the trunk.
  4. For the best crop, it is recommended that you plant 3-4 bushes at a time. 

If you want to learn how to grow blueberries in pots, follow this guide.

pot

How to harvest blueberries

Wondering how long it takes for blueberries to grow? Experts recommend pruning fruits and flowers in the first year after planting but if you do so it is extremely helpful at promoting great roots for a longer lifetime of beautiful fruit.

Generally speaking, in Australia blueberry picking season is October to February but plants will fruit from July through to April. 

Hint: give your blueberries enough time to ripen, wait until the fruit goes very dark and try a couple before harvesting.

harvest

How to prune blueberries

When it comes to pruning, blueberries are happy with very little attention. If you’re growing blueberries in a pot trim back any long stems to keep the bush nice and compact. It doesn’t really matter when you prune but during the growing season is best.

Plant care and troubleshooting

Don’t be alarmed but blueberries will drop their leaves in winter. 

Water

After planting water blueberries every 2-3 days without letting the soil get too soggy. Once established water once a week depending on the conditions.

blueberries

Birds

Blueberries are also one of birds and possums favourite foods so keep your delicious blueberries protected with bird netting from Bunnings. 

Companion plants

The best companion plants for blueberries are basil, thyme and rhubarb. 

You might also like: 

How to grow sweet potatoes at home

A guide to homegrown basil 

Lemongrass 101: how to grow

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Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone
Charlie has worked internationally and in Australia for the past 17 years, designing and building gardens that are timeless, inspiring and enjoyable to spend time in. In 2015 and 2016, he was awarded two Silver gilt medals for his own gardens at the world’s most prestigious flower show The Chelsea Flower Show.

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