The Latest Guide to Growing Blueberries in Pots
Blueberry, also known as lanmei, dusi, dushi, etc., is a low shrub of the genus Vaccinium in the heath family (Ericaceae). In increasingly compact cities where land is worth its weight in gold, it is mainly grown in pots, and almost all blueberries are suitable for pot cultivation. However, when growing them in pots on a balcony, care should be taken to choose varieties of appropriate height so that the pots can be moved easily. Now let us take a look at how to grow blueberries in pots!
Potting Soil Preparation
Blueberries can only grow healthily in an acidic medium. A pH value between 4.5 and 5.5 is most suitable for blueberry growth. Garden soil generally has a pH between 6 and 7, and even the acidic soil sold at flower and bird markets has a pH of at least 5.5 to 6. Planting bases generally use sulfur powder to adjust acidity: adding one gram of sulfur powder per liter of soil can lower the soil pH by 1. There are also a few varieties that do not demand much acidity, but none of them grow as well as when planted in acidic soil.
Rational Fertilization
Blueberries dislike heavy fertilizer and calcium. When planting, it is generally enough to add decomposed cow, sheep or rabbit manure, or use leaf mold at the initial stage. They dislike heavy fertilizer, but that does not mean no topdressing at all, so a small amount of topdressing is still necessary in later cultivation. Never apply heavy fertilizer. Generally, a compound fertilizer with a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium content of 1:1:1 or a 1:2000 solution of ammonium sulfate is used. Also, be careful to keep them away from anything containing calcium, such as the eggshells that some people often put in flower pots.
Watering at the Right Time
Blueberry roots are shallow and like moisture, so timely watering is essential. When watering blueberries, attention should be paid to the water source and water quality. Deep well water generally has a higher pH and high sodium and calcium content, and long-term use will affect blueberry growth. When irrigating, sulfuric acid can be used to adjust the pH to around 4.5 to 5.5 before watering, but about three plain waterings should be given before one watering with acidified water. Proper watering can help blueberries withstand high temperatures and get through the summer safely.
Light Control
Blueberries' need for light is indispensable, just as with other plants. Relatively speaking, for the same variety, if light intensity is insufficient, fewer flower buds will form and fruit quality will decrease. For orchards with excessive planting density, proper pruning helps photosynthesis proceed. For those growing blueberries on balconies and terraces, light management is somewhat simpler than in orchards, but ventilation should be given attention.
Cold Protection Management
Lowbush and half-highbush blueberries have relatively strong cold resistance, but due to different low temperatures in various places, freezing damage still occurs when extreme weather strikes. The main problems are freezing damage to the tips of branches and flower buds of plants overwintering in the open, and even the death of whole plants from freezing. Therefore, in cold regions, cold protection during overwintering is also an important measure for increasing blueberry yields.