Growing blueberries is not a new trend, although edible gardening is on the rise due to more home gardeners wanting the peace of mind that comes from knowing where their food comes from. Edible gardening is also just plain fun! Watching a shrub transition through the stages of new spring growth and delicate flowering to green berry production and the ultimate end-goal of sun-ripe blueberries is fascinating, delightful and rewarding.
Most home gardeners simply do not have the space or time to plant and harvest a large, traditional blueberry bush. That’s why Bushel and Berry® offers compact blueberries that are the ideal size for growing in containers. You get the same joy of knowing where your berries come from and how they were grown, but save space, time, and effort.
Apart from having fresh, delicious berries on hand whenever you need a snack, there are other great benefits of growing blueberries in containers that you may not have considered!
You’ll always have the proper soil balance.
Blueberries need acidic soil with a pH of 4.5–5.5 to perform at their best. If the soil in your area is too neutral, you will have to spend time amending it with soil acidifier and keep an eye on the levels. By growing in a container or raised bed, you can start with good quality acidic soil that supports optimal blueberry growth.
You can adjust their sun exposure.
Like most edible plants, blueberries need 6–8 hours of full sun each day. Growing in a container allows you to adjust where a blueberry is located if you notice it is getting too much or too little sun throughout the day. Containers can also be placed in otherwise unused areas of the patio or garden to maximize space.
You’ll be able to better protect against pests.
It’s no secret that critters enjoy berries too. Birds and squirrels love grabbing a snack when you’re not watching. Growing your blueberries in a container can be an effective way to control pests from getting the fruit before you do. Some animals like deer may be too shy to venture up onto a raised deck where people are. Containers also protect the roots from rodents that will eat your plants from underground.
You can try varieties outside your growing zone.
It is much easier to overwinter a plant in a container than one grown in-ground, especially if it is a smaller habit like most of the Bushel and Berry® blueberries. For example, if you garden in zone 4 and want to try a blueberry that is hardy in zone 5, you can! Simply wait for the plant to reach dormancy and then bring it inside an unheated garage or basement for the winter. Keep soil moist through dormancy and bring back outside after the last frost in spring!
You can grow within HOA regulations.
Neighborhood gardeners have more regulations to follow, which typically means traditional edible gardening plots are not permitted. But who’s going to object to two elegant, ornamental shrubs in stunning patio containers flanking your front door? What about a whimsical blueberry hanging basket instead of petunias this summer? Sounds like a great idea to us!
Growing fresh, delicious blueberries in containers is easy and enjoyable for anyone. Looking for more tips and inspiration? Visit the Bushel and Berry® website and follow along on Instagram.
All images courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
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