Is It Better To Plant Blueberries In The Ground Or In Pots? Here's The Best Method

If you are looking for a berry-producing bush perfect for your yard, you have probably considered the blueberry bush. With beautiful white and pink spring blossoms and a tasty harvest in late summer and fall, blueberry bushes bring interest to your garden throughout the seasons. But there is a dilemma that many gardeners face when it comes to this crop: Should you plant blueberries in the ground or in pots? The answer all depends on your soil. For many people, blueberry bushes in containers are the way to go, as they allow you to control your soil conditions and therefore help your bush to thrive. 

Blueberry bushes need acidic soil with a pH of 4.0 to 5.0 to produce the best fruit. If the soil's pH is higher, the growth of the bush slows down, and it might even die. Before deciding on whether you will plant your blueberry bush in the ground or in a pot, measure the pH of your soil. If the pH is suitable, your blueberry bush will prefer to be planted in the ground. However, if your soil is too alkaline, you should grow your shrub in a container. Lowering the pH of a soil is a difficult task, and you will need to regularly amend it to ensure that it is suitable for your blueberry bush. Another option is to plant the bush in a container with an acidic, soilless growing medium. 

There are a few different soilless mixes that have a suitable pH for blueberry bushes, the first being a mix of one part peat moss and one part shredded pine bark. Another option is two parts coir, two parts peat moss, and one part perlite. Once you have gathered your soil ingredients, mix them all together well, water the mix thoroughly, and then fill up a 5-gallon tub with the medium. Plant your blueberry bush in the container, ensuring it is at the same depth as the pot it was previously in. Top with dirt and water it thoroughly, then place it in a sunny location. 

When growing blueberry bushes in containers, there are a few things to be aware of to ensure a healthy and happy plant. Blueberry bushes can suffer in dry soil, which means you need to stay on top of watering. Ensure that the soil stays evenly moist and that the container has decent drainage. Light, frequent watering usually works best for this plant. You may also want to mulch the top of the soil to help conserve moisture. When winter comes around, you will need to give your container bush a little extra protection. If possible, bury the pots in the ground in your garden and mulch the surface of the soil. You can also wrap your containers in burlap to help them survive the winter.