The Best Varieties of Blueberries for Container Gardening

Blueberries are very healthful and considered a renowned superfood by most. When something is this good for you, it deserves to be available fresh, all year round. Growing your own blueberries in a container garden is simple, fun and immensely rewarding.



You will want to choose between the different dwarf blueberries varieties for your container garden. Other blueberries would require much more room than even the largest container would provide. The dwarf blueberry bush will provide you with about four months of full sized blueberries per year.



Choose a blueberry bush that is between two and three years old if you want to have blueberries that year. Your local garden shop will carry the best dwarf blueberry varieties for your area, but if you have already decided on a variety they don’t have, you can shop online.



Blueberries are self-pollinating, but if you purchase two plants instead of just one you will probably produce a bigger yield due to their cross pollination. Most all dwarf blueberry varieties will produce a small harvest by their third year. Every year afterwards, the rewards will be greater. Long about your forth or fifth season, you will find yourself freezing blueberries for the winter.



The best dwarf blueberry varieties for container gardens are, Sunshine Blue, Northsky, Bluecrop, Earliblue and Tophat. Which dwarf blueberry variety you choose will depend on which grows the best for your location.



Sunshine Blue

Sunshine Blue is considered the best choice for the southern container garden. Only needing about 150 hours of winter chill it can grow in even sub tropical climates. It stands at about three feet high and yields large berries that ripen in July.



Northsky

Northsky remains a favorite for very cold climates. Although it only grows in height to about eighteen inches, it can spread as much as three feet given the opportunity. Look for ripe berries around the end of July.



Bluecrop

Bluecrop is also a cold hearty plant but is drought resistant as well. If your not a plant nurturer and sometimes forget to water, this plant will forgive you, to an extent.



Earliblue

Earliblue is similar to Bluecrop in nature but it ripens earlier. Look for ripe blueberries in June rather than July.



TopHat

TopHat is a variety that is similar to Sunshine Blue. It can handle warmer climates and yields fruit all summer. It stands about eighteen inches high, bearing a lot of fruit for its size.



Whatever dwarf blueberry variety you choose be sure you choose the proper container. Find a container that is at least two feet across and twenty inches or more deep. Make sure you have drainage holes at the bottom. Plant blueberries in an acidic potting soil mix that includes peat moss and compost. About 1/3 Azalea potting soil, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 compost or ‘pathway bark’.



When watering and fertilizing, be sure your container does not dry out. Never use fertilizers with nitrogen in nitrate form. Fertilize with an acid based, water-soluble fertilizer about once a month during the plants growing season.



Prune your blueberry bush lightly when it’s mature. Wait on this until the plant is at least three years old. Then you can remove the old weak branches. If you prune in the early spring every year you will want to trim stems back by 1/3. By doing this you are forcing the branches into new growth and new growth will bear you the most fruit. Remember blueberries love full sun. If you pick the proper dwarf blueberry variety and adhere to a few basic rules you can enjoy this superfood all year round.





By Renee Rotto