Growing Blueberries

I was asked by a moderator to write about growing blueberries. There have been many SFG Forum posts over the years and sometimes conflicting information has been provided.  I will attempt to clarify the information as best I can.
 
  The first thing that I want to emphasize is your location will determine which varieties of blueberries you can grow.  For example, I am in Central Texas and can only grow varieties in the rabbiteye family.

  The next thing you need to consider is the "chill hours" requirements for the varieties available to you.  If you plant a variety that is outside the average range of chill hours for your location, you run the risk of your plants flowering too early and being damaged by a normal freeze, or not flowering at all if the chill hour requirement for that variety hasn't been met. Where I live, I need to select varieties with a chill hours requirement between 550 and 850 hours.  I have noticed that many online nurseries don't mention chill hours for the plants they sell.  They only say something like "plant in zones 6-8."  I doubt that a single variety will fall within the wide range of chill hours over those three zones. For example, in zone 8 in Texas, there are four different chill hours zones.  If you don't plant the proper variety with the appropriate chill hours requirement for where you live, you will be disappointed and nothing else will make much difference in successfully growing blueberries.  I recommend that you follow the recommendations  provided by your local county extension service.

  Many blueberries varieties require cross pollination with another variety.  In the rabbiteye family, Tifblu is promoted as being self pollinating, but even it does best when planted near another variety.  You will be most successful if you plant two different varieties from the same family. 
 
  Next, we need to discuss the growing medium used for blueberries.  Blueberries grow best in an acid soil with a pH around 5.0 (4.5-5.5).  Most soil experts indicate that trying to lower the pH of native soil that is more than 0.5 above the desired pH will not be successful. If you are planning to plant blueberries in your native soil, you must do a  soil test that will accurately measure pH.  Most home pH meters are not accurate enough, so I recommend using the soil lab at your state land grant university.  Where I live, my native soil has a pH of 8.0, but I can still grow great blueberries.  How do I do that?  When I make Mel's Mix for my SFG, the typical pH is 6.5, so Mel's Mix isn't acidic enough.  The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service says that blueberries can be grown in containers in pure peat moss.  I have tested different growing mixes and have settled on a mix that I make from 4 parts peat moss, 1 part coarse vermiculite, and 1 part blended compost.  Blueberries also need a lot of water, especially during berry development.  Even though I collect rainwater, the number of plants I have make hand watering unpractical so I use drip irrigation connected to my local water supply.  That water is more alkaline that recommended for growing blueberries and can affect the pH of the growing medium. I get around this by using a fertilizer that is designed for acid loving plants.  That fertilizer contains some sulfur.  In addition, some of the organic nutrients in this mix are sulfate compounds, which provide additional sulfur after microbial degradation. I use a wood mulch that is at least 4" thick to reduce loss of water through evaporation.  The roots of blueberry plants form a fibrous mat that is only about 6" deep.  I use raised beds that are 34"x34"x12".  The 12" depth allows the roots to stay well above the alkaline native soil that lies below my raised beds.
  Finally, I reduce loss to birds by use of a cage made from 8' t-posts, 1" pvc and bird netting.  I tried other methods, but this is what works best for me. 
  I hope you have learned some useful information from this post.  If you want to try growing blueberries in your location, do a search on "How to grow blueberries in (your location)."  Look for links to any .edu sites and that should give you the most reliable information on growing blueberries where you live.  Happy Gardening!

Docwas, Thank you so much for the information on growing blueberries in a modified Mel's Mix. I hope to buy 2 Zone 9 varieties this spring. There is a berry farm in my area that grow blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc. So, I know it can be done. The question is, can I grow them.

I bought 2 Pink Lemonade plants yesterday. Home Depot had a "blue" variety, but I was careless and grabbed 2 PL. Now to decide on individual beds or large pots. I will make the modified MM that Docwas described. 1:1:4

The blueberry bushes are planted in the special blend of MM that Docwas uses.