MEEKS: Plant blueberries at home this winter

Since the release of a news article naming Georgia as the No. 1 producer of blueberries, our office has received numerous calls about planting blueberries.

The best species of blueberry for home gardens in our area is rabbiteye. This Georgia native species can be grown across the state and has many different varieties to choose from. Under good management, blueberries will begin to produce fruit their second and third year, and they will continue to yield for 10 to 15 years or longer.

When planting rabbiteye blueberries, more than one variety needs to be planted for cross pollination. You many also want to consider choosing different ripening categories for a longer harvest season. For a list of varieties and characteristics, please see UGA Extension publication Home Garden Blueberries (C 946).

Blueberry transplants should be planted during the winter months in a site that receives sun for half of the day. After you have chosen a site, you will need to pull a soil sample. Blueberries require a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.2.

According to the UGA Extension publication Home Garden Blueberries (C 946), rabbiteye blueberries should be spaced five to six feet between plants and 11 to 12 feet between rows. Soil should be tilled 8 to 12 inches deep and three to four feet wide. If you have excessively wet soil, the blueberries should be planted in raised beds six to 12 inches high. Milled pine bark or wet peat moss should be mixed into the soil. Be sure not to add anything with lime. Blueberries need acidic soil, and the lime will raise the pH.

After planting, prune back a third to half of the plant, being sure to remove all twiggy growth and tip shoots to remove flower buds. Blueberries do not need fertilizer at planting. According to the UGA Extension publication Home Garden Blueberries (C 946), in late March or early April, when new growth begins, apply two ounces of 4-8-8 or one ounce of 10-10-10 per plant. Apply this same rate again in May and July if rainfall or irrigation has occurred. Spread fertilizer in an 18 inches diameter from the center of the plant.

In the first year, remove any flowers or fruit that escaped the original pruning. This will allow the plant to focus on vegetative growth. Weeds should be controlled three feet around the plant. Mulching the area with three to four inches of pine bark or pine straw works well.

In the second year, fertilize with two ounces of 10-10-10 or three to four ounces of 4-8-8 in March and July in a 24-inch diameter. After the second season soil test should be pulled to determine the fertilizer program.

Rabbiteye need little pruning until they reach four to six feet. At that point, cane removal process should be started.

Remove one to three of the largest canes 0 to 24 inches from the ground each winter. Plants should be watered when rainfall is not adequate.

If you need more information please contact our office.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Jan. 18: Office closed

Jan. 19: Green Team Recertification Training, Perry

MIDDLE GEORGIA PRODUCTION MEETINGS

Jan. 25: Forage/hay production, Perry, 6 p.m.

Feb. 4: Corn Production, Oglethorpe, noon

Feb. 9: Pecan Production, Perry, 10 a.m.

Feb. 17: Peanut Production, Oglethorpe, noon

Feb. 25: Peanut Production, Perry, noon

For more information, contact Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028 or visit the office at 801 Main St., Perry. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston for more news about your local Extension office.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 9:36 PM with the headline "MEEKS: Plant blueberries at home this winter ."