Growing 
Blueberries 
Adaptability—Cultivated blueberries are being 
succesfully grown from North Carolina to the 
of the Country. The best 
indication that blueberries may succeed on a soil 
is that they or some related plants, such as 
huckleberries, azaleas, or laurel, are found growing 
there naturally. We do not feel any exact limit 
of adaptability has been established and would 
suggest trial plantings anywhere except in the 
deep South or where the soil is alkaline or very 
ary. 
Soilsx—VERY IMPORTANT—Natural blueberry 
soils have a p.h. value from 3.8 to 5.5 with best 
growth occurring between p.h. 4.1 to p.h. 5. These 
soils have an abundance of humus and a fairly 
constant high water table. Such soils must have a 
Northern boundaries 
good surface drainage, as flooding during the 
growing season may cause serious injury. Plant- 
ing on this type of soil is usually done on. wide 
ridges, six to seven inches high. DO NOT PLANT 
BLUEBERRIES IN RICH GARDEN SOIL THAT 
HAS HAD THE BENEFIT OF LIME, STABLE 
MANURE OR OTHER SOIL SWEETENERS. If 
you set blueberry plants in your garden or lawn 
the best method is to dig a large hole where each 
plant is to be set and fill with woods leaf mold 
(the decayed leaf and straw matter found in 
woodsland). If this material is not readily avail- 
able mix your soil with generous proportions of 
peat, sawdust (preferably rotting hardwood saw- 
dust), or similar humus materials). UNDER NO 
CIRCUMSTANCES should lime or stable manure 
be permitted to come into contact with the area in 
which plants are set. It should be borne in mind 
that the productiveness of a blueberry planting 
depends largely on the moisture supplied in the 
upper soil. 
Mulching—On all but natural blueberry soil, a 
permanent mulch should be applied as soon as the 
plants are set. Such materials as straw, sawdust, 
Salt hay, sudan grass, pine needles or leaves should 
be spread around the plants about six inches deep. 
Further applications should be made each year in 
sufficient quantities to maintain the mulch. With 
individual plants mulch should be applied over an 
area six to eight feet square. 
Pruning—Usually very little pruning is necessary 
/until the end of the third season, when regular 
annual pruning should ordinarily begin. 
directions are included with your order. 
_ Fertilizer—The application of commercial ferti- 
lizer has given a very marked increase in the yield 
and size of fruit. Applications of 4 to %4 lb. per 
bush have been very successful. We are using a 
Standard 5-10-5 fertilizer with very good results. 
Application should be made in a wide band spread 
evenly around the plant about 10 inches from the 
plant. Where sawdust mulch is used, 2 oz. sul- 
phate ammonia per bush should be added the sec- 
Pruning 
ond and third years to supply necessary nitrogen. 
Also note paragraph 2 on bottom of this page. 
NO FERTILIZER SHOULD BE APPLIED THE 
FIRST YEAR PLANT IS SET. 
Pollination—It is generally conceded that many 
or all of the cultivated blueberries tend to be self- 
sterile. Therefore, two or more varieties should be 
planted to insure good pollination. 
Planting—For commercial planting, plants are 
set every four feet in rows eight to ten feet apart 
as many varieties of blueberries reach a height of 
six to seven feet and a width of five to six feet. 
Plants should be set slightly deeper than they grew 
in the nursery, with the roots well spread out. 
When planting, we place a thin layer of pulver- 
ized peat and sand, which has been soaked and 
mixed half and half, below and above the roots. 
We feel this makes an ideal rooting medium, and 
will keep the plant well supplied with moisture 
until it becomes established. Before planting, one- 
half to two-thirds of the top growth should be 
pruned off. Should some of the buds be missed the 
blossoms may be pinched off first year as they 
appear. For the home planting plants may be 
set in whatever manner is convenient, giving them 
about thirty-two square feet of space to each plant. 
Yields—On good blueberry soil, yields of 6 to 8 
pints per plant may be expected from mature plants 
and with medium pruning plants may produce 12 
to 20 pints. However, most varieties will tend to 
overbear and after the third year it is the practice 
of commercial growers to prune the plants to keep 
up the size of the berries and encourage vigorous 
new growth for the next year’s crop. Individual 
bushes will produce some fruit after being planted 
1 year. A good rule of thumb is to estimate 1 
pint per year of age of well established bushes; for 
example, 6 pints from a 6 year bush, ete. Present 
records indicate that blueberry plantings, with 
proper care, will be profitably productive for fifty 
to seventy-five years, and possibly longer. 
Profits—Since the introduction of these large, 
cultivated blueberries their excellent flavor and un- 
usual size have kept them in the price bracket of a 
novelty and prices have ranged very high with 
75e per pint often realized. The market continues 
to increase as more fruit becomes available and 
many areas are just beginning to enjoy the intro- 
duction of hybrid blueberries. It is safe to state 
the market has merely been scratched, and because 
of their solid meatiness, good keeping qualities and 
absolute minimum of waste (no caps to remove) 
customers feel justified in paying premium prices 
above other berries. All of these reasons establish 
the blueberry as a dependable profit maker. 
POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT BLUEBERRIES 
1. Plant at least two varieties to provide for cross pollination. Cultivated blueberries are con- 
Sidered self-sterile. 
planting paragraph above. 
Do not permit to fruit first year. 
Be sure to follow instructions in 
2. Blueberries should not be planted on soils limed in recent years unless actual tests show 
Soils are still acid enough for blueberries. 
rotting straw, sawdust, etc., may be mixed into soil to make conditions suitable. 
important if you are planting in your garden or on your lawn. 
For less acid soils, decaying leaves or acid peat, 
This is 
. @ 
Aluminum sulphate at rate 
of 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. and up to 10 lbs. on heavy loams is excellent for garden plantings. 
8. Do not permit lime or stable manure to come into contact with immediate area in which 
plants are set. 
a 
See directions on Soils and Fertilizers on this page. 
RAYNER BROTHERS ARE RELIABLE 
39 
