Blueberries in Bath
Vaccinium corymbosum
Blueberries need acidic, moisture-retentive soil or ericaceous compost, with rainwater where possible. Grow them in the ground only if your soil is naturally acid, or keep them in pots of ericaceous compost and top up mulch each spring.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Blueberry
Planting Calendar
Plant Blueberries
10 Dec – 19 AprPlant container-grown blueberries at 10th December - 19th April in a large pot filled with ericaceous compost. Set the crown at the same level as the compost surface and water in thoroughly straight away.
Water to Establish
13 Feb – 12 AugKeep the compost evenly moist from 13th February through 12th August, especially in dry spells. Use rainwater if possible, because tap water can raise the compost pH over time.
Mulch and Feed
29 Jan – 28 Febevery 365 daysTop-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch from 29th January to 28th February. Repeat every 365 days to keep the root zone moist and support fruiting.
Protect Ripening Fruit
29 Apr – 14 MayPut bird netting over the plants from 29th April before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.
Harvest Berries
8 Jul – 28 JulPick from 8th July to 28th July once the berries are fully blue and come away with a light pull. Harvest over several weeks as the fruit ripens unevenly, and handle the crop gently to avoid bruising.
Light Prune
30 Dec – 29 JanFrom 30th December to 29th January, remove weak, dead or crossing stems and shorten a few older shoots if the bush is crowded. Blueberries need only light pruning, so avoid hard cutting back.
Companion Plants
Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Blueberry.
Good companions
Plants to avoid
Why companion planting matters
Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.
Suggested Varieties
Popular varieties of Blueberry to consider
Bluecrop
A reliable mid-season variety with firm, well-flavoured berries and steady crops.
Duke
An early variety that crops well and is often grown in pots or the ground.
Brigitta Blue
A late-season variety with good-sized fruit and a tidy growth habit.
Elliott
A very late variety that extends the picking season in a sheltered spot.
Related Plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Basil
Basil is a fragrant, tender herb whose leaves are a staple of summer cooking. Native to tropical regions, basil is treated as an annual in temperate climates like the UK because it cannot tolerate frost. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and can be grown in garden beds or pots for a steady supply of fresh, flavourful leaves throughout the summer.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a hardy winter brassica (cabbage family) that form sturdy, leafy stems often around 60–90cm tall. They produce edible mini-cabbage buds along the stem from autumn through winter. Thanks to their cold tolerance, sprouts remain productive into late winter, and frost actually improves their sweetness.
Calabrese
Calabrese (broccoli) produces a large central head of tightly-packed green buds, followed by smaller side-shoots after the main head is cut. It’s a cool-season brassica crop. Grow it in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and keep plants watered during dry spells. Harvest the heads while firm, then leave the stem in the ground to allow side-shoots to develop.
Also in nearby towns
See how Blueberry timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.