When to plant Blueberries in Cardiff

Vaccinium corymbosum

Blueberry
Blueberry · 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.

150 cm · Full Sun · High Water

Calibrated to Cardiff · last frost ≈ 22 Apr

Plant out October to November, harvest July to August. Frost risk October to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

  1. 01

    Plant Blueberries

    7 Oct to 18 Nov

    Plant container-grown blueberries at 7th October - 18th November 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.

  2. 02

    Water to Establish

    28 Oct to 16 Jul 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Keep the compost evenly moist from 28th October through 16th July 2027, especially in dry spells. Use rainwater if possible, because tap water can raise the compost pH over time.

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    21 Feb to 23 Mar 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    Around 21st February - 23rd March 2027, top-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark, leaving the crown clear. Apply an ericaceous feed only if growth is weak, and repeat this care each year.

  4. 04

    Protect Ripening Fruit

    16 Jul to 20 Aug 2027

    Put bird netting over the plants from 16th July 2027 before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.

  5. 05

    Harvest Berries

    31 Jul to 20 Aug 2027

    Pick from 31st July 2027 to 20th August 2027 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.

  6. 06

    Light Prune

    22 Jan to 21 Feb 2027

    From 22nd January 2027 to 21st February 2027, 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.

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.

Blueberry guides by town

See how Blueberry timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.