Blueberries in Frisby

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

Add to garden

Calibrated to Frisby · last frost ≈ 13 May

Plant out November to March, harvest August to September. Frost risk October to May.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Blueberry

  1. 01

    Plant Blueberries

    3 Nov to 13 Mar

    Plant container-grown blueberries at 3rd November - 13th March 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

    7 Jan to 6 Jul

    Keep the compost evenly moist from 7th January through 6th July, especially in dry spells. Use rainwater if possible, because tap water can raise the compost pH over time.

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    14 Mar to 13 Apr every 365 days

    Top-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch from 14th March to 13th April. Repeat every 365 days to keep the root zone moist and support fruiting.

  4. 04

    Protect Ripening Fruit

    12 Jun to 27 Jun

    Put bird netting over the plants from 12th June before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.

  5. 05

    Harvest Berries

    21 Aug to 10 Sept

    Pick from 21st August to 10th September 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

    12 Feb to 14 Mar

    From 12th February to 14th March, 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.

Blueberry guides by town

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