Blueberries in Gamston

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 Gamston · last frost ≈ 24 Apr

Plant out November to March, harvest August. Frost risk October to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Blueberry

  1. 01

    Plant Blueberries

    20 Nov to 30 Mar

    Plant container-grown blueberries at 20th November - 30th 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

    24 Jan to 23 Jul

    Keep the compost evenly moist from 24th January through 23rd July, especially in dry spells. Use rainwater if possible, because tap water can raise the compost pH over time.

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    23 Feb to 25 Mar every 365 days

    Top-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch from 23rd February to 25th March. Repeat every 365 days to keep the root zone moist and support fruiting.

  4. 04

    Protect Ripening Fruit

    24 May to 8 Jun

    Put bird netting over the plants from 24th May before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.

  5. 05

    Harvest Berries

    2 Aug to 22 Aug

    Pick from 2nd August to 22nd August 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

    24 Jan to 23 Feb

    From 24th January to 23rd February, 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.