Blueberries in Garleffin

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 Garleffin · last frost ≈ 2 May

Plant out November to April, harvest August. Frost risk November to May.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Blueberry

  1. 01

    Plant Blueberries

    22 Nov to 1 Apr

    Plant container-grown blueberries at 22nd November - 1st 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.

  2. 02

    Water to Establish

    26 Jan to 25 Jul

    Keep the compost evenly moist from 26th January through 25th July, especially in dry spells. Use rainwater if possible, because tap water can raise the compost pH over time.

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    3 Mar to 2 Apr every 365 days

    Top-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch from 3rd March to 2nd April. Repeat every 365 days to keep the root zone moist and support fruiting.

  4. 04

    Protect Ripening Fruit

    1 Jun to 16 Jun

    Put bird netting over the plants from 1st June before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.

  5. 05

    Harvest Berries

    10 Aug to 30 Aug

    Pick from 10th August to 30th 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

    1 Feb to 3 Mar

    From 1st February to 3rd 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.