Blueberries in Old Grimsby

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 Old Grimsby · last frost ≈ 19 Feb

Plant out December to May, harvest May to June. Frost risk December to February.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Blueberry

  1. 01

    Plant Blueberries

    23 Dec to 2 May

    Plant container-grown blueberries at 23rd December - 2nd May 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 Feb to 25 Aug

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

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    21 Dec to 20 Jan every 365 days

    Top-dress with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch from 21st December to 20th January. Repeat every 365 days to keep the root zone moist and support fruiting.

  4. 04

    Protect Ripening Fruit

    21 Mar to 5 Apr

    Put bird netting over the plants from 21st March before the berries start to colour. Fix it securely, because birds will strip ripe fruit very quickly.

  5. 05

    Harvest Berries

    30 May to 19 Jun

    Pick from 30th May to 19th June 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

    21 Nov to 21 Dec

    From 21st November to 21st December, 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.