Blueberries ( Vacciniumspp . ) are very demanding in terms of the soil condition they require for good growth and fruit production , and those condition do n’t often occur by nature in Ohio . With careful site selection and soil preparation , however , most Ohio nurseryman can produce blueberry crops in their backyard .
Variety Selection
In general , * * northern highbushblueberries * * ( Vaccinium corymbosum ) , the type best suited for Ohio agriculturist , are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 to 7 . Most of Ohio falls into USDA geographical zone 6 , with a few pockets of USDA zone 5b , most notably nor'-east of Columbus in central Ohio and in westerly Ohio west of Dayton . Most northern highbush varieties , therefore , can survive the winter throughout the state .
Cultivars that are well suited to Ohio include " Bluecrop " and " BlueJay , " which are sturdy in USDA zones 4 to 7 , " Patriot , " which is hardy in USDA zone 3 to 7 , and " Draper , " which is stalwart in USDA zones 5 to 7 .
Site Conditions
blueberry postulate hatful of picture to sunshine , and they do best in locations that get at least six to eight hours offull sunper day .
blueberry bush bushes have shallow root organisation that are easily damage when the soil around them is waterlogged , so well - drained soil in the planting bed is a essential . In areas with impenetrable stiff grease or even loam that does n’t drain cursorily , plant in a 9 - inch - highraised bedcan help protect the plant ' roots from standing water .
Soil Acidification
Blueberries requireacidic soil , with a pH level between 4.5 and 5 . aboriginal land sour varies from locus to locale across the state , but acidulent soils are more usual in eastern Ohio than they are in the western part of the state .
Elemental sulfurmixed into the top 4 inches of soil can lower the soil ’s pH and make it more suitable for growing blueberry . The amount of sulfur you ’ll postulate to add will depend on the makeup of the land ; adding 1.2 Ezra Loomis Pound of sulfur to 100 solid feet of sandy soil , for instance , will bring down the pH from 6 to 4.5 , but the same area of clay soil will ask 3.7 Ezra Loomis Pound of sulphur for the same change in pH. The acidification process is slow , and sulfur should be total to the soil three months before planting .
Planting and Spacing
plant life bushes in the springafter the danger of frost has passed . Before set bare - settle down plants , soak the total origin system in a bucket of water for approximately one hour . If planting container grown blueberries , mildly draw the root system aside before planting . Add a Imperial gallon of sphagnum moss or peat to the planting hole and set the works deeply enough that the root crown is even with the land level . Space bushes 3 to 4 feet apart within each row , and space rows 10 feet aside .
Fertilization and Watering
Blueberries produce best when given supplemental N ; the N should be in the sort ofammonium sulfatebecause nitrate - based reference are harmful to blueberries . Apply an ounce — an 1/8 cup — of 7 - 7 - 7 fertiliser per industrial plant three or four weeks after found , scratch up the fertilizer gently into the soil in a circuit 18 inches from the root of each plant . Apply another 1 - Panthera uncia coating in four to six weeks . water supply well after each app .
Increase the amount of fertiliser to 2 ounces in the second yr , hold once in mid spring and again at the same charge per unit in early summer . In subsequent years , fertilise only once in spring at bud interruption , increasing the lotion rate by 2 ounces each yr to a maximum of 12 ounce .
Blueberries also requireconsistent moisture , peculiarly while the berry are rise and in late summertime , when the following season ’s flower buds are developing . Irrigate works so that they receive 1 to 2 inch of water per week .
