Monadnock Berries Blueberry Planting and Pruning Guide

BLUEBERRY PLANTING GUIDE

Once you have purchased plants from Monadnock Berries, you will need to know how to look after them. Providing proper planting conditions and pruning techniques will yield Bountiful Buckets of Blueberries!

The blueberry is ideally suited to New Hampshire!

Its growing requirements are acid soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5.There are many cultivated highbush varieties and they range from early cropping the beginning of July, to late cropping the middle of October.
Whatever varieties you choose always plant more than one variety, as cultivated blueberries are partially self-sterile.
When planting blueberries, remember the ideal conditions are acid soil, full to partial sun, and good drainage.
Dig a hole double the size of the root system, then mix a shovelful of acid peat with the soil or well rotted leaf mold in the hole.
Be careful not to plant too deep! After planting pack the soil firmly around the roots and water thoroughly.
It is important not to over-fertilize plants. Wait four to eight weeks after planting before feeding.
When fertilizing use 1oz. Ammonium Sulfate in a circular band around each plant.
A good rule to remember is to fertilize at blossom and then one month later, always avoid fertilizer in the Fall or Winter.
Blueberries love moisture - a good mulch each year will help keep your plant healthy.
Wood chips are the best, if you use sawdust it may be necessary to use extra nitrogen.
Finally, remember to prune your plants after the second year.
Blueberries should be pruned annually during the dormant season.
Remove all weak branches and old wood in the center of the bush to allow sun and air to penetrate.
Expect your first delicious berries on a five year old plant!!

Our thanks to UNH and Nourse Farms

BLUEBERRY PRUNING GUIDE

It is extremely important to prune highbush blueberry bushes each and every year.

The highbush blueberry fruits on new wood and so to harvest an abundant crop the old wood must be pruned out.
To do this you will need a sharp pair of long handled loppers and a pair of hand clippers for fine snipping.

Determining the age of your bush is the first step.

If you did not plant it, or did but can't remember when, its height will be a rough guide to its age.
Generally speaking, a highbush blueberry around five years old can be 12" to 15" high, five to fifteen years old will be 15" to 5', and twenty years or onward can reach up to 6'.

The first group - newly planted up to five years old.

This group will need minimal pruning with hand clippers.
The first thing to look for is any damaged or broken branches, these must be snipped of just below the damaged area.
Then look for the two types of branches, the brown woody ones and the softer green/brown type.
Snip off just one woody branch on each plant, never trim the green young growth.

The second group - five to fifteen years old.

This group will need sharp long-handled loppers.
These plants should have plenty of both types of branches, brown woody and young green/brown.
First of all look for and remove any damaged or broken branches, these must be pruned off just below the damaged area.
Next take out at least two to three brown woody branches, pruned from the very bottom of the bush.
Prune any branches that are lying down on the ground or crowding the center of the bush.
Finally look for and remove any dead wood just above the nearest active bud.
Dead wood is often a dark brown or a silvery color with no new buds.

The third group - twenty years onwards.

These bushes have reached their full potential for cropping delicious berries and the secret is to keep it that way.
Using your long handled loppers take out any damaged or broken branches.
Next take out at least one third of the old wood and thin out some of the new green/brown shoots keeping the most vigorous, always pruning the branches from the bottom of the bush.

If you follow these instructions, your bushes should produce berries as bountiful and delicious as our own! We usually have fertilizer for sale at the farm stand and Mr Levick is often around to give expert advice for those who are experiencing any problems with the growth of their plants.