How to Choose the Best Blueberry Plants

Berry Jerry’s advice on buying blueberry plants…

Here are some important things to consider when buying your blueberry plants:

1. Where are you going to put them?

Blueberry plants are really shrubs, so they are more like bushes than plants. They need sufficient room to grow. Different varieties of blueberry plants grow to different heights (and widths for that matter). Before you buy blueberry plants, find out about the particular species you are considering and the amount of space needed to grow them.

2. What are you going to use the berries for?

If you plan to eat your blueberries fresh off the blueberry plant, you need to buy blueberry plants that produce nice, sweet berries. On the other hand, if you are going to use them for jellies, jams, or for baking, tarter blueberry varieties may be best.

3. Do you need more than one blueberry plant for effective pollination?

For the most part, blueberry plants are self-fertile, but some varieties do much better if you have more than one plant. Check the recommendations for the specific blueberry plants you are considering before you buy and determine whether or not you need more than one of each variety.

4. Which ones are best suited to your climate?
With greenhouses, you can grow blueberry plants in climates where they wouldn’t normally grow. However, your blueberry plants will always do better if they are well-suited to the area in which they are growing. Check gardening resources before you buy to see what types of blueberry plants grow best in your area.

5. Is the plant healthy?

Healthy blueberry plants generally won’t have black spots or yellow veins on the leaves, unless of course it is entering its dormancy stage. If it is in the dormancy stage and does have black spots and yellow or orange veins, that is normal. However, you need to take a look at the fruiting buds and the leaving buds. If it has a sufficient amount of buds, it is likely a healthy blueberry plant.

If you consider these five tips, you’re sure to get the best blueberry plants for your berry garden!