Blueberries have very specific soil requirements. Plants grow best in well‑drained, light, sandy loam soils with organic matter content greater than 3% and have a pH between 4.5 and 5.5.
When the pH is outside the optimum range for growing blueberry plants acidifying materials will be needed to lower soil pH. Nitrogen and ammonium sulfate fertilizers are used to increase soil acidity. Preparing a site for planting may take several years.
Avoid planting on heavy soils that drain slowly. Soils with a clay or silt content greater than 20% are not favorable for growing blueberries. Blueberry plants have a shallow root system and need good drainage to thrive. Water standing on the soil surface for more than 2 days during the growing season can damage roots. The soil water table should be at least 14 inches below the soil surface, or roots will suffocate.
The highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum and Vaccinium australe) range in height from 1.5 to 7 m (5 to 23 ft) and like sunny, acidic areas with a pH between 4 and 5. These blueberries are shallow-rooted plants and are characterized by the lack of root hairs. These fines, fibrous roots require an open, porous soil for ease of growth.
Soil
requirements for blueberries cultivation
