Little Giant Blueberry Plants

Blueberries are the "it" crop of 2011. My wife already has our plants in the ground here in Portland, Oregon, and walking through the neighborhood we see others doing the same. Online it's the same story: blueberries, blueberries, blueberries!

It's no wonder: blueberry are delicious, full of powerful anti-oxidants and the plants are fun and easy to grow. A healthy plant can yield up to 4 pints of delicious berries a day. Plants like full sun, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5-5.2. And because they're hardy, they'll grow well in zones 4-9.

You have several options for purchasing blueberry plants. If you have a full-service garden center nearby, they may have plants to purchase. Online plant suppliers are also available. 'Little Giant' Blueberries are being advertised on TV (with those funny commercials). They're selling a jumbo variety and claim that a single bush yields 16,000 giant berries in a season. Price is good, $10 for 2 plants and you get a free plant with your order.

Check out 'Little Giant' blueberries and get a free plant.


Plant care

If your soil pH is higher than 7.0, or you don't want to mess around with testing and correcting a large section of soil, consider growing plants in a large container. It's easier to control the pH that way, and you can move them around to a more sunny location if your yard is shady.

Make sure your new plants get plenty of water, especially in the first year. Water until the soil is moist 6" deep at 12" away from the top of the plant. Giving a good watering several times a week is best.

Give your plant a layer of mulch to keep weeds at bay and to retain moisture. Mulch around the base with organic mulch or with pine bark, pine chips, pine needles or pine sawdust.

Use an acid fertilizer when you see the buds swell in the spring, then fertilize once more in the growing season, and finally once more before fall. Remove any dead or damaged canes each spring, and keep the center of the plant open so sunlight and air flow can penetrate all the canes.

Before winter sets in, just trim back any long canes that might break under heavy snow, and lightly mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulch, pine needles or wood shavings.

If you want plants quickly, and you want a good deal, be sure to check out the 'Little Giant" blueberry offer -- 3 plants for just $10. More information here.