How to Grow Blueberry Plants From Seed
Blueberries are fruit-producing shrubs indigenous to North America. They are grown for their use in the canning industry, and for making various desserts, teas and juices. Blueberry shrubs also make for attractive ornamental plants and are frequently seen growing as hedges. Growing blueberries from seed is simple, and does not require any special tools. When planting blueberries from seed, it's best to start in January or February.
Pour into a bowl of approximately 1 cup of fresh or previously frozen blueberries that are partially thawed. Mash the blueberries to a pulp using a food masher. Place the blueberry pulp into a glass jar. Pour in 3 or 4 cups of water and let the blueberry pulp soak in the water for approximately 10 minutes.
- Blueberries are fruit-producing shrubs indigenous to North America.
- Mash the blueberries to a pulp using a food masher.
Line the bottom and sides of a colander with paper towels. Pour out the blueberry pulp and water mixture from the glass jar into the paper towel-lined colander. Let the colander drain thoroughly. Remove the blueberry seeds from the paper towels and spread the blueberry seeds onto paper towels to let them dry.
Fill up 4-inch pots with milled sphagnum moss or a high-quality seed starting mix. Dampen down the sphagnum moss or seed-starting mix thoroughly by pouring water into the seed-starting tray. Let the water drain away from the sphagnum moss or seed-raising mix.
- Line the bottom and sides of a colander with paper towels.
- Dampen down the sphagnum moss or seed-starting mix thoroughly by pouring water into the seed-starting tray.
Gather up one to two blueberry seeds with a pair of tweezers. Then place the blueberry seeds on top of the sphagnum moss or seed-starting mix so that they are planted about 1 inch apart from each other. Press the blueberry seeds into the germinating media, using the back of a metal spoon or a small block of wood.
Sprinkle a fine layer of either milled sphagnum moss or seed-starting mix over the blueberry seeds. Try and use no more than approximately 1/8 inch of the germinating media to cover the blueberry seeds. Place the 4-inch pots into a watering tray. Cover the entire tray with a sheet of newspaper.
- Gather up one to two blueberry seeds with a pair of tweezers.
- Then place the blueberry seeds on top of the sphagnum moss or seed-starting mix so that they are planted about 1 inch apart from each other.
Transfer the tray to a warm location (between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit) in your home. Keep the blueberry seeds moist; mist with water as needed. Do not water so often the blueberry seeds become sodden. Blueberry seedlings will begin emerging in approximately three to four weeks. Remove the sheet of newspaper from on top of the tray once seedlings emerge.
Place the tray where it will receive 8 to 10 hours of light a day. Transplant the blueberry seedlings into 1-gallon pots when they are approximately 2 to 3 inches tall. Then place the blueberry seedlings where they will receive maximum sunshine until they are large enough to plant into their permanent location.
- Transfer the tray to a warm location (between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit) in your home.
- Transplant the blueberry seedlings into 1-gallon pots when they are approximately 2 to 3 inches tall.
Tip
According to Sunset's Plant Finder, blueberries need moist, cool growing conditions and require acid soil with a pH of between 4.5 and 5.5.
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References
Tips
- According to Sunset's Plant Finder, blueberries need moist, cool growing conditions and require acid soil with a pH of between 4.5 and 5.5.
Writer Bio
Katelyn Lynn has been writing health and wellness articles since 2007. Her work appears on various websites. Lynn is a certified holistic health practitioner who specializes in orthomolecular medicine and preventative modalities. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in health sciences from TUI University and has extensive experience in botany and horticulture.
