How to Plant Blueberries in a Container

Overview

Some blueberry plant varieties are hardy down to USDA zone 3, or around -35 degrees Fahrenheit, but the plants still don't like to have their root systems frozen completely. Thankfully, blueberries are excellent container plants, but they're large plants, so if you're planning to grow the plants in containers, you may want to consider a dwarf variety of blueberry. You'll want to plant two to three different varieties, or cultivars, of blueberries to ensure cross-pollination and good fruit production. Place the plants close to each other and place them in full sunlight. Soil pH is crucial to growing blueberries, and the plants need soil with a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5. You can incorporate sulfur into the soil to achieve the proper pH.

Step 1

Select the right container size. If you purchase blueberry plants in 1-gallon containers, transfer them into 4- or 5-gallon containers. If you have larger plants in 2- to 5-gallon planter pots, transfer them into 7- to 10-gallon containers.

Step 2

Mix one part pathway bark, one part peat moss and one part organic potting soil, such as an Azalea or "acid plant" mix. Add 2 tablespoons of soil sulfur for each blueberry plant.

Step 3

Fill about one-third of your container with the potting mixture. Place the blueberry plant's root ball into the container and fill in the rest of the potting mix. Spread a 1-inch layer of small pine bark chips on top of the soil.

Step 4

Water the blueberry plant to moisten the soil around the root ball. Place the container in full sunlight.