When pondering what to plant in your yard or garden this fall, consider blueberries, says Mary Beth Musgrove, Alabama Cooperative Extension System horticulturist.

"Rabbiteye blueberries are one of the most delicious fruits grown in the South," says Musgrove. "They are also one of the easiest fruits to grow. They are beautiful, produce delicious fruit and have few pest problems. It’s easy to grow them organically, because they usually do not require any sprays for pests."

The rabbiteye blueberry is native to the Southeastern United States and is tolerant of the South’s heat and drought. It even grows wild in southern Georgia, Alabama and the Florida panhandle.

The best time to plant blueberries is in late fall through late winter, says Musgrove. The berries bloom about the same time as a late-season frost or freeze, so they should be planted in a place where they are the least susceptible to frost damage. "Plant blueberries away from frost pockets," she says. "These are low areas and sites that do not have good air movement. You usually can't do much to protect tender blooms from late season freezes, although newer approaches, including covers, are being evaluated. When selecting a suitable planting site, remember that cold air and frost flow downward, just as water does, settling in lowest sites."

Musgrove says more than one variety of blueberries should be planted so cross-pollination can occur.

"By selecting several varieties, you can also spread out the length of your harvest time," she says. "Blueberries do not ripen all at once. One variety may have berries that mature over a four-to six-week period. If you want your blueberry planting to produce a lot of fruit, select a site that is in full sun. Choose a site with moist, well-aerated, well-drained soil high in organic matter."

The plants should be spaced at least 5 feet apart in a row, which will produce a hedgerow or border as the plants mature. Several rows of blueberries should be spaced at least 10 to 12 feet apart.
"Plant blueberries at the same depth they were grown in their containers," says Musgrove. "Do not pile soil on the base of the trunk. When planting an individual plant, make the hole at least twice as wide as the root ball. Amend the soil in the planting hole or row with some form of organic matter. Peat moss is best, but finely ground pine bark will work, too. Thoroughly incorporate or mix organic matter into the planting hole, and check plants to make sure they are not root-bound in the container."

Musgrove says blueberries need an acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 to 5.2. "If you are planting blueberries as a landscape shrub, combine them with other plants that thrive in acidic soil, such as azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias," says Musgrove. "Contact your local county Extension agent for more information about taking soil samples before planting."

After the berries are planted, watering is crucial. "Especially during their first year of growth, watering is very important," says Musgrove. "You should water plants thoroughly at planting and twice weekly for the first year until they are established. Water plants for a longer time once or twice per week, rather than for a short time each day. Because blueberry plants have the ability to retract water from berries, adequate moisture, particularly during fruit production, is essential to producing plump, juicy berries."

By planting blueberries this fall and watering them properly throughout the winter, you will reap not only an attractive planting for your yard, but a harvest of delectable berries next summer as well.

"Blueberries are a healthy, delicious fruit that can be baked into muffins and breads, added to cereal or eaten out of hand," says Musgrove. "Blueberries are one of the few plants that offer beauty and taste throughout most of the year."