Blueberry, O'Neal (E)

A Southern Highbush (low chill, tolerates heat). Large fruit is especially sweet and flavorful. Early season. Soil must be acidic, high in humus. 5-6 ft. bush. 200 hours. Self-fruitful, but plant two varieties for largest crops.

CAUTION - this is a heads-up that this product is an experiment in the Valley of the Sun. We have heard from people being successful with blueberries, however not enough to suggest this fruit to our typical new fruit growers.  Following the directions below will significantly increase your chances of success.

To make growing blueberries easier here in our valley, do NOT plant them in the ground!! Blueberries make a wonderful container plant and are ornamental as well as productive.

Blueberries like a low PH of 4.5 to 6.0, with 5.5 being optimal, and they like to grow in actively decomposing organic matter.  Soil sulfur needed to achieve 4.5 pH (in teaspoons per cubic foot of soil mix). Check carefully when selecting fertilizers: the nitrogen must not be from nitrate, which can be deadly to blueberries (don't find out the hard way!)

Check out this link on Dave Wilson's website for more detailed info - https://www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/growing-fruits-and-nuts/vine-and-bush-fruits/growing-blueberries 

So here is what you need to know about blueberries before you press the go button. They are experimental and you will need to grow them in a pot. Here are your directions:

• The soil in your pot needs to be:
  
  • 1/3 peat
  • 1/3 ground forest bark
  • 1/3 of a porous media - pearllite, pumice or sand based potting soil
• Use a Humic Acid based fertilizer Tom likes the product called Gro Power Flower & Bloom 3-12-12.  We recommend SOUL and ESSENCE.
• Feed your Blueberries every two months (Feb, April, June, Aug, Oct).
• They need to be containerized in a large container of at least 30 gallon capacity.
• Put all 3 varieties in 1 container.
• MUST be well drained and must kept acidic!
• Partial shade to most sun with shade in the mid to late afternoon.