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Blueberry Fertilizer
Blueberry Fertilizer
Using the correct blueberry fertilizer will ensure your blueberry plants grow strong and healthy, and that they produce an abundance of delicious berries.
Blueberries are part of the Vaccinium genus, which also includes huckleberries, bilberries, and cranberries. As a perennial plant, blueberry shrubs can reach up to 4 metres in height, although the wild variety from which the cultivated version derives grows close to the ground.
Blueberry plants are relatively easy to grow and do not need a lot of attention and care. That said, blueberry plants do require specific growing conditions and will benefit most from certain types of fertilizer.
Blueberry Fertilizer: Soil pH and NPK Ratio
Having originally developed in fairly arid, nutrient sparse conditions, blueberry plants like to grow in soil that drains well and has an acidic pH level.
To achieve the right soil pH you can add nitrogen-rich compost. This method can reduce the pH level by around half a point and will also provide blueberry plants with a mix of essential nutrients.
To further increase acidity in the soil, use a liquid pH- solution that you can add while watering. To be certain you’ve attained the correct soil conditions, you can measure the pH using a simple home test kit. Blueberries prefer an acidity level somewhere between four and a half and five.
Once you have created the correct soil conditions for blueberries, it’s time to consider the type of blueberry fertilizer you should use to give your blueberries that extra boost. Since blueberries are sensitive to synthetic fertilizers, it is best to choose an organic fertilizer that releases nutrients slowly and does not harm the beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Blueberries benefit most from fertilizers with a balanced NPK ratio. That means the fertilizer consists of equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Alongside these essential macronutrients, blueberries need a range of micronutrients in order to flourish. The most important micronutrients for blueberries are zinc, calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. These will be readily available in most quality organic fertilizers.
Blueberry Fertilizer Application
Blueberries do not need copious amounts of nutrients to prosper. In fact, you should always be cautious about how much blueberry fertilizer you use as it is very easy to over-fertilize blueberries.
Using an organic fertilizer that comes in the form of granules is best for blueberries. The granules can be scattered around the base of the plant where they will be gradually broken down by rain, watering, and wind. This is a slow process that releases the fertilizer’s nutrients little by little—exactly the way blueberries like it.
When applying the blueberry fertilizer granules ensure they are spread evenly around the base of the plant, extending out as far as the leaf canopy. This will help the fertilizer to reach the entire root system and give the best results. Since blueberry roots are short and shallow, there is no need to dig the fertilizer into the soil—simply scatter it and then leave it be.
Blueberry Fertilizer from BAC
BAC offers a range of solid organic fertilizers that can be beneficial to blueberries. All our organic fertilizers are fully certified and proven in the field.
Bio Pellets - Organic granules with an NPK ratio of 10-4-6. The nutrients in these pellets will be easily absorbed by blueberries and provide support to soil microorganisms.
Bio Tablets - With an NPK ratio of 12-8-8, our Bio Tablets offer a balanced nutrient mix that will support vigorous growth in blueberry plants.
