can blueberry grow normally without acidic soil?

preppystud

7 years ago

will they produce far more berries if they are growing in acidic soil?

Comments (2)

speedster1
7 years ago
No they will not grow normally. They will fail to thrive. There are many ways to increase soil acidity. If you only intend to grow a few blueberry plants keeping the pH of your soil down is not that difficult. IF you don't intend to keep acidic soil don't bother with blueberries. Plant blackberries instead.
garybeaumont_gw
7 years ago
Blueberries need a pH of about 5.5 to 4.5. If the pH is over 7 they will not last long. Depending on your soil, if may be very hard to change the pH. Clay soils resist change in pH due to buffering agents (biccarbonates). Until all the bicarbonates are burned up by sulfur, the pH will return to the original pH. Even after changing the pH over time the soil will return to the original pH. Sands are easier to change. Tap water also tends to raise pH. Again, depending on where you are, some tap water has more bicarbonates than other areas. Areas in the West are usually very high in bicarbonates.

They are fairly easy to grow in pots. Others have used raised beds with a mix of sand, peat moss, and compost.
Related Discussions
Keeping soil acid for blueberries
Q
Comments (12)
"Chips" usually means the pieces an inch or more across that are ground up in those grinders the tree-trimmer trucks pull as trailers (or similar larger machines). "Sawdust" is in two sizes, that from rough-cutting lumber (shreds say 1/4-1/2 inch across) and that from finish cutting (the finer material we typically call "sawdust"). Planing debris (for example from taking a rough-cut 2x4 that is 2x4 inches into the 1 3/4x3 3/4 finished board we usually call a "two by four") can be mixed with either, though more typically the rough-cut sawdust. "Softwood" typically means conifer (pines, firs, etc.) no matter how hard, and hardwood means from broadleaf trees no matter how soft. Real simple and easy to follow isn't it? Ground up fir Christmas trees should be excellent as a mulch. The antiwilt material they spray on it might be some slight problem but sure would not slow me up from using it.
...See More
How know if soil is TOO acidic for blueberries?
Q
Comments (11)
Are the plants in pots or in the ground? They will grow fine in 100% peat so that is probably not your problem. Here is one growing great in 100% peat. http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A2KJkK2NoXtPgmcAXM6JzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dblueberry%2Bpeat%2Bbale%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D2&w=268&h=356&imgurl=ptallman.home.comcast.net%2F%7Eptallman%2Findex_image799.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fptallman.home.comcast.net%2F%7Eptallman%2Findex_blueberries.htm&size=21.5+KB&name=...+blueberry+bush+in+2003+that+had+been+planted+directly+in+a+peat+bale&p=blueberry+peat+bale&oid=be29671bcb4f82b18def2b036bded7d9&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=...%2Bblueberry%2Bbush%2Bin%2B2003%2Bthat%2Bhad%2Bbeen%2Bplanted%2Bdirectly%2Bin%2Ba%2Bpeat%2Bbale&b=0amp;ni=240&no=2&tab=organic&ts=&sigr=120odjmm0&sigb=139ekt1ob&sigi=11muek99j&.crumb=LPqpziEYgPS
...See More
How quickly can I lower pH of soil in order to plant acidic plants?
Q
Comments (13)
See if you can find Soil & Water dudes to talk to instead of Cooperative Extension. How old is the construction? If it is more than 5 years old, then alkaline leaching has already occurred, and you've got what you've got. My personal experience, living in a lime pocket among an assortment of lime pockets, is that most gardeners have been quite thoroughly brainwashed into thinking anything in the east has to be acidic. It just isn't so. So when confronted with an alternate reality, they come up with excuses. Concrete leaching is a classic. Older concrete doesn't leach, and the leaching doesn't travel much. I don't know how many times I've been told that I should stop liming, and then I will have 'normal' acidic soil. If you want to know how the neighbor grows camellias, go over and ask. And no, my soil doesn't fizz either, and my pH, and calcium numbers are very similar to yours.
...See More
Did I luck out here with acidic soil for blueberries?
Q
Comments (1)
Contrary to popular belief, soil pH is not dependent on what is growing in that area - the oaks and pines do not make the soil acidic but rather the underlying mineral content of the soil and the amount of rainfall you receive. The pines and oaks only grow there because the existing pH is to their liking. Blueberries will grow well in soils that have a pH of 6.0 or lower. Many sites will insist on a pH of 5.5 or less but we support a very large commercial blueberry industry in my area in only mildly acidic soils. The sandy soil could cause issues. Blueberries like a soil that is consistently moist and with plenty of organic matter - a very sandy soil provides little of either so you may need to amend to improve those conditions. As to varieties, there are many excellent cultivars of southern highbush and rabbit-eye, both of which thrive in southern climates. Local nursery outlets should carry a good selection.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Grow a Beautiful Garden in Alkaline Soil

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Got alkaline soil? Learn how to manage it and the many beautiful plants that will thrive in this ‘sweet’ soil

Full Story

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crop: How to Grow Blueberries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant blueberries in spring or fall for garden beauty through three seasons — and a sweet superfood in summer

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Have Acidic Soil in Your Yard? Learn to Love Gardening Anyway

By Falon Mihalic

Look to acid-loving plants, like conifers and rhododendrons, to help your low-pH garden thrive

Full Story

FALL GARDENING 5 Fall Fruits You Can Grow in Containers

By Bill Marken

Brighten your porch or patio with a potted pomegranate, kumquat, blueberry bush or another great fall fruit

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Grow Blueberries for Their Fruit and More

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Eastern gardeners should consider growing blueberry plants for their delicious fruits, bee-friendly spring blooms and brilliant fall foliage

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Yes, You Can Grow an Edible Garden on a Hot, Dry Site

By Brian Barth

Difficult garden spots don’t need to deter you from planting trees, herbs and other delicious food plants

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES How to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Yes, You Can Grow Food in a Shady Yard

By Brian Barth

Your shady garden doesn’t have to be forever barren. Berries, herbs and other shade-loving plants can produce a delicious bounty

Full Story

CONTAINER GARDENS Yes, You Can Grow a Plant In That

By Jess McBride

You can upcycle your old typewriter, paint cans, tires and many more things into places for your plants

Full Story

SPRING GARDENING How to Grow a Rose Garden in Pots

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Everything can come up roses, even without a plot of soil in sight. This step-by-step guide to growing roses in containers shows you how

Full Story

can blueberry grow normally without acidic soil?

Comments (2)

speedster1

garybeaumont_gw

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US