While wild forest blueberries also bear fruit on very nutrient-poor moorland soils in summer, cultivated blueberries need a little more energy to grow. They can only bring high yields with regular fertilization.

The right times to fertilize the blueberries

When fertilizing cultivated blueberries in the garden, the fertilization is done with a view to two different purposes, the growth of the shrubs and the sufficient energy supply for an abundant fruiting on the branches. The first fertilization of the year should therefore take place in April to enable the blueberries in the garden or in the pot to optimally grow new shoots. You should give the plants the second dose of fertilizer towards the end of May at the earliest, when the branches are already beginning to bear fruit. After applying fertilizer, it is always important to flush with enough irrigation water so that the sensitive roots of the blueberries that are close to the ground are not damaged by too high a concentration of fertilizer.

Be careful with calcareous fertilizers

The choice of fertilizer for blueberries should definitely take into account the soil needs of the plants. The acidic environment of the soil at the site with its pH value between 4.0 and 5.0 must not be influenced too much by the fertilizer applied. In addition to special preparations for blueberries, specialist shops also have low-lime fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas. However, if you use them just before or during the harvest season, you must clarify whether these flower fertilizers contain ingredients that are harmful to consumption.

Natural materials for fertilizing blueberries

Manure and ordinary compost are generally not suitable for fertilizing cultivated blueberries because they contain too much lime. If you do not want to fertilize your blueberries with artificial nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate, you can also use more acidic natural fertilizers. This includes the following materials in particular:

  • composted pine and spruce needles
  • chopped softwood
  • Mulch (€239.00) made from pieces of bark
  • Cedar and cypress pruning

Since these natural materials only decompose relatively slowly, they can be applied to the soil around the blueberry plants and carefully worked in almost all year round.

tips and tricks

When fertilizing with highly concentrated artificial fertilizers, it is always better to divide the fertilizer doses into small weekly portions, as this can prevent over-fertilization and damage to the plants.

WK

Category:

Vegetable garden