As members of the heather family, they hate lime and chalk, and will die slowly if you plant them in those soils!<\/p>
![\"Blueberry](\"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/blueberry.webp\")
Your local soil pH is down to chance.
A cheap pH testing kit, sold at any garden centre, will tell you what you have: asking a neighbour who gardens works too.<\/p>
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- If you happen to have soil with the right pH naturally, that\u2019s great.<\/li>\n
- If it is a tad too high, between pH 5.5 and 7.0, you replace the soil to a depth of 3 feet with acidic peat, ericaceous compost, and some leaf mould and\/or old woodchips (which are nutritious, spongy, and mildly acidic as they decompose).<\/li>\n
- If your pH is over 7.0, don\u2019t bother trying to change it. Grow your blueberries in pots (see below).<\/li>\n
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Growing Blueberries in Pots & Containers <\/h3>
If your garden is on alkaline ground (over pH 7.0), typically where chalk or sandstone are prevalent, then you should grow your blueberries in containers. <\/p>
Blueberries have good ornamental value, with profuse flowers and beautiful autumn colour. Plant them in barrels, tubs or large pots to give them room to grow (a mature blueberry plant in open ground can easily reach over 6 feet) and prevent them from drying out easily. Small pots will work, but they give small plants that need constant watering.<\/p>
Always use an acidic (ericaceous) compost: many garden centres sell potting mixes specifically for blueberries, and they will do well in pure moss peat. <\/p>
Water the plants with rainwater if possible, as it is more acidic than tap water, but the important thing is to not allow them to dry out \u2013 you can\u2019t realistically water potted blueberries too much! In a really hot summer, if your plants are in full sun and the pot is not well insulated from the heat, you may need to water them twice a day.
A saucer under the pot will make your life easier, and it will reduce the amount of nutrients that get flushed away. In winter, however, you must remember to remove the saucer to stop the pot getting waterlogged.<\/p>When pot grown blueberries are in full growth, feed them with an ericaceous plant feed<\/strong> every 3 weeks or so \u2013 remember that \u201cnormal\u201d plant food is bad for them.<\/p>
As your blueberries grow larger, they may need potting on into bigger containers at the end of autumn, or in early spring.<\/p>
Remember to net your plants as soon as the flowers start to fade, otherwise the birds will get the fruit first. <\/p>
Planting Several Blueberries in one Container<\/h4>