Blueberries have become one of the most popular fruits. Growing a few bushes at home is possible if you follow the advice of an expert and start right from the beginning.

“Blueberries are very productive after only a few years and are not difficult to grow,” Andy Qualls said.

Qualls works for Muskogee County Conservation District; and, his family grows more than 2,000 blueberry plants on land south of Muskogee.

They sell the fruit wholesale only to Arnold’s in Muskogee and Conrad Farms in Bixby from mid-June to August.

“We have had the most success with Northern Highbush and Southern Rabbiteye varieties,” Qualls said. “A home gardener who wants enough blueberries to eat and some to freeze or make into jam will want three plants of each variety."

Qualls generously shared tips from his 25 years of experience. The three requirements for growing blueberries are:

1) Site selection.

2) Soil acidity.

3) Soil moisture and drainage.

Site selection — Fruit production of up to a gallon or more per bush on a five-year-old plant can be expected if plants are in full sun. Part sun works well for the plants but fruit will be slightly reduced.

Light soil is ideal; heavier soil or sandy soil must be amended with plenty of Sphagnum peat moss and small chip Pine bark.

Raised beds where water never stands are ideal sites. Airflow is necessary so select a site where structures, solid fences and other plantings do not block air.

Dig a planting hole 3 feet across and 8 inches deep. Fill the hole with well-mixed one-third Sphagnum peat, one-third Pine bark chips and one-third soil. Mulch the planting area with 3 inches of Pine bark (or other non-packing mulch) to control weeds and prevent drying. Cottonseed meal may be mixed with soil mixture or mulch to provide slow release nutrients to the plant.

Soil acidity required by blueberries is pH 4.5 to 4.8. Symptoms of pH being too high include yellow streaks on the leaves. A quick fix is a small amount of Aluminum Sulfate around the plants. Chelated iron or leaf feeding with acidic, water-soluble fertilizer plus iron can also help.

The water used on the plants can significantly affect soil acidity and has to be monitored.