Learning how to grow blueberries is fairly easy. There are several varieties that are native to the US. With the right pruning methods and care, you can successfully plant blueberries in your own backyard. In no time, your very own blueberry bush will flourish with baskets full of sweet fruits which are favored for jams, pies and snacking.

Here is a moderately easy step-by-step guide on how to grow blueberries;

Step 1 - Check with your state experiment station for the best blueberry type recommendations. One of the most favored is bluecrop. It is a mid-season bloomer that produces large-sized light blueberries. They're drought-resistant and hardy - making them suitable for dryer locations.

Step 2 - Choose a suitable location. Keep in mind that to grow blueberries effectively, they need acid soil having high moisture retention properties. This is why the pH value of the soil is important. It should fall between 5 to 6 pH levels. Although they work best in sunny areas, blueberries can also thrive in places with partial shade.

Step 3 - The best time to grow blueberries are in the spring or fall seasons when the soil is already workable. The spacing should be around 4 feet apart and about an inch deep in the soil as compared to the time they were in the nursery.

For an average-sized family, you need to plant around 4 to 6 blueberry buses to enjoy fruits throughout the season. You can even leave some for freezing and canning.

Step 4 - In early spring or late winter, fertilize the blueberry bushes. After a month, grow will begin to appear. If you planted your bushes in sandy soil, fertilizer should again be applied a month later subsequent to the first spring growth.

Step 5 - In early summer, mulch with well-rotted manure or compost, leafmold and pear. To protect your blueberries from the birds, put some netting over them.

Step 6 - Subsequent to the initial 3 years of growth during the winter, prune your blueberry bushes. Keep in mind that the fruit can grow on the wood from last year. You need to cut one to two amongst the oldest shoots to a strong new shoot. This can promote new growth that can bear fruit the next year.

To grow blueberries, it is important to grow two or more other types for pollination. Also remember that since blueberries prefer acid soil, they don't grow well in alkaline soil. However, they can also grow in containers. Just fill the containers with peat-based compost or acid. Never add lime.

If you see yellow mottling patches appearing on the blueberry bushes and you notice that there is poor growth, this means, you need to acidify its soil. You can do this by adding peat moss and by applying sulfur iron chelates into the soil.