Cultivated blueberries can produce good yields for up to 30 years in the same location with appropriate fertilization, without necessarily having to be transplanted during this time.
When is the best time to transplant blueberries?
Blueberries can be transplanted in late summer after harvest time or in early spring before the shoots emerge. Ensure adequate irrigation and acidic soil with a pH of 4.0 to 5.0.
The right time for transplanting
For most fruit trees and also berry bushes, periods with relatively pronounced sap dormancy are ideal for transplanting. For blueberries, this applies to the period following the harvest season in late summer, when the leaves slowly begin to fall off and there are no longer any significant dry phases. If transplanted in autumn, the plants can root in the new location in the same year and thus produce good yields for berry picking again the following year. However, if necessary and timely, it is also possible to move the blueberry bushes in early spring when the new shoots of the blueberries have not yet sprouted.
Transplanting blueberries outdoors
When transplanting blueberries outdoors, pay attention to the following things:
- choosing a suitable time
- sufficient watering at the new location
- appropriate soil preparation for the special needs of cultivated blueberries
In spring and autumn, times with moderate weather should be chosen for transplanting in order to improve the chances of growth after transplanting. Rainy weather is more suitable for this than sunshine, which is more pleasant for the gardener. In the case of larger bushes, pruning may also be necessary in order to relieve the sap supply of the bushes until they have completely rooted. It is important to remember that the new location of your blueberry bushes must also have an acidic soil environment with a pH value of 4.0 to 5.0. This can be achieved artificially with rhododendron and azalea soil from the trade.
Transplanting blueberries in pots
Even with blueberries in pots, the roots grow wider rather than deep. Therefore, the planter must also be sufficiently large on the balcony or terrace. Blueberries that are grown in pots that are too small can sometimes show stunted growth and other deficiency symptoms. Therefore, adjust the pot size at regular intervals to the growing size of the blueberry bushes.
Tips & Tricks
When transplanting, the plants can be fertilized with a lime-free long-term fertilizer, which is simply mixed with the new plant substrate.