I planted my blueberries in 3 different plots. I tried 3 different soil mixes as part of my gardening experiment to see if one worked better than the other. Before I started I did a lot of YouTube video watching, which can be confusing for sure, but I finally made my decision.
The chart below shows the 3 phases I went through:
Using an existing bed.
We had a metal, oval watering trough, like you would use to feed livestock. We had grown Sunflowers in it for a few years.
Since we already had it I figured I would repurpose it for blueberries, so I pulled out the remnants of the sunflowers, added some fresh dirt, acidifier, mixed it all together and topped it with pine bark mulch.
Into this bed I planted the Sweetheart and Bluecrop plants and later an Ever-bearing strawberry.
I had pruned these in the Fall but I think that was a mistake as they didn’t recover very well. This may be a combination of a harsh prune and not the best planting environment for them.
I added some chive and a strawberry this past spring. They are doing great.
Planting in a round planter.
I bought a 20″ round plastic planter. There was no planting medium so I used potting soil, perlite, acidifier, and pine bark mulch all mixed together.
Elliott seemed to do well going into the Fall, but never did really grow much beyond what you see here. It may have been due to the fact that it was planted late in the year and the soil mix was not the best for blueberries.
I also pruned it in the Fall and like Sweetheart and Bluecrop, it may have been too much for Elliott to handle.
With just the dirt and pine bark mulch there wasn’t really anything for the roots to grow and expand into and they just kind of rotted away.
Planting in a new raised bed.
The 3rd bed was fresh everything. A new 3′ x 4′ metal raised bed, potting soil, peat moss, perlite and acidifier. I mixed the planting medium in a wheelbarrow to get a good mix then moved it this into the bed.
I mixed 2-parts potting soil to 1-part peat moss, 1/2 pound of Perlite and 2 cups of acidifier. I then covered the bed with Pine Bark Mulch. (See below for what I used)
I did this in the Fall of 2023 and let it sit until Spring of 2024.
Since this was an ‘all new’ environment, that hopefully over-wintered well, I bought 2 new plants in 2024: a Patriot and a Duke.
They have taken well to their home. I took down the lattice, I think it was blocking too much sun and the air flow.
I replaced it with a more open-mesh plastic fence.
These plants have been growing like crazy, and I can see them better.
In conclusion, the New Raised Bed (column 3) was the best. The planting medium worked the best, the plants are thriving and look great. So I would recommend a mixture of potting soil, peat moss, perlite and acidifier to get your garden off to a great start and a good layer of Pine Bark mulch once the plants are in. Just check the pH occasionally and adjust it as needed.
