Growing Blueberries in Zone 6: A Complete Guide

Blueberries are known for their health benefits to the body. They fit in well in the home garden and have great yields.

Blueberries make a lovely edible landscaping plant and have pretty red and purple foliage in fall.

In this article, I will discuss everything that you need to know about growing blueberries in Zone 6.

Blueberries can be a bit tricky to grow. You need to ensure that the soil is acidic and has a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Test your soil your garden soil and if it’s not ideal, you can use well-rotted compost and peat moss. Elemental sulfur will add acidity if needed. Then ensure you keep the soil moist throughout, and also, plant them in a sunny location.

There are many things to learn when it comes to growing blueberries. This article will address all the stages of planting from transplants, caring for the plant, and all the way to fruiting.

Varieties

There is quite a number of blueberry varieties or cultivars that can grow in different zones and conditions. Highbush varieties grow best in Zone 6.

They are categorized further into:

• Southern highbush

• Northern highbush

• Lowbush

• Rabbiteye

Picking blueberries is great family fun! My friend Lisa’s grandson had a blast. Photo by Ame Vanorio

Northern Highbush Cultivars

Northern highbush blueberries are vigorous and high-yielding. They grow to 5 – 7 feet in their height.

Patriot

My favorite is Patriot. It is a very reliable standard that does well in our zone. It is upright, open-spreading, and very productive. The fruits are large, sweet, firm, and a beautiful rich blue. They do grow more slowly than Duke.

Patriot is tolerant of heavier clay soils and has some Phytophthora root rot resistance. Ripens late June into early July.

Duke

I like Duke but in talking with garden friends it can be location-specific. The berries are firm, medium-size, and sweet. Late-blooming; very productive with yields up to ten pounds per mature plant. Ripens early in June.

Self-pollinating but will benefit from a friend of a different variety such as Elliot.

Elliot

Elliot has done well for me. It ripens late in late July and has a tart flavor. Good for jam and pie. A trick with Elliot is to give them plenty of time on the plant to fully ripen.

Southern Highbush Cultivars

The Southern highbush is suited for USDA zones 8b – 9a and do not grow as well in Zone 6.

Rabbiteye Blueberries

This variety does not do as well in zone 6 and is most suitable for USDA zones 7 – 9. They bloom one to two weeks prior to Highbush varieties and tend to be more prone to frost damage.

Those in Zone 6B may do well but you should monitor them in the spring and cover them with garden fabric if the temperature drops below 40 at night.

The varieties grow to 6 – 10 feet tall and are native to the Southeastern United States.

Lowbush Blueberries

They thrive in USDA zones 3 – 7 and are native to the northeast and upper midwest. Overall they do not grow well in Zone 6 but since they are small many cultivars are promoted as potted plants. They will do well on a patio where you can move them to a cooler spot if needed.

Lowbush is shorter than other varieties. They grow to a height of less than 1.5 feet. The Lowbush blueberries need little pruning as compared to other varieties.

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Planting

When planting blueberries in zone 6, there are a number of things you should consider. Variety, site selection, and amending soil are all important steps.

Most blueberries are purchased from nurseries as either bare root or potted plants. Getting two-year-old plants will establish and produce faster.

Pollination

Some varieties of blueberries are self-pollinating and some need cross-pollination. You will want to check out the different blueberry varieties to see which they are.

Blueberry pollen is heavy and sticky so does not pollinate by the wind.

Bees are great pollinators for blueberries. You can read our guide to raising bees to learn more about them.

Your native bumblebees and carpenter bees will also gladly pollinate blueberries.

Site Selection and Preparation

Even before planting, it is important to ensure that the right conditions are met for the blueberries to thrive. All the blueberry varieties need acidic soil of pH between 4.0 – 5.0, and well-drained and well-worked soil.

It’s very important to do a soil test where you are going to plant blueberries.

Typically our soil in Zone 6 is slightly acidic but not as low as the plant desires. In Kentucky, we often have heavy clay with a lot of limestone in the soil. That needs amending to make the blueberry plant happy.

Blueberries love soil with lots of organic matter. Plan on adding lots of well-rotted compost. Check out our guide to composting.

Depending on your soil test you are going to need to amend your soil. Some good ways to do that are elemental garden sulfur which is fast-acting. Other ways that will condition the soil over time are peat moss, cottonseed meal, pine sawdust, and mulching with pine needles.

The University of Kentucky recommends two pounds of elemental sulfur per one hundred square feet.

In addition to that, you need to choose a sunny location where there are no trees that would otherwise hinder the sun or drive moisture from the soil. If your land is sloped plant blueberries near the top or on the ridge.

Highbush blueberries do not need swampy or wet areas to thrive. They actually need well-drained soil.

One of my Patriots at only a few years old and covered in berries. Photo by Ame Vanorio

How Deep Should I Plant My Blueberries?

Blueberry roots grow slowly but appreciate nice loose soil and a deep hole. A study at the University of Kentucky showed that plants in holes at least eighteen inches diameter and twenty-four inches deep produced better than those that were grown in holes twenty-four inches diameter and fifteen inches deep.

So dig a nice deep hole and fill it back in with a mix of soil, peat moss, well-rotted compost, and any amendments you need. Plant them at the same level they came in from the nursery.

Timing

Many people ask “what month do you plant blueberries?” I would recommend planting them in spring after the frost. They need time to get established. If you plant them in the fall the ground may get too cold before they become established and you can lose the plants.

Ways to Plant Blueberries

You can plant the blueberries directly in your garden if the soil is good and in the right conditions. Another way to plant them is using patio containers or raised beds if your garden soil is not ideal. That way, you may opt to use a potting mix that is suitable for blueberries.

Mature blueberry plant. Photo by Ame vanorio

Spacing

Spacing the blueberries would depend a lot on the variety. This is because, some grow taller than others, and some require pruning more than others. Plant Northern Highbush varieties 10 – 12 ft apart, 4 – 5 ft between plants.

Starting the Seed

I personally don’t recommend it, but you can grow blueberries directly from the seed. When starting the seed, you need to follow some conditions to ensure the seed sprout and grows well.

It is also worth noting, blueberry seeds can take a long time to germinate, between 6 – 12 weeks.

For the best results, you need to start the seed inside late in the winter or early spring. Blueberry seeds require stratification.

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Caring

Caring for blueberries is essential for productivity. You need to ensure that the blueberries get the right treatment and conditions to thrive. This includes:

Watering

Blueberries have roots that are sensitive to the fluctuation in soil moisture. They actually lack fine root hairs so don’t absorb water as efficiently as other plants.

Blueberries are often ripening when we have the least amount of water.

Irrigation works well with blueberries. A soaker hose or trickle system will be most efficient.

Fertilization

Do not fertilize plants in their first growing spring. Allow them time for their roots to become established.

In future seasons, fertilize in spring with an organic fertilizer made for acidic plants. I typically folate spray the bush after it is done producing berries with fish emulsion.

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Pruning

It is recommended to prune the mature blueberry bushes on an annual basis. This is important to ensure that they do not become overgrown and to be productive.

Winter Protection

Winter can hit the blueberry hard if you don’t prepare them for the season. The conditions that make the blueberries blossom may make them unable to withstand changes in conditions.

Don’t fertilize them in the fall because that will produce young growth that will be sensitive to the cold.

Mulch

It is important to keep the weeds off for blueberries to thrive. Most blueberry growers apply nonchemical weed management best practices such as pulling the weeds out, and use of landscape fabric.

Mulch is a great organic weed barrier and also helps to conserve water. Sawdust, wood chips, pine needles, ground corn cobs, or straw are all easy to find in Zone 6.

Keep mulch about three inches away from the plant's stem and apply it in a three-foot circle.

Problems

Blueberries are prone to several attacks from pests and diseases. Some of the blueberry bush diseases include the bacterial canker, Alternaria fruit, root rot, crown gall, botrytis blight, silver leaf, and mummy berry among other diseases.

You can control most of these diseases by pruning to remove affected parts, ensuring the right conditions are met for each season, and using recommended chemical applications.

For the pests such as birds, netting is a proven solution to prevent your berries.

Mummy Berry

Resembles frost damage that causes the young shoots and leaves to wilt, turn brown, and fall from the plant. Developing blueberries shrivel up and look like mummies.

More common in wet summers, mummy berry can overwinter. Practice good sanitation by raking up leaves in the fall and sticking them in a hot compost. Also, remove infected berries.

Duke and Elliot are both resistant varieties as well as Bluejay and Northblue.

Phytophthora Root Rot

This can be a problem in Zone 6 and I had this be an issue on my Kentucky farm due I believe to not having my soil light enough. My Patriots which have shown resistance do better than others.

Phytophthora root rot is a water fungus that infects plants in poorly drained and heavy soils. The roots turn ugly black and the leaves turn light red and fall off.

Good management is key. Creating well-drained soil, using raised beds or pots can help.

Phomopsis Twig Blight & Stem Canker of Blueberry are both on the rise in Kentucky and other states in the Ohio River Valley as they like warm humid summers. Causes flower drop and reddish-brown lesions on the twigs. Check your pH and make sure you are in a good range.

Wildlife

Several species of wildlife may express unwanted interest in your young fruit plants.

Fencing is typically the best option. A heavyweight netting works well for squirrels and birds.

You can check out our White-Tailed Deer article for specific advice on keeping deer from the garden.

Companion Planting

You can plant blueberries along with plants that can thrive in acidic soil conditions. The good ones are those that attract pollinators and thus ensuring better yield. These include flowers or herbs such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and lilacs.

Don’t plant blueberries in the vegetable garden as their soil needs are far different.

Harvesting and Storing

Berries are delicate and can go bad within a short time. Therefore, after harvesting, place them in the refrigerator immediately. They will last 7 – 10 days in the refrigerator.

Starting from seed is not the easiest way to grow them but if you wish to try. Remove the seeds and dry on a thin layer for about 3 days while stirring to ensure all the seeds dry evenly. Place dried seeds in a dry and cool location. Before planting it is recommendable to scarify them by placing them in a damp paper towel, then putting them in the freezer to stay for 90 days.

Uses of Blueberries

Blueberries have several uses. They have so many nutritional benefits that include richness in proteins, fats, fiber, carbohydrates, potassium, and vitamins C and E.

Medicinal Use – the medicinal properties of blueberries make them useful as anti-spasmodic or as a muscle relaxant among other uses.

My son and (future) daughter in law holding buckets of fresh picked berries. Photo by Ame Vanorio

Cooking – Apart from eating the berries raw, you can also add them to fruit salads, muffins, waffles, ice cream, cheesecake, desserts, and cakes among other snacks.

My son loved to run to the blueberry patch summer mornings and pick a handful for his breakfast cereal.

Blueberries make a wonderful jam and you can also preserve them for tarts.

Take Away

Yes, blueberries have some specific growing needs. But by getting them off to a good start you will have many years of fresh blueberries each summer.

Author Ame Vanorio has 25+ years gardening and farming organically in USDA Zone 6. Blueberries are one of her favorite things to grow and eat!