How Do Blueberries Grow?

First things first, there are a few different types of blueberries, but the most common varieties in the United States are the highbush blueberry and the lowbush blueberry, (there’s also the halfhigh and the rabbiteye varieties).

Highbush blueberries are larger and sometimes less sweet -- these are the blueberries most of us are used to eating. Lowbush blueberries are a little smaller, and they’re often called wild blueberries.

Yup, you guessed it, blueberries grow on bushes, not trees, and highbush blueberry plants are taller than lowbush. No matter the variety, blueberries want that sunshine and thrive with as little shade as possible. They’re also kind of high maintenance about soil pH and grow best in acidic soil.

Ready to dig in? Seriously, grab a shovel because you can totally grow blueberries at home. Here’s how to plant blueberries.

It’s possible to grow blueberries using the seeds in the fruit itself, but it takes a little work and a lot of luck. The easier route is to purchase viable seeds at a gardening store and aim to plant your seeds in April or May.

Next, find a sunny spot of land away from big trees and shade. You can use a raised bed or patio container if the soil in your yard isn’t ideal. Plant your seeds, add an organic fertilizer, and cover the area with about 2-4 inches of mulch to lock in moisture.

When it comes to growing blueberries, you need to have patience. It takes a looong time (like, we’re talking 10 years) for blueberry bushes to fully mature, though you’ll start reaping a full bush of berries around year two or three.

Patience not really your thing? Get your blueberry fix now and taste the benefits of blueberries with the Daily Harvest Blueberry + Lemon Oat Bowl.

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Important Notes: Unless otherwise noted, nutrition information is sourced from USDA FoodData Central and reflects the reference amount customarily consumed. These are standardized servings and not necessarily the amount present in the highlighted Daily Harvest recipes. Nutrition information for Daily Harvest products can be found on packages and under "Nutrition Facts" for each product at "dailyharvest.com". Vitamin and mineral functions are sourced from Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center.