Hi guys, I’m still overthinking my blueberry location choice. I thought they would flourish in full sun, but a friend mentioned that her (unknown cultivar) blueberries do better in shade than full sun. I have a shady spot I could put them in but it’s pretty dang shady. Thoughts?
Full sun. They just have shallow root systems and need consistent moisture, that’s probably what they’re seeing and is misattributing it
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Based on my experience experience with northern highbush varieties they do not like “full sun”! Now full sun in the northern/northeastern states is a whole lot different than in the panhandle of Texas where we are….the sun angle and uv are much stronger and longer as you move more southward. I would definitely give them filter sunlight or half day sun at a minimum.
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@Phlogopite @Natdcfruit Guys these are opposing opinions XD Is one or both of these a highbush blueberry?
They are both northern highbush variety. Does your summer reach and go above 90f for the majority of the summer? Which part of the U.S are you located in? They can survive in full sun but won’t thrive n flourish depending on the weather during the summer months.
Okay, I thought so but lost my confidence.
I’m in NE Ohio, so we do have 90f days, but I’m not sure I’d say majority of the summer; I’d have to look at our recent previous summers. Where I’m currently thinking of putting them would get pretty constant sun exposure, but I could put them down by the grapes, which will likely get at least a little shade if not more than I wanted. I’m too indecisive and too new to this!
I imagine full sun means slightly different things depending on our locations. Here is what OSU publishes
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If you located in NE Ohio then an almost all day sun location would be ok! It’s really all depend on the microclimate in your yard. A little shade or filter sunlight in the day would be ideal, just don’t put it where it gets too much shade because your plant structure would get tall n lanky and the potential fruit buds would be way less than if it was in a good sunny location. Also remember that sunlight is what will really sweeten up those berries but also if it’s too much sunlight then that would also really shrivel up your berries fast Haa.
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Just a thought to add- I’m in Maryland and moved mine from afternoon sun to full sun, and they’re SO much happier. My too-much-sun-contingency plan is to put shade cloth on the netting structure if I start seeing issues (which I am expecting come July and august). So, you can always modify the amount of sun.
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Super good point here - if there’s too much sun I can just shade it myself! Much easier than bringing the sun to a shady spot, methinks! Thanks!
Here’s the location I’m thinking so far:
I’m just really worried they’ll get too big for the space…don’t mind the grape vine and the rhubarb spaced between the two blueberries (by the trellis…es? Trelli?)
Pull it away from the house, at least 7ft and give them each 10ft between each plant. Trust me, when they get big, they’ll get BIG. I wouldn’t do grapes so close by because they get big too. Give each grape at least 10 ft between other plants as well.
Reason why is because the more space you give them, the bigger they seem to grow. And you wanna be able to reach all around your bush and not just to one side. Mine are at least 10 years old and some are 5ft in diameter. You want a little bit of room to walk between them. Plus air flow helps to keep the diseases off
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Full sun in the midwest with summer temps in the mid 90s once in a while high 90s. They grow great for me. I have high and low bush. I did have one, dont known the variety, that refused to flower. It was at the very end with not much sun. However the Chandlers in the same column did better. Sweet Heart blueberry is my favorite as far as taste and easier to grow for my environment.
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I Don’t have space (7k lot that’s 1/3 house) and so I plant everything close. Mine are all 3-3.5’ apart. I think pruning is key to all small lot plantings. It’s just a very different approach and management than if you have the luxury of even 1/4 acre. If it were me, I would be concerned about the grape in there, but if it’s your only space, then I would get the grape against the house and stagger and pull the blueberries out closer to the grass and move the right one to the right corner. My beds are 3’ deep.
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Oh- and per my small lot mentality- I would put the rhubarb closer to the grass in front of the grape since that is prime real estate that will be bare.
Per some comments in another thread, consider adding strawberries around the blueberries- I did that with leftover bareroots. Or maybe lowscape aronia if you have any interest in growing chokeberry. Or seed some marigold/pick up cheap from garden center now…maybe add some echinacea (stays well contained) behind the blueberries closer to the house. Lots of gaps in there for flowers at least this year and next. I also seeded chives and moved a bunch of oregano around the base of my grape to act as a ground cover.
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@Melon @Eme Fear not about the grape, that will be moved to its own area as soon as I (e.g. my husband) can get the real trellis in. The blueberries though, I think I’m going to move to the front yard so they get more space and sun and can max out their growth. If they survive, I might add two small (e.g. prune them small) bushes in the back where the current ones are right now, but I can’t get that ahead of myself. I forgot that I’m surrounded by clay and need to do a lot of soil mitigation and pH mitigation asap and need to stay on top of it…maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones but I’m getting really pessimistic about their survival at this point.
Anyway, I got a strawberry today, just a little one, but I want to get more, and I’ll put those wherever the ground is clear and hope for the best there too (:
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I think it’s all going to do great. Eventually. You try, you move things that don’t work, add, subtract as you fall in love with new things…you can do it! Nothing can stop a mom determined not to rely on million dollar grocery berries to feed their little ones! And maybe have enough to eat a few yourself?
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Strawberries like slightly acidic soil as well so they’ll do great close to your blueberries