Around 2009 I planted 8 blueberry plants. They grew pretty good for a number of years, then they started to die after about 6 or 7 years. One died over the winter. I got 2-1/2 blueberry plants left. The ones left look kind of craggy, but they are leafing and set fruit. The 1/2 plant has died back except for 1 main cane from the soil.
How long do blueberries last before they die?
When I planted them, I amended the soil to be acid like they prefer. But that was it I never revisited, I would only water once in a while if dry.
Blueberries can last many decades but need to be renewed periodically. When they get craggy or stop producing, they are usually renewed by pruning out the older canes. In extreme cases, you can cut them completely to the ground and they will send up new productive canes. You will lose one year of production, but they should be good for another 5-7 years.
If they are dying, then there may be an issue with diseases or soil conditions. Any signs of chlorosis?
The headlines today are sorely tempting my wit, tendency to dad jokes, what-have-you. Most of my first thoughts are worthy of avoiding, at least in mixed company, but I can’t resist them all, so…
Q: How long do blueberries last before they die?
A: Their entire lives.
Our old Blueberry Farm on the south of town has 3 paddocks planted in 1956 still producing. A number of other fields have been redone into other varieties. Either for differing markets or to try mechanical harvesting.
Blueberries are among the oldest known living plants. I recall an article from about 30 years ago documenting one plant which was estimated to be over 10,000 years old. It grew new shoots from the root clump on a regular basis replacing any stems that died.
If blueberries are dying, look for either a soil problem or a climate problem. For example, rabbiteye types are a far better choice here in Tennessee than highbush or other northern varieties.
northwoods, not rings like a tree. Rings of consecutive growth of the clump. Blueberries grow underground rhizomes spreading and sprouting over very long time periods.
Other varieties like to grow like trees. I personally prefer the single trunk tree type ones because i love the look of my “blueberry bonsai trees”
Mine are over 10 years old now. I got them when they were about 3 years old, about a year before i met my partner and we’ve been together for 9 years now. They’re still producing like crazy (check the blueberry thread for current photos) but i fertilize multiple times a year. One of my blueberry tree’s trunk is almost 4 inches in diameter. The others grow like bushes as stated by fusion_power. My pink popcorn has over 30 canes and i need to actually put that one in ground to let it spread more. Pink popcorn likes to grow rhizome style too. Bluejay and Jersey are tree style with next to no new sprouts yearly ever since i got them.
I ran across the former owner of the old Blueberry farm and asked him what variety was. They are the old Dixi variety. A northern highbush type. Said that is why they now miss crops. Though this year was a bumper crop.
Shows you how much climate has changed. We used to get 1000 hours every year.
Here on Long Island we have huge understories in parks that are all lowbush and highbush blueberries. Some of which have to be from the 50s-60s or even earlier. One particular patch my wife and I pick from every year have literal blueberry trees which average at 10-15 feet tall each! I have to pull the branch down for her to pick! They have to be very old growing in an understory and to be that tall! So I could definitely see a blueberry living for very very long as long as the soil and climates right
