How to grow Blueberries in SW Florida.
- Grow in a large pot with peat moss, pine bark, and perlite —OR— amend the soil with 8 inches of AGED pine bark. The goal is to get the pH to 4.5 to 5.5. Lee County Extension office does FREE pH testing once a week.
- Purchase a low chill variety (low chill = hours required below 45ยบ).
- Purchase two varieties that cross pollinate for larger crops.
- Protect them from freezes after flowering.
- One blueberry can require from 1/2 to 2 gallons of water a day.
- Birds also love blueberries so remember your netting.
- Fertilize with 12-4-8 plus magnesium (Mg).
- As home gardeners, our only disease control is using copper fungicide.
- As home gardeners, our pest control for sucking insects is liquid dish soap and horticultural oil.
- For more reading go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_blueberry
