The right times to fertilize the blueberries
When fertilizing cultivated blueberries in the garden, the fertilization is carried out for two different purposes, the growth of the bushes and the sufficient energy supply for an abundant fruit stock on the branches. The first fertilization of the year should therefore be carried out in April in order to enable the blueberries in the garden or in the pot to optimally grow the new shoots. The second application of fertilizer should be given to the plants towards the end of May at the earliest, when fruits are already showing on the branches. After a fertilizer application, it is always important to wash it thoroughly with enough irrigation water so that the sensitive roots of the blueberries that are close to the ground are not damaged by an excessive concentration of fertilizer.
also read
- Hibernate blueberries in the garden
- Transplant blueberries in the garden
- Proper care for blueberries in the garden
Be careful with calcareous fertilizers
The selection of fertilizer for blueberries should definitely take into account the soil needs of the plants. The acidic environment of the soil at the site with its pH value between 4.0 and 5.0 must not be influenced too much by the fertilizer applied. In addition to special preparations for blueberries, specialist shops also have low-lime fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas. If you use them just before or during the harvest time, you must clarify whether these flower fertilizers contain any ingredients that are harmful to consumption.
Natural materials for fertilizing blueberries
Manure and ordinary compost are generally unsuitable for fertilizing cultivated blueberries because they contain too high a proportion of lime. If you do not want to fertilize your blueberries with artificial nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate, you can also use more acidic natural fertilizers. These include the following materials in particular:
- composted fir and spruce needles
- chopped softwood
- Mulch (€ 213.00 at Amazon *) from pieces of bark
- Cedar and cypress cut
Since these natural materials only decompose relatively slowly, they can be applied to the ground around the blueberry plants almost all year round and carefully worked into them.
Tips & Tricks
When fertilizing with highly concentrated artificial fertilizers, it is always better to divide the fertilizers into small weekly portions, as this can prevent over-fertilization and damage to the plants.
WK
