Yes, you can grow blueberries in your Los Angeles garden.
I've been growing blueberries for 5 years now (OK, 6 years, but the first plants died since I didn't know what I was doing:o((
My first blueberry harvest of 2010
There is nothing more delicious than freshly picked blueberries that you grow in your own garden. I grow my blueberries in recycled half barrels available at most big box home improvement stores.
Growing blueberries in my Los Angeles garden in half barrels. The net is to keep out the mocking birds who are blueberry gluttons.
This photo is from the Los Angeles Arboretum Garden Show and shows blueberries being grown in galvenized trash cans. Clever!
Blueberries are easy to grow if you follow these steps:
- Choose the right plants for your climate. I grow Southern Highbush variety blueberries in my Pasadena garden, which are suited for areas with warmer climates and less winter chilling hours like most of Southern California.
- Plant blueberries in acidic well drained soil. If you don't live in an area that has naturally acidic soil you may have better luck planting them in large containers filled with planting soil for acidic plants like azaleas & camellias. I use an organic mix from Armstrong Nursery.
- Make sure they get plenty of sun.
- Make sure they are watered regularly.
- Fertilize with organic fertilizer. I throw organic coffee grounds in the planters a couple times per week. That's the only fertilizer I use and it has worked great so far. Regular coffee grounds would probably work fine, too.
- Protect the plants from birds. One hungry bird can denude a loaded blueberry plant in an hour!
I have never had a need to spray my plants and haven't had any problems with insects or other pests (other than the birds and my neighbor's kids:o)
I have 3 blueberry plants that keep my husband and I in fresh blueberries for a few weeks each year. I was hoping to have enough blueberries to share with the neighbors this year, but a late frost knocked the buds off one of the plants, so my harvest has been cut by 1/3.
After this growning season, we are going to move the plants to a sunnier spot and maybe add another plant or two. After all, you can never have too many fresh blueberries to eat or share!
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2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
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Hi Michelle...thanks for the great tips, I have two healthy Blueberry Plants in my Garden, I added compost this Spring, loads of Flowers and fruit appearing, we're a little behind LA with Heat, I will try the Coffee Grounds.
Cheers, Plus Blueberry are very good for you enjoy yours with Breakfast.
Fred: Your climate should be perfect for growing blueberries! Enjoy!
Michelle,
Great tips for growing in a small area. Have you seen the Topsy Turvey growing devices? Not sure if they have one for blueberries.
How nice -- I'm a huge blueberry fan! Hey, are you going to the Rain Camp in Los Angeles this weekend?
Richard: I've seen those topsy turvy things for tomatoes, but since blueberries are a perennial, I'm not sure if they would work.
Melanie: Yes! I will be at RainCamp. I hope we'll be able to meet there.
Thank you so much for your post on this. I tried growing blueberries a few times a few years back, and had not success. I realize now that I should have tried them in barrels instead. Good tip on the coffee grounds too.