Blueberries are among the most loved plants for both experienced and novice gardeners. These plants have fairly manageable sizes and produce tasty and nutritious fruits, making them favorable. While blueberries are mostly easy to grow and manage, like every other plant, they require the right choice of fertilizers to thrive. With the perfect fertilizers, one can fulfill the specific requirements of blueberry plants and ensure the growth of healthy fruits.
Fertilizers for soil acidity
Before choosing a fertilizer for blueberry plants, one needs to understand what the plants need from the fertilizer. Blueberries thrive in acidic soils; so, for these plants to grow well, one needs to choose fertilizers that can lower the pH levels of the soil. Also, one must know that blueberry plants cannot handle a high amount of nitrogen, as they are highly sensitive to it. So, it is best to avoid fertilizers for blueberries that contain nitrates and chlorides.
1. Cottonseed meal
If one is planning to choose an organic fertilizer to increase soil acidity, cottonseed meal can be a good choice. This fertilizer is prepared from crushed cottonseed left behind after extracting its oil. It has also been considered a good way to supply nitrogen to the blueberries in the right amount without harming the plants. The right way to add cottonseed meal to the soil of blueberry plants is by evenly spreading it on the top layer, covering it with mulch, and then watering the area.
2. Ammonium sulfate
For the blueberry plants to thrive, it is important to ensure the soil maintains its acidity. One of the best ways to do so is using ammonium sulfate as a fertilizer. Further, since nitrates and chlorides are not a good option to provide nitrogen to blueberries, one can depend on sulfates. Ammonium sulfate can also provide nitrogen to blueberry plants without causing any damage. But one needs to note that ammonium sulfate is a chemical fertilizer and cannot be used if one is planning to grow blueberries organically. Also, when using ammonium sulfate, one needs to be careful not to add too much of it to the soil, as that can burn the roots of the plant.
3. Elemental sulfur
Like ammonium sulfate, elemental sulfur is also a fertilizer that can ensure that the soil maintains a low pH, meaning an acidic environment. One of the best things about elemental sulfur is that it works slowly. So, even if one accidentally adds too much fertilizer, the risk of burning the roots of the blueberry plants is much lower. Plus, since elemental sulfur works slowly, it also ensures nitrogen is provided to the plant in a gradual and safe manner. While it is crucial to add fertilizers that increase the acidity of the soil for the growth of blueberry plants, one first needs to ensure that the soil is not acidic before adding them. For this, one can purchase a kit to check the soil’s pH level. For growing blueberries, the pH level should be between 4 and 5.5. So, if the pH level is above 5.5, the soil is not acidic, and only then should an acidic fertilizer be added.
Fertilizers for nutrients
Along with increasing and maintaining the soil’s acidity, fertilizers that provide the right amount of nutrients to the blueberry plant must also be used.
1. Organic granular fertilizers
These fertilizers are available in granule forms rather than water-soluble forms. This means all one needs to do is spread the fertilizer granules on the soil around the blueberry plant. The granules will gradually decompose, adding nutrients to the soil, which the blueberry plant can absorb. The main advantage of organic granule fertilizers is that they ensure nitrogen does not become too overbearing for the blueberry plant. For the best results, one must make sure that they choose organic granular fertilizers with the appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – the three main nutrients needed by plants. One must also check if the fertilizer contains additional micronutrients that can benefit their blueberry plants.
2. Fish emulsion
Also known as fish fertilizer, fish emulsion is one of the best organic fertilizers for blueberries. While it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it can also provide secondary nutrients, like calcium, and help maintain the soil’s pH. This liquid fertilizer is prepared from leftovers from the fish oil and fish meal industries. That said, it is important to dilute fish emulsion to prevent salt injury to the plant. In addition to these fertilizers, one can consider aged manure from horses, cows, poultry, or goats as that can serve as a beneficial and organic fertilizer for blueberry plants.
