Blueberries can be planted in a field or in pots. If they are planted in the field, the typical amount is between 4000 – 5000 plants per hectare. The soil must be well drained and acidic. It is good practice to plant on ridges to ensure good drainage. If possible, plants should be planted in a North/South direction. They should be planted with a minimum spacing of 90cm and 2,8m between the rows. The space between the rows is dependent on the size of the tractor or other implements that will be used. The tractor tyres must not drive on the side of the ridge so as creating a wall as this will inhibit drainage. As blueberries have a shallow root system, they cannot compete with weeds. The ridges should be covered with weed mats or mulched to reduce the weeds. Regular removal of weeds is required. Drip irrigation is recommended that can be moved as the plant grows
If plants are planted in pots, ensure you use an acidic medium and pots of at least 20L. The medium must not have any dust in it as this will eventually create a mud layer at the bottom of your container into which the roots won’t grow. Ensure that the holes at the bottom of the bag or pot are clear from the ground and drain when plants are watered. You can start with a high density of plants of about 8000-10000 plants per hectare and spread them out as they grow. This way you don’t need as much infrastructure in terms of net or tunnels right at the beginning.
Plants should be planted under a minimum 20% shade net to protect them against wind, hail and birds. If planting in tunnels, ensure you can cool the plants during summer. In both net and tunnel structures, care must be given to ensure access by bees when the plants are flowering.
It is advisable to remove the flowers in the first year so as to increase the vegetative growth of the plant for the following season and in that way ensuring longevity of the plant