When to plant blueberries
Plant blueberries 1–4 weeks before the last spring frost in spring, or 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. That works out to zone 5b (early April to late April), zone 7a (mid March to early April) and zone 9a (early February to late February).
Blueberries planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | Apr 17 – May 8 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 |
| 4b | Apr 15 – May 6 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 |
| 5a | Apr 13 – May 4 | Aug 6 – Sep 3 |
| 5b | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | Aug 13 – Sep 10 |
| 6a | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Aug 20 – Sep 17 |
| 6b | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | Aug 24 – Sep 21 |
| 7a | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Aug 30 – Sep 27 |
| 7b | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Sep 6 – Oct 4 |
| 8a | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Sep 12 – Oct 10 |
| 8b | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | Sep 20 – Oct 18 |
| 9a | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Oct 1 – Oct 29 |
| 9b | Jan 7 – Jan 28 | Oct 15 – Nov 12 |
How to plant blueberries
| Plant as | potted or bare-root bushes |
|---|---|
| Depth | Same depth as the pot |
| Spacing | 4–6 ft |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 2–3 years |
| Hardiness | Perennial in zones 3–9 depending on type |
Blueberries need acidic soil, pH 4.5–5.5.
Plant two varieties for better pollination and bigger crops.
Choose highbush types in the North and rabbiteye or southern highbush in the South.
When to harvest blueberries
Berries ripen 2–3 years after planting; pick when fully blue and they come off easily.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.