Blueberries in PHX

saul4paz · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 51 Location: Mesa AZ

I bought 2 blueberry plants a month ago (misty/blue sharp)
I’m very excited based on what I’ve found.

Because blueberry's need high acidity soil i mixed a 3-2-1 (manure/natures way/our soil (moist clay)& a little gypsum, in a 10gal container. I planted both bare root plants in and they are sprouting like crazy, now. I think there a good investment to a fruit garden. With fully grown plants producing 10pt. of berries a year.

The trick must be acidic soil, but it can be managed better in a container. Idea

Both varieties need only 200-300hours of chill. And begin to produce good after 2-3years. And can live up to 15-20years. Just like roses.

Great article link;

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/byauthor/110963

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:09 pm Post subject:

I think you could do it in a container. However, I wonder how much the alkalinity of the water would affect your container ph.

Little Luey · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Yuma Arizona

Good deal!
I have been looking at blueberries myself, but right now I can't get any.

you mentioned the water could affect the ph, would it help to use a water softener water?

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject:

You definitely do not want to use softened water. Water softeners add sodium to the water which is a plant killer. RO water would work though, but its kind of an expensive way to water a plant. I would just start with tap water and see how it works out. If you give the potted plant a good soaking every time you water it and wash the salts out the bottom it would probably work out. I'd imagine blueberries need to spend summer in the shade.

Little Luey · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Yuma Arizona

Thanks, I will keep that in mind when my time comes. Very Happy

Elliston · Joined: 21 Oct 2011 Posts: 3

I'm in Phoenix too! Anyways, as I am sure you are aware of; Phoenix gets very hot and very dry. This makes growing all but the most drought resistant plants difficult to grow, but not impossible. To grow my strawberries and peppermint, I put them in my shady breezeway, in a spot that never gets direct sunlight. The light paint on the wall opposite of them reflects plenty of light to them, without making it overbearing. I also water them a little bit more than my other plants, and put a good layer of mulch around the base to prevent evaporation. Hope this helps you.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:52 pm Post subject:

Mint is a hard one to grow here. I grew spearmint.. ahhh smelled like gum... in the full shade. It lingered for years, but never really took off as mints are known to do. Sounds like you have a good formula though. Do your strawberries fruit in full shade?

Kyle_Davis · Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 45

I had asked a question about using softened water on our plants, but after doing a decent amount of research online, it seems the answer is a big no. We already have a good deal of salt in our soil and water. So even if the softener only adds a little bit of salt, it's still more to an already too high amount of salt in our water. Looks like I need to invest in rainwater harvesting.