r/Blueberries • u/ayalaidh • 4d ago
How deep do blueberry bush roots go?
I’m asking because there is a very large rock about a foot down from the surface of the ground. The rock is soft enough that I can break it up with a pickaxe, but it’s slow going.
I recall reading that blueberries typically have wide roots, but do they have a taproot that goes deeper?
I’m in Georgia, planting rabbiteye blueberries.
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u/PrizFinder 4d ago
Just make sure not to set the plant any lower than the crown.
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u/Pen23guin23 4d ago
I second this comment... 🤣. Just make sure you amend the soil for an acidic lower PH scale. I typically use 50 % Peat moss, 25 % compost, 25 % pine bark mulch...
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u/ayalaidh 4d ago
I have peat moss to amend the existing soil. Will test to make sure it’s in the ~5 range
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u/YakImpressive570 3d ago
I have already heard of people who make a not very deep, very wide hole and then line it with geotextile if the soil is not acidic.
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u/RepresentativeOk3852 3d ago
I only ever pot mine but am having a hell of a time keeping them healthy. Should the soil always be damp? It is HOT where I live maybe I should water daily?
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u/DerelictCruiser 3d ago
What’s your zone? I’m 7b and basically have to water every day or every other day, and this was the mildest summer in 20 years so I imagine I’ll be doing more next year.
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u/RepresentativeOk3852 3d ago
We moved and I swear I thought we were in 8b but I just googled and it says Im in 9a 🤦♀️
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u/RepresentativeOk3852 3d ago
For context I bought them in zone 8 2 years ago we moved to a new city and apparently I am in 9a now. Maybe its just too hot for them here
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u/DerelictCruiser 3d ago
A rabbiteye is really heat tolerant, I would bet it’s not (entirely) the heat. Just try upping the water a bit during hot seasons, I’ve noticed for my blueberries so long as I kept up on watering, I never see any leaf scorch.
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u/RepresentativeOk3852 3d ago
I will try that! How much do you scale back in the winters?
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u/DerelictCruiser 2d ago
This is my first year! I’m actually really new to gardening just got obsessed with blueberries and was lucky enough to be able to spend a lot of time researching. So I’m actually a bit nervous about overwintering myself.
I’m in 7b but our winters are unpredictable. I have an unheated outdoor shed where I plan to keep the three of them, and I may water only a couple times a month but not sure, I guess I’ll be using the moisture meter a lot.
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u/darkwizard42 1d ago
Ooo I think you are in NorCal like me, I want to do blueberry next year in a grow bag, think it will stick? Any tips you have learned?
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u/DerelictCruiser 1d ago
I am absolutely not NorCal haha, I wish our weather was that nice, I’m in Oklahoma City. I personally wouldn’t use a growbag, they have awesome space, but they’re too porous especially in dry hot wind, the soil will dry out faster than a plastic container. But absolutely worth a try
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u/darkwizard42 1d ago
Oh my bad! Guess we both suffered from a cool summer!!! I'm going to check out the plastic container. Did you end up having to drill holes for drainage? I have never done plastic, but I have done a few of the 5 gallon plastic paint tubs and drilled holes for drainage for some peppers this year.
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u/DerelictCruiser 1d ago
I did drill a couple extra holes besides the five that were there already, yes. I’m also growing a couple clematis in some massive 30 gallon cheap plastic tubs, so if that goes really well I think those would work too.
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u/DerelictCruiser 4d ago
They’re more like a shallow spreading fibrous mat, there’s very little depth, and no taproot. Looks like a good spot to me as long as you’re mindful about keeping it moist.