The electroneutral to mildly alkaline dirt in much of Illinois can make it unmanageable to mature superman - loving blueberry ( Vaccinium spp . ) in most parts of the land . However , ambitious gardener who are unforced to put sweat into improving and maintaining their dirt may be able to coax a blueberry bush harvest out of their Illinois garden .
Step 1
The most intriguing aspect of turn blueberries is the plant ’s demand for soil within a very specific pH range . blueberry bush postulate acidic soilwith a pH between 4.8 and 5.2 , and soil in that ambit are rare in Illinois . Some soils in extreme southern Illinois are nigh acidic enough , but much of east central and northeast Illinois has grunge with pH levels far too in high spirits to earmark blueberry to grow well . If your soil ’s pH scale is impersonal to slightly acidulent , it may be possible to get down its pH scale sufficiently with amendments . To depress the pH of sandy soil by one point , unify in 1/2 to 3/4 pound ofsulfurper 100 square substructure of planting area . Increase the amount to 1 to 1 1/2 British pound for loamy soil and 1 1/2 to 2 pound for clay soil . If your soil is gently alkaline , it ’s likely better to imbed bushes in raised seam filled with an acidic soil mixture .
Step 2
Selecting Varieties
The best case of blueberry to grow in Illinois includenorthern highbushblueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum ) andhalf - high bushes(Vaccinium corymbosum x Vaccinium angustifolium ) , which are hybrids of highbush and lowbush ( Vaccinium angustifolium ) diverseness . northerly highbush and half - high types are by and large dauntless in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 7 and should do well in all part of the Department of State . USDA hardiness zone in Illinois range from an region of USDA zona 4 in the magnetic north , around Rockford , to USDA zone 6 in the south , more or less from Alton southward ; the rest of the country fall into USDA zone 5 . Northern highbushcultivarswell - suited to the temperature chain of the Illinois clime include " Patriot " and " Northland , " which are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7 , and " Bluecrop , " " Bluejay , " " Jersey " and " Elliott , " which are brave in USDA zone 4 to 7 .
Site Conditions
Blueberries likewell - enfeeble soil that ’s rich in organic matter . They have shallow root system and wo n’t tolerate standing H2O or mucky soils . Plants should get about an in of water per hebdomad under normal conditions and up to 2 in per calendar week during menses of drouth . The bushes preferfull sun ; although they will tolerate some shade , they will belike not produce well unless they get sun through much of the day . Plant President Bush in the early give , space plants 4 to 6 groundwork apart .
Fertilization Needs
Annual fertilization withammonium sulfatewill provide N for the Dubyuh and help to acidify the soil over time ; apply 3 ounce in a ring about a foot from the base of the industrial plant in the 2nd and third years after planting . Increase the amount to 8 ounces in the fourth year and 12 ounces in the eighth year and beyond . Apply the fertilizer in other spring before the plant resume ontogenesis .
References
Related
