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Blueberry & Gooseberry Planting & Growing Guide
Stock up on jam jars and pie tins! Blueberries and Gooseberries are so yummy, you’ll want to gobble them up in every form possible. With no need for trellising, these compact shrubs are easy to grow and the fruits so delicious you won’t mind waiting until the second or third year for their delicious berries. The plants are hardy to Zone 5 (Blueberries) or Zone 3 (Gooseberries) so harsh winters are no barrier to a bountiful harvest. Read on to learn how to plant, grow, and care for Blueberries and Gooseberries with our comprehensive guide.
Success Snapshot
PLANTING
DEPTH
Varies, see specific products. Generally plant crowns 1-2 inches below soil line
WATER
QUANTITY
Moderate
SUNLIGHT
QUANTITY
Full Sun to Partial Sun
PLANTING
PROXIMITY
5-6 ft.
BLOOM
SEASON
Harvest in Summer
HARDINESS
ZONES
Variety specifc; Generally Zones 4-8.
Shop Related Products
Blueberry - Elliott
$19.95
Contains: 1 Blueberry bareroot plant
Botanical Name: Vaccinium 'Elliott'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-7
Haskap Berry - Tundra
$29.95
Contains: 1 Haskap berry bareroot plant.
Botanical Name: Lonicera caerulea 'Tundra'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 2-7
Blueberry - Duo Collection
$21.95
Contains: 2 Blueberry bareroot plants
Botanical Name: Vaccinium
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-7
Blueberry - Pink Lemonade
$19.95
Contains: 1 Blueberry bareroot plant
Botanical Name: Vaccinium corymbosum 'Pink Lemonade'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Strawberry - Red Everbearing
$12.95
Contains: 10 Strawberry bareroots
Botanical Name: Fragaria ananassa
Exposure: Full Sun
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Strawberry - Pineberry Wonderful
$19.95
Contains: 5 Strawberry Pineberry bareroots
Botanical Name: Fragaria ananassa Pineberry 'Wonderful™'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Strawberry - Festival Collection
$29.95
Contains: 10 red & 5 white strawberry bareroots.
Botanical Name: Fragaria ananassa
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Raspberry - Royalty
$14.95
Contains: 1 Raspberry plant in a 3-4 inch grower's pot
Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus 'Royalty'
Exposure: Full Sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Blackberry - Columbia Giant (Thornless)
$10.95
Contains: Blackberry plant in 3-4" grower's pot
Botanical Name: Rubus hybrid 'Columbia Giant'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Gooseberry - Pixwell
$14.95
Contains: 1 bare root Goosberry
Botanical Name: Ribes uva-crispa 'Pixwell'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Where to Plant Blueberries/Gooseberries
Blueberries and Gooseberries will do well in locations with full sun to partial shade and excellent drainage. In areas with heavy clay soil, it’s best to plant in a raised bed or container. They’re most productive in acidic soil, so they benefit from the addition of lots of organic matter or a commercial soil-acidifying product.
When to Plant Blueberries/Gooseberries
Plant in early spring after the last frost. In warmer regions where frosts are uncommon, plants will do well going in the ground in the fall.
How to Plant Blueberries/Gooseberries
- Find a location with full sun or partial shade with well-draining soil. If you notice that water still puddles 5 to 6 hours after a hard rain, it's best to find a different spot or plant in a container or raised bed.
- Ensure the soil is acidic by adding compost or a commercial soil acidifier to the soil and working it in to a depth of 8–12”.
- Plant your Blueberry with the crown no more than 1” below the surface of the soil. Plant your Gooseberry bare-root plants about 2-3" below the surface of the soil. Pat the soil firmly around the roots.
- Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
How to Grow Blueberries/Gooseberries
- Water deeply every week; 1” of water is a good estimate. Avoid letting water pool around the plants, which can lead to rot.
- Add a light mulch of compost to the surrounding soil to improve drainage and keep competing weeds at bay.
- Apply a granular fertilizer in the early spring before new growth emerges.
Blueberry/Gooseberry Tips & Tricks
- Plant more than one bush, spacing them 3–5’ apart, to increase productivity.
- Harvest the berries once they ripen and become fully colored. Gooseberries that aren’t completely ripe can be cooked to sweeten them. Keep harvesting each day as the berries will deteriorate quickly or become food for the birds if left on the vine.
- Prune in winter or early spring before new growth appears, removing dead wood and shaping the bush into an open vase structure.
- Improve the pH level of the soil and make your plants more productive by adding a soil acidifier or mulching with pine needles.
- Be patient! Your bushes may not produce a lot of fruit the first couple of years, but harvests will get heavier and heavier after that.
If you're looking for other helpful berry planting guides, check out the Blackberry & Raspberry Planting Guide or the Goji Berry & Hasksap Berry Planting Guide.