By Jennifer Poindexter
If you have one blueberry bush, chances are you can make more. There are two methods I like to use when creating new plants from mature ones.
My first method is to take a cutting from the mature blueberry bush. You may use soft or hardwood cuttings, though the preference is generally hardwood cuttings as they’re easier to handle.
Ensure the cutting is approximately six inches long and dip it in rooting hormone prior to planting. From there, place the cutting in a container with nutritious, well-draining soil.
Keep the growing medium evenly damp and wrap it in a plastic bag as this creates a greenhouse effect. Place the container in an area that’s warm and has plenty of indirect light.
Check the soil daily and apply more water as-needed. It should take the cutting approximately four months to develop roots. You’ll know the plant has formed roots when you see growth.
Allow the plant time to become sturdy and transplant it outdoors once all threat of frost is over in the spring. Be sure to harden the plant off prior to transplant.
It’s also important to select a growing location with adequate soil that’s acidic and well-draining. Blueberries also grow best in areas with plenty of bright light.
My next method is my favorite. When I’m pruning my blueberry bushes each fall, it’s common to see volunteer plants growing in between the bushes. They form as offshoots from the blueberry bushes’ root systems.
Instead of pulling them up and discarding them, I’ll dig them up and transplant them into a container with well-draining soil.
From there, I place them in a warm growing location and provide adequate lighting. This usually takes place inside my home over the winter months or my greenhouse.
During this time, the plants develop a stronger root system. Then in the spring, when all threat of frost is over, I’ll harden the plants off and move them outdoors.
Both of these methods are a great way to utilize the blueberry plants you already have around your home to create more. Use these steps to turn one blueberry bush into many for landscaping purposes or for creating your own blueberry patch.
More About Growing Blueberries
https://blueberries.ces.ncsu.edu/blueberries-home-gardeners/
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/blueberry/
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-blueberries-home-garden
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