How to grow Blueberry in New Zealand
Blueberries are compact, attractive shrubs with white spring flowers, summer fruit and red autumn leaves, and they can be grown anywhere in New Zealand if you choose the right type and give them acidic soil. Most crop better with a second variety of the same type nearby. They also do very well in pots, which makes the acid soil easy to provide.
📖 Our full guide: Blueberry Growing Guide NZ: When to Plant and Harvest Blueberries
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | June to August | |
| Auckland | June to August | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | June to August | |
| Central North Island | June to August | |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | June to August | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | June to August | |
| Canterbury | June to August | |
| Otago & Southland | June to August | |
| Central Otago | June to August |
Where to plant
Blueberries need acidic, free-draining soil with a pH of about 4.5 to 5.5, rich in organic matter. Improve heavy clay with plenty of organic matter or plant in a raised bed. Their roots are shallow and fibrous, so a thick layer of mulch such as pine bark or sawdust keeps them moist and helps keep the soil acidic. They prefer full sun but tolerate some afternoon shade, and are wind tolerant and cold hardy.
There are three main types, and choosing the right one for your region matters more than anything else.
- Northern highbush: flowers in mid spring and suits all areas, including the coldest. Varieties include Bluecrop, Bluejoy, Dixi, Nui, Puru and Reka.
- Southern highbush: flowers in late winter, so the blossom is at risk from frost. Suits all areas except south of Canterbury. Varieties include Marimba, Misty, O'Neal and Petite Blue.
- Rabbiteye: flowers in early spring, suits all areas, and is the usual choice for warm northern gardens. Varieties include Centurion, Climax, Delite, Powder Blue and Tifblue.
- Otago and Southland and Central Otago: choose northern highbush or rabbiteye types, not southern highbush.
Choosing a variety
Most blueberries are at least partly self-fertile, but they give bigger and more consistent crops with cross-pollination. Plant two different varieties of the same type, for example two northern highbush, so they flower together. Dwarf varieties such as Peach Sorbet and its sister Pink Icing are bred for pots and small gardens, and Peach Sorbet is self-fertile.
How to plant
- If your soil is not acidic, dig in plenty of acidic organic matter or plant in a raised bed or pot filled with a mix for acid-loving plants such as camellias and azaleas.
- Soak bare-root plants in a bucket of water for 30 minutes before planting.
- Plant at the same depth as before and backfill, firming gently.
- Form a ring of soil around the plant to hold water and water in well.
- Mulch thickly with pine bark, sawdust or wood chips, keeping it clear of the stems.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil moderately moist at all times, as the shallow roots dry out quickly. In warm weather, water deeply every two or three days.
Feed in spring and early summer with a fertiliser for acid-loving plants. Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean iron deficiency from soil that is not acidic enough.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pruning is not essential. Light trimming can be done at almost any time during the growing season, and heavier pruning in late winter.
- Flowers form at the tips of the shoots, so trimming too often reduces the crop.
- Net the bushes before the fruit colours, as birds strip them quickly.
- Top up the mulch every year.
Harvesting
Blueberries ripen from late spring to autumn, depending on type and variety. Wait until the berries are fully blue with a dusty bloom and come away with a gentle touch, then leave them a few days longer, as they do not sweeten after picking. Berries on a bunch ripen over several weeks, so pick every few days.
Store unwashed in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze in a single layer for months.
Growing in pots
Blueberries are ideal in pots, where acid soil is easy to provide. Choose a pot at least 40 cm wide and deep, fill it with a potting mix for camellias and azaleas, and keep it in full sun out of strong wind. Water often, as pots dry quickly, and feed with an acid plant food. Dwarf varieties are best for small pots.
Using it
Eat blueberries fresh, add them to muffins, pancakes and smoothies, or freeze, bottle, dry or make them into jam.
Companion planting
Blueberries are best grown with other plants that like the same acidic soil.
Good companions
- Strawberry Strawberries also like slightly acidic soil and make a ground cover around blueberry bushes.
- Azalea Shares the need for acidic, moist, well-drained soil, so they can share a bed.
- Rhododendron Another acid-loving shrub that suits the same bed.
Pests and diseases
Birds are the biggest threat to the crop. Wet soil is the biggest threat to the plant.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Ripe berries stripped from the bushes. Net before the fruit colours.
- Scale Wilting leaves and twig dieback, with small bumps on the stems.
- Aphids New leaves distorted and yellow, insects crowded on young shoots, and sooty mould.
- Passionvine hopper Many small insects that jump when disturbed, and wilting shoots.
- Caterpillars Irregular holes in leaves and caterpillar droppings.
Diseases to watch for
Common questions
Which blueberry should I grow in New Zealand?
Northern highbush and rabbiteye types grow in all areas. Southern highbush flower in late winter, so they suit all areas except south of Canterbury, where frost damages the blossom. Rabbiteye is the usual choice for warm northern gardens.
Do I need two blueberry bushes?
Most blueberries are at least partly self-fertile, but they crop bigger and more reliably with another variety of the same type nearby. Dwarf varieties such as Peach Sorbet are self-fertile.
Why are my blueberry leaves yellow?
Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean iron deficiency because the soil is not acidic enough. Use an acid plant food and mulch with pine bark or sawdust.
How do I make my soil acidic for blueberries?
Dig in acidic organic matter and mulch with pine bark or sawdust, or grow them in a pot or raised bed filled with a potting mix for camellias and azaleas.
When do I prune blueberries?
Heavier pruning is best done in late winter. Light trimming can be done during the growing season, but flowers form at the shoot tips, so trimming too often reduces the crop.
Can I grow blueberries in a pot?
Yes, they are ideal in pots. Use a pot at least 40 cm wide and deep with a mix for acid-loving plants, and water often.
Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow blueberries; Yates NZ: Common problems of blueberries; Waimea Nurseries: Grow blueberries; Incredible Edibles (Tharfield Nursery): Blueberries.