Planting Blueberries

We are adding more blueberries to our orchard this year as well as planting some raspberries. I planted twenty blueberry bushes yesterday,ten of a cultivar caller Northland and ten Patriot. I got fifty raspberries, 25 Jewel, which is a black raspberry and 25 Heritage. These were all shipped bare root so I like to set them in a bucket of water with a mycorrhizal blend add to it for 12-24 hours before planting. The mycorrhizal  blend, which I get from FungiPerfecti, innoculates the roots with benificial fungi and bacteria. It really seems to help the plants get established that first year. When planting shrubs ,or trees for that matter, it is recommended that you make your hole with a small cone shape in the bottom. The plant is set on top of the cone with it's roots spread down the sides of the cone. Plants should be set at about the same or slightly deeper  depth as they were growing.

A common mistake in planting trees and shrubs is leaving the soil too loose. Pack the earth in firmly and eliminate any air pockets around the roots. Then give them a big drink of water which will also help settle the earth firmly around the roots. Water new transplant about once a week, depending on the weather. One big watering is better than several little ones. If we are getting regular rains I don't water after the first month. Don't enrich the soil in the planting hole too much as this will tend to make the plant put all of it's new roots there instead of spreading outside the hole.With any luck at all these plants will produce for 25-30 years so it is worth taking a little time and doing it right.