Session
One:
Site Preparation
Selection of a proper location and good soil
preparation are 
important first steps in establishing a successful blueberry planting.
Highbush blueberries are
shallow-rooted plants with a fibrous root system and require rather specific soil and
cultural conditions for best growth. Blueberries are best adapted to well-drained,
sandy-type soils having a low pH and high organic matter content. Since only a very
few soils in Missouri possess all these characteristics, soil modifications are usually
necessary. Highbush blueberries planted in an unfavorable site usually perform
poorly, regardless of other cultural or management practices employed.
 You'll notice that these plants
are planted on a raised ridge or a berm. Missouri soils tend to have textural and
structural characteristics that can lead to drainage problems. Blueberries will not
tolerate poorly drained soils, and a berm helps ensure good water drainage. The berm
is about 6 inches high, 2 feet wide, and extends down the plant row. Water drains
away from the berm, and the blueberries thrive in the added amount of topsoil.
The final thing you need to think about in
preparing a site for blueberries is that the soil be acid. Soils in Missouri for the
most part are not naturally acid enough for blueberries and you can incorporate powdered
sulfur or some other material to lower the pH to where you need it. If your natural
soil pH is 6.5 or higher, you should consider crops other than blueberries.
So the first step in planting blueberries
is having the site ready to go.
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