You have an excellent source nearby, "Just Fruits and Exotics." In zone 9 you have lots of choices.. Personally, I like to grow as many varieties as I can,since Blueberries are so delicious that they get gobbled up very quickly.

Like like acidic soil, so planting in a raised bed filled with pine bark and peat moss is recommended.

Lisa

Here is a link that might be useful: Just Fruits Blueberry page

Hello
I dont know which variety they are but the Home depot at Regency had a few 3 gallons for $11.97. They were flowering like crazy in the back left corner.

Also you can check out: http://www.alcasoft.com/winfrey/
I havent ordered from them yet but the prices are great.

Good luck Hunting & Happy Gardening!
Donna / Also in Jax

Hi I'm new and want to grow a couple of blueberry bushes. Is it really helpful to use containers? Why? Starting from scratch what should I use to make a perfect soil for my blueberry's? Which two varieties should I get to do best in this hot climate? What's recommended? full sun? near a white wall? east side of N/S wall? West side of N/S wall? north of E/W wall?

What's recommended to make sure the soil is acidic? Are there testing meters and what purchasable additive? Home Depot is nearest to me.

Lisa, thanks so much for the blueberry link.

I picked up a couple of 'Climax' Rabbiteyes at the USF spring sale, and I was a bit uncertain as to the chill-hour factor. I may end up with beautiful but fruitless bushes here in the rather warm north Tampa climate... we'll see. I didn't even know about the Southern Highbush varieties. Very cool. Now I know :)

I'm having success with two varieties of the southern highbush type of blueberry bush. One is called Sharp and the other is Gulf Coast. They require under 150 chill hours and have ripe berries right now. My struggle is getting the soil pH right. So, use peat moss, pine bark, and perhaps a sulfur based soil amendment.

I'm using pine bark and organic sulfur, both which should make the pH more acidic. I'm in zone 9b. IFAS has two interesting articles about blueberries in Florida, check them out.

A pH tester can be purcahsed at Lowes or HD for around $10. My particular plants require a pH of between 6.0-6.8. My soil is normally 7.1.