Crops › Blueberry
How to grow Blueberry
in the UK
Sow March to October, plant out November, harvest July to September. About 150 days from seed to plate. You can sow it this month.
Blueberries, now these are a proper treat, aren't they? A bit of effort, to be honest, but the taste of your own fresh berries from the plot, well, you can't beat it. They're a bush fruit, medium difficulty like, but well worth the trouble for that summer goodness.
Sowing
Starting blueberries from seed, that's a long game, like. Most of us just get a young plant. If you are going for seeds, sow them in March, April, May, or later in September, October. They need warmth to get going, so a windowsill or a warm spot in the greenhouse is grand. Use proper ericaceous compost, you know, they're fussy about their soil. Keep it moist with rainwater, never tap, and you’ll be looking at about 150 days until you get any fruit, so patience is key.
Growing on
Once your young plants are growing, the main thing is keeping them happy in their soil. Like I say, ericaceous compost is a must. For us up North, or if your garden soil is a bit alkaline, growing them in big pots is cracking. That way you can control their conditions properly. Just make sure they're protected from any late frosts, especially in mid to late May up here, before they go outdoors for good. Give them a good 60cm or so between plants if you're doing a few in a row.
Looking after it
Blueberries love rainwater, so get yourself a water butt. Tap water really isn't their thing, it'll make them poorly. Mulch them with pine needles if you can get some; it keeps the soil nice and acidic and helps with moisture. Every year, prune out the oldest, woody stems, that encourages new growth. Keep 'em fed with a special ericaceous feed too.
What goes wrong
The biggest nuisance with blueberries is birds. As soon as those berries ripen in July, the birds are on 'em. Netting is your best bet, or they'll scoff the lot. Also, watch out for chlorosis, where the leaves go yellow. That means your soil isn't acidic enough, usually from using tap water or the wrong compost. Get that pH sorted and they'll perk up.
Harvest
From July right through to September, you'll be picking these cracking berries. They're ready when they're a proper deep blue and come off the bush easily with a gentle tug. Don't rush 'em, they get sweeter the longer they stay on. They'll keep in the fridge for about 10 days, but to be honest, they freeze brilliantly. Just pop them in a bag and enjoy them all winter.
If you're serious about blueberries, invest in a pH testing kit. It's the only way to be absolutely sure your soil's acidic enough, especially if you're growing them in the ground.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Duke This is a maincrop blueberry, proper acid-loving like all its cousins. It's best grown in pots with rainwater if your garden soil is on the alkaline side. | No club votes yet |
| Spartan Another cracking maincrop blueberry, it needs that acidic touch, you know. Make sure to grow it in pots with rainwater if you've got alkaline soil. | No club votes yet |
| Patriot A good solid maincrop blueberry for your plot, needing plenty of acid. You'll want to grow this one in pots with rainwater if your soil isn't naturally acidic. | No club votes yet |
| Bluecrop This popular maincrop blueberry needs its specific acidic conditions to thrive. Pop it in a pot with rainwater if your garden soil is a bit alkaline. | No club votes yet |
| Chandler A fine maincrop blueberry, just like the others it's proper acid-loving. Best kept in pots with rainwater if your soil tests alkaline. | No club votes yet |
| Liberty This maincrop variety is another acid-loving blueberry that'll do well for you. Keep it happy in pots with rainwater if your ground soil is alkaline. | No club votes yet |
| Aurora A lovely maincrop blueberry, it absolutely thrives on acidic soil. Make sure to grow it in pots with rainwater if your plot has alkaline ground. | No club votes yet |
| Berkeley This maincrop blueberry needs specific conditions, loving that acidic environment. Grow it in pots with rainwater to keep it happy if your soil is alkaline. | No club votes yet |
| Elliot Another fantastic maincrop blueberry that's proper acid-loving, same as the rest. It'll do grand in pots with rainwater if your garden soil is alkaline. | No club votes yet |
| Draper A cracking maincrop blueberry, this one needs its acidic home to perform well. Best grown in pots with rainwater if you're dealing with alkaline soil. | No club votes yet |
| Hannah's Choice This maincrop blueberry, like all of them, is a true acid-lover. You'll want to plant it in pots with rainwater if your soil is alkaline. | No club votes yet |
| Sunshine Blue A good maincrop blueberry for your plot, this one also needs acidic conditions. Grow it in pots with rainwater if your garden soil is alkaline. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Blueberry seeds
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Cook the harvest
A no-bake British cheesecake with a crunchy digestive biscuit base, a light and creamy vanilla cream cheese filling, and a vivid blueberry compote topping. Simple to make and magnificent to look at, this is the ideal make-ahead party dessert that delivers every time.
35 min · easyA rich, glossy blueberry sauce that cuts through the fattiness of duck breast with beautiful sharpness. Red wine and stock give body and depth while the berries melt into a deep violet, slightly sweet-sharp sauce. This is elegant enough for a dinner party yet simple enough for a weeknight treat.
40 min · mediumA classic small-batch blueberry jam that lets the pure fruit flavour shine with just a squeeze of lemon to help it set. Deep violet and glossy, this is excellent on toast, stirred into yoghurt, or spooned over cheesecake. Make it while the berries are at their peak and you will have summer in a jar for months to come.
35 min · easyA summer riff on the great British Bakewell, with a layer of fresh blueberry compote replacing the traditional raspberry jam beneath a fragrant almond frangipane. The blueberries bring a sharp, fruity depth that cuts through the richness of the filling perfectly. Serve in wedges with clotted cream or a simple cup of tea.
75 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: cranberry, heather
Questions people ask
When do you sow Blueberry in the UK?
Sow Blueberry from March to October. Plant out November, after the last frost.
How long does Blueberry take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 150 days, with the harvest July to September.
Which Blueberry varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Duke, Spartan, Patriot, Bluecrop and more.
Track your Blueberry from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.