Blueberries are not just a fruit but a natural solution to uncountable problems, including heart disease, cancer, and hypertension.
Originating from North America, this delicious berry is the only fruit that has a natural blue hue to it.
The characteristic color found in blueberries is due to Anthocyanin, a pigment. Apart from the color, it also gives it its distinctive taste and contributes to its other features.
Blueberries are natural antioxidants that protect against several fatal heart diseases. They also aid in maintaining good mental health, bone strength, and normal blood pressure.
The two most popular types grown in Native America are the high bush (wild form) and low bush (cultivated).
They are a top favorite of millions across the world as they not only look aesthetic but are also full of vitamin C and fiber.
Although growing blueberries seems tricky, it is not the case. With a little extra care and lots of love, your blueberry plant will grow just fine.
However, they are avid eaters, and thus, it is essential that you feed them as often as they require with a high-quality feed.
Most berry species like to be fed in early spring before the leaves have completely grown. This gives the blueberry plant plenty of time to absorb all the elements released by the fertilizer.
Once the roots have taken in the nutrients, the blueberry now starts actively growing.
The blueberry plant responds best to acidic fertilizers.
However, with the great number of fertilizers that are now available, making the wrong choice is a high possibility. But do not fret, as we have prepared this guide just for you.
Table of Contents
Blueberry Fertilizer Review
Down to Earth All-Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer
One of the greatest blueberry plant fertilizers is the Down to Earth All-Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer. It comes in 1- and 5-pound packaging, which gives you plenty of product to work with.
This fertilizer is a natural and eco-friendly feed that works for all types of berries.
It is acidic in nature, which automatically makes it a good option for blueberry plants that bear fruit more profusely when growing at low pH.
Other than working like magic for almost all Berry plants, the Down to Earth All-Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer also does wonders for camellias, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and evergreens.
It contains Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potassium (NPK) in a 4-3-6 ratio; this means this feed includes ample quantities of all the important elements that form the basis of a healthy and happy plant.
While Nitrogen aids in overall plant structure, food processing and distribution, and photosynthesis, Phosphate is responsible for capturing the Sun’s energy and converting it into a usable form for the plant.
Moreover, it forms a part of many vital reactions.
Similarly, Potassium plays a critical role in giving the fruit its characteristic color and regulates the plant’s hydration and gaseous exchange pathways.
It also promotes root development and helps the plant stay steadfast when in unfavorable conditions.
Without each of these elements, the blueberry plant cannot grow taller or produce healthy fruit. Such a deprived plant is also more likely to fall prey to various infections and diseases.
I recommend applying the Down to Earth All-Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer in early spring before harvest; this encourages blooms, and subsequently, more delicious blueberries.
You can also add this fertilizer during the fall season when the temperatures are extreme.
The feed given at this time significantly reduces the probability of dehydration and pest attack and may enhance root growth.
Pros
- An all-natural formula
- Contains all three big elements-NPK
- Compatible with all berry types
- Maintains acidity of the soil
- Promotes plant as well as root growth
- Can be applied in spring and fall season both
- Comes in a 5-pound pack-adequate quantity
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Does not work well with acidic soils
- Needs neutral to alkaline soils
- Requires gardeners to check pH each time before adding fertilizer
If you are looking for a fertilizer that works well with neutral to mildly alkaline soils and maintains the plant’s immunity through all seasons, the Down to Earth All-Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer is for you.
Miracle-Gro Miracid
The Miracle-Gro Miracid fertilizer speaks for itself; it does miracles for crops that thrive in acidic soils, such as the blueberry plant.
With its excellent formula and water-soluble properties, it can easily seep into your plant and begin its job immediately.
This fertilizer is specially manufactured for blueberries and raspberries. Other acid-loving plants that enjoy this feed include azaleas, hydrangeas, gardenias, camellias, hibiscus, and orchids.
Like most of the feeds, the Miracle-Gro Miracid fertilizer contains Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus in just the right amounts.
Nitrogen makes up about 30% of its formula, while Phosphate and Potassium both share 10% each.
It benefits the blueberry plant in several ways but is primarily focused on helping it produce healthier and bigger fruits.
It also contains 27% urea nitrogen and 3% ammoniacal nitrogen that work together to lower the soil pH.
Acidic soils help plants take up nutrients efficiently and considerably lower the probability of infection and disease.
However, many gardeners do not like the idea of adding urea into their soils due to the potential risk of toxicity.
In contrast to this view, the Miracle-Gro Miracid fertilizer releases a minute quantity of urea which carries little to no risk of damage.
Other than NPK, the Miracle-Gro Miracid fertilizer also includes trace elements such as 0.07% of zinc, 0.07% of copper, 0.0325% of iron, 0.05% of manganese, 0.02% of boron, and 0.0005% of molybdenum.
While all these quantities seem trivial, they play a significant role in various functions and reactions. Without them, the blueberry plant is highly likely to lose leaves and undergo chlorosis.
An added advantage of this fertilizer is that all micronutrients are present in chelated form, which means that they are protected within a coat that prevents direct reaction.
This protects them from being stripped away quickly and allows for them to be utilized for a relatively long time.
Additionally, this fertilizer comes in a water-soluble granular form that enables it to instantly dissolve within the water and be taken up by the blueberry plant’s roots.
I recommend you apply feed to wet roots for quicker absorption.
Pros
- Water-soluble formula
- Granular form; takes little time to dissolve in water
- Contains macro and micronutrients
- Micronutrients added in chelated form
- Maintains plant acidity
Cons
- Contains urea which can cause toxicity and further complications
- Careful handling
- Not Percy friendly due to high ammonia and urea content
If you are on the hunt for a fertilizer that contains all big and small essential elements and dissolves instantly when added to a blueberry plant, the Miracle-Gro Miracid fertilizer is your best bet.
Espoma Berry Tone Fertilizer
Another excellent fertilizer is the Espoma Berry Tone Fertilizer made specifically for berries.
Its organic and eco-friendly formula helps the blueberry plant reach its maximum potential in terms of growth and fruiting.
This fertilizer is a 100% natural formula with no synthetic additives. It also contains all essential major and trace elements in adequate quantities that promote healthy growth and blooming.
The Berry Tone Fertilizer by Espoma is made up of a 4-3-4 NPK ratio meaning that it contains 4% Nitrogen, 3% Phosphate, and 4% Potassium.
These elements bring about foliage growth, big fruit harvest, and a stable rooting system.
The manufacturers at Espoma have prepared this fertilizer keeping in mind that the blueberry plant thrives when fed a slow-release formula that is also long-lasting.
The latter feature is supported by the presence of 2.5% of insoluble water Nitrogen in the feed that breaks down gradually and continuously.
The Berry Tone Fertilizer by Espoma also has 1.2% of water-soluble Nitrogen that decomposes instantly so that the plant receives some food to work with.
Aside from NPK, this fertilizer has 5% sulfur, 3% calcium, and 1% magnesium that fulfill the remaining nutritional demands of the blueberry plant.
The presence of all these trace elements, along with the big elements, forms the perfect basis for the plant to mature healthily.
Furthermore, the ingredients of this fertilizer are derived from natural compounds, including poultry manure, feather meal, sulfate of potash, alfalfa meal, bone meal, sulfate of magnesia, and elemental sulfur.
Therefore, adding additional compost is not necessary.
The Espoma Berry Tone Fertilizer is organic in nature and is prepared in a granular form; this allows the feed to quickly blend in water and not wash away even during rains and floods.
One unique feature of this fertilizer is that it forms bacterial colonies within the blueberry plant’s soil that significantly improve the ground condition, support the plant, and protect it against numerous harmful microorganisms.
Pros
- Slow-release formula
- Granular consistency that allows quick-dissolving
- Long-lasting
- Contains macro and micronutrients
- Organic make
- Contains insoluble and soluble Nitrogen both
- Allows bacterial colonies to breed that is advantageous to the plant
- No chemical additives
Cons
- Contains some ingredients that may cause toxicity
- Bacterial colonies may affect the plant adversely
- Insoluble Nitrogen may accumulate, leading to various complications
The Espoma Berry Tone Fertilizer is an excellent choice for growing blueberries as it contains all nutrients in adequate amounts.
With its quick dissolving properties, bacterial colonization feature, and organic nature, it is sure to become your plant’s favorite.
Espoma HT18 Holly Tone
Espoma arises to the top with another one of their finest feeds; the HT18 Holly Tone Evergreen fertilizer, specially formulated for acidic soil-loving plants, such as the blueberry plant.
This fertilizer comes in an organic product with a 4-3-4 NPK ratio. The 4% of nitrogen, 3% of phosphate, and 4% of Potassium ensure that all the main needs of the blueberry plant are fully attended to.
In addition, it contains 5% sulfur, 3% calcium, and 1% magnesium which makes this feed a holy grail for the plants.
All elements play their imperative roles during the blueberry plant’s various growth phases.
While the big NPK elements are mostly active throughout and are required by all parts, other micronutrients may only be needed for a limited amount of time by specific parts only.
However, supplying all nutrients is necessary for you to have a healthy and happy blueberry plant.
This fertilizer is not only ideal for blueberries but can also be used for Strawberries, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Azaleas, and Evergreens.
The Espoma HT18 Holly Tone is a slow-release fertilizer that breaks down over an extended period. This long duration gives the blueberry plant ample time to fully absorb and evenly distribute the elements.
It also includes 2.5% of water-insoluble Nitrogen that gives way for continued feeding. In contrast, it has 1.2% of water-soluble Nitrogen that dissolves a lot more quickly for immediate feeding.
Applying this fertilizer twice a year is often sufficient.
The Espoma HT18 Holly Tone feed is an eco-friendly mix derived from poultry manure, alfalfa meal, bone meal, sulfate of magnesia, sulfate of potash, and elemental sulfur. It also includes Proprietary Bio-Tone.
Other features include a bacterial colony feature; the fertilizer promotes the formation of beneficial bacteria that perpetually decompose organic matter and release it into the surroundings for the plant to take up.
Pros
- Slow-release formula
- Long-lasting product
- Promotes the proliferation of beneficial microbes
- Protects plant against several diseases
- Contains soluble and insoluble Nitrogen
- Does not require repeated applications
- Recommended by professionals
- Organic make
- Contains Proprietary Bio-Tone
- No assembly needed
Cons
- Contains some ingredients that may cause toxicity
- Bacterial colonies may affect the plant adversely
- Insoluble Nitrogen may accumulate, leading to various complications
The Espoma HT18 Holly Tone fertilizer is a high-quality fertilizer recommenced by several professionals and gardening enthusiasts.
With its stellar features, it is certain to work like magic for your blueberry plant.
Jobe’s Organics 09727 Berry Granular Plant Food
Another great choice for blueberry plant fertilizer is the Jobe’s Organics 09727 Berry Granular Plant Food.
An OMRI-listed organic feed that works for almost all the berry types and is specially manufactured for berries keeping in mind all their requirements and preferences.
It has an NPK-Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potassium 4:4:3, meaning it contains 4% of nitrogen, 4% of phosphate, and 3% of Potassium.
All these macronutrients come together to produce lush, green foliage, nutritious blueberries, and a strong defense system.
Like some of its fellow fertilizers on this list, it has 2.8% of insoluble Nitrogen and 1.2% of soluble Nitrogen; both forms are necessary for long- and short-term feeding, respectively.
A feed cannot be complete without some trace elements. In the case of Jobe’s Organics 09727 Berry Granular Plant Food, the micronutrients are 8% of calcium, 1% of sulfur, and 0.5% of magnesium.
The micronutrients, in combination with the macronutrients, complete the blueberry plant’s eating cycle.
As mentioned earlier, the Jobe’s Organics Plant Food fertilizer is listed in the OMRI; this refers to the organic nature of the fertilizer.
It is 100% chemical-free and contains no synthetic additives. It is mainly formulated from sulfate of potash, bone meal, poultry manure, and feather meal.
Another remarkable feature of this fertilizer is its advantageous blend of soil microbes including bacteria, archaea, and mycorrhizae fungi, also known as the proprietary Biozome by Jobe’s.
The mycorrhizae fungi aid in breaking down the organic matter rapidly while maintaining its nutritional value.
Pros
- 4-4-3 NPK composition
- Contains the proprietary microbe Biozome by Jobe’s
- Contains bacteria and Archaea that quickly break down compost and organic matter
- Improves soil fertility
- Pet and user friendly
- No chemicals added
- Is least likely to burn plants
- Organic formula
- OMRI listed
- Contains soluble and insoluble Nitrogen
- Suitable for all berries
Cons
- It has to be applied every 4 to 6 weeks
- Assembly required before application
- May allow harmful fungi to breed and compete for soil nutrients
The Jobe’s Organics 09727 Berry Granular Plant Food fertilizer is an amazing choice for experienced as well as newbie gardeners.
With its highly beneficial features, it ensures a large and healthy blueberry harvest.
J R Peters Jacks Acid Fertilizer
Perhaps the best water-soluble fertilizer available in the markets is the J R Peters Jacks Acid Fertilizer. A feed with a 17-6-6 ratio that is made for acidic soil-loving plants.
This fertilizer is considered ideal for blueberries and strawberries by many berry harvesters. Other plants that thrive when given this feed include cedar, azalea, magnolia, hydrangea, holly, and more.
Its 17-6-6 composition is excellent for providing the blueberry plant with its Nitrogen requirement. The high nitrogen content promotes green foliage, profuse roots, and abundant fruiting.
Out of the total 17% Nitrogen content, 10.58% is ammoniacal nitrogen, and 6.42% is urea nitrogen.
Usually, feeds with excessive urea can cause various complications; however, the urea composition here is just enough for improving yield only.
In fact, it may play a significant role in lowering soil pH and making it appropriate for blueberries.
The J R Peters Jacks Acid Fertilizer contains all the essential micro-and macronutrients.
Other than NPK, it has 0.02% of boron, 14% of sulphur, 0.05% of copper, 0.05% of manganese, 0.3% of iron, 0.0009% of molybdenum, and 0.05% of zinc.
All the trace elements are added as chelates, and thus, they do not break down as quickly. The coat lengthens their lifecycle, ensuring they are available for the plant to utilize.
Moreover, the fertilizer is in a water-soluble form and blends instantly when applied to wet roots.
Each of the fertilizer’s ingredients is derived from non-toxic chemicals, so chances of problems due to overfeeding are low.
I suggest using the J R Peters Jacks Acid Fertilizer every ten to fourteen days on wet blueberry plant roots for easy and quick absorption.
Pros
- Acidic fertilizer
- Highly water-soluble
- Contains Nitrogen in great quantity
- Contains big and trace elements
- Easy handling
Cons
- Contains urea
- It has to be applied every 10 to 14 days
- Not as nature-friendly as other fertilizers
The J R Peters Jacks Acid Fertilizer is a good option for all types of berries.
If your soil is neutral to slightly alkaline, bring this product home today for the juiciest blueberries.
Blueberry Fertilizers’ Buying Guide
Blueberries are undeniably popular worldwide. They can be eaten alone, with desserts, or in cakes and other dishes.
For a plant as useful as a blueberry’s, selecting the right feed is necessary.
With the great number of feed options that are now offered by the local garden markets, making the correct choice can be a hard nut to crack.
However, you are most likely to hit the nail if you consider the following:
Composition
Keep in mind that the blueberry plant does not only need macronutrients-nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potassium.
Neither does it only require trace elements such as calcium and sulfur.
A healthy plant needs a combination of all these essential elements in varying quantities.
Therefore, select a fertilizer that offers all these minerals in an adequate composition.
Solubility and Compatibility
A fertilizer could have all the nutrients in ideal quantities; however, they are of no use if they cannot blend in with the plant’s roots and leaves.
Purchasing a fertilizer that dissolves well in water is essential for your blueberry plant’s healthy growth.
Generally, feeds absorb best when applied to wet roots or leaves. Thus, get a fertilizer that dissolves easily with solvents, such as water.
The fertilizer should also be compatible with your area’s or garden’s soil type. It can only spread in the ground if its compatibility characteristics are good.
A plant does not at once take up all nutrients but absorbs them gradually from its soil only.
I strongly advise you to get acidic fertilizers only when your soil pH is neutral or mildly alkaline. If you use an acidic fertilizer in acidic soil, your plant may suffer.
Environmental Impact
Ensuring that your fertilizer does not damage the environment is also essential.
Many fertilizers cause irreversible damage to the ecosystem, which can worsen over time. Therefore, preferably, buy a fertilizer that is eco-friendly and pet-friendly.
The Winner
The top fertilizer is none other than the Espoma Berry Tone Fertilizer; a slow-release, long-standing product that ensures healthy growth and protection against mild infections.
This fertilizer contains soluble and insoluble Nitrogen for instant and gradual feeding, beneficial microbes for instant organic matter decomposition, and includes Proprietary Bio-Tone which enhances blooming and subsequent fruiting.
It is also recommended by professionals and commonly used in farms and house gardens.
Conclusion
Blueberries are a delicious fruit that requires the utmost care and love. The fruit plant is not fussy; however, it needs to be fed often throughout the year.
Fertilizers can make or break things for your plant, and so, getting the right one is imperative for growing healthy blueberry plants.
Follow our easy guide to produce the most scrumptious blueberries right in your backyard.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.