Blueberries in a raised bed

I'm setting up a new raised bed - it will be about 2 feet high. I'd like to plant some blueberries in it - do they do overwinter well in raised beds? Will they need protection? I'm in zone 7/7A.

Blueberries grow in Canada! Of course, it depends on the variety, but they should do fine in Virginia. If you are nervous about it, you can wrap them with burlap at the end of the season, and stuff the burlap with leaves.

lady’,

Are you new to raising blueberries? I am. I set out a mix of eight Rabbit Eye cultivars last December. Five are surviving and seem to be making progress now after a rough start. We had a very cool, very wet spring, but there was no standing water around the blueberries. Soil in the area is just now starting to get dry. I watered them the first time last Thursday. I didn’t soil test. There were huge pines in the area years ago. Native pines, to me, indicate acidity.

I threw up a raised bed with the back gangs of a disk set deep and wide, then leveled it off with a garden rake and will power. The bed is about 18" high and 4’ across and 40’ long, mulched with pine needles. The soil is sandy loam with some clay, but not so much it will bowl water.

I have ammonium sulfate, chicken litter, sulfur, and calcium carbonate on hand, but am cautious to make any drastic moves. I really don’t know what move to make; I’m feeling my way along. Since they seem to be greening up, I am just going to observe and water this first year, I think.

I have raked back the needles from the trunks to let the sun shine on, and I have started adding coffee grounds.

I’m considering threading the coffee grounds, if I can figure out how to do it. I’m newer to DG than I am to trying to raise blueberries. All help will be welcome.

I'm simply concerned because the soil temp in the bed will be colder (I think) than the ground temp in winter, and wasn't sure if that would be a problem or not. Also concerned about keeping moisture at the roots if the soil in the bed is frozen. I grow alot of veges in raised beds but not any perennials, so not sure about it.

My vote: go for it! And then share your success so we can all learn!

ladysoth, I live in zone 4b, northern Michigan. My blue berries are also in a raised bed. They are doing fine. While the soil is also from an old forested area, as soon as I started to use Miracid they started to really perk up. Next year I'm going to use a commercial food for acid loving plants. Sorry, I can't remember the name of it off hand, but it was recommended by a certified nursery fellow I've been working with. So, with happygirl, I encourage you to "go for it!"

Thanks everyone.

Steve1954. My daughter and I have both tried to grow them. It seems like the birds or who ever the thief is has either eaten them or they never actually grew any fruits. How should I grow them to get a reliable crop every year?

mableruth, are you getting blooms in the spring? Are you seeing any unripe berries on the bush at all?