This post is also available in: 
English 
Français (French) 
Español (Spanish)
Introduction
The wild blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus grows on very small shrubs, about 50 cm high, in the light undergrowth with acidic soil. The plant is native to North America.
The shrub can reach 2.50 m in height and gives fruits bigger than wild blueberries. Blueberry bushes need specific growing conditions to grow. In fact, excessive wind, dryness and alkalinity in the soil can damage and weaken the crop.
Cultivating blueberry bushes under plastic greenhouse (tunnel type) with climate control technology and a proper soil or substrate promotes higher yield and quality.
Source: Burgess Milner
Blueberries growing conditions
The blueberry shrub has strict exigences in term of physico-chemical soil conditions. Indeed, blueberries grow well in light and very acid soils. The adequate range of acidity are found at a pH of around 4,5 – 4,8. It is also possible to use soil less substrates made of 30 percent coir (shredded coconut husks), 40 percent peat moss, 10 percent mature compost and 20 percent perlite by volume.
The plant must have a continuous access to the water. In reality, blueberries shrub does not tolerate a low humidity. However, it has to be moderate: a high humidity may also be negative to the plant growth. The soil or substrate should have a low density with good drainage capacity. Mulching can be done to keep the humidity around the tree avoiding water loss also to limit the weeds expansion.
Note: The variety choose will condition the crop management more particularly the plant density and the harvesting period. Cultivar selection must be based on yield, fruit quality and shelf-life, disease resistance, winter resistance, early maturation…
Advantages of growing blueberries under plastic greenhouse
Single or multi tunnel (low/middle tech) is the most appropriate type of plastic greenhouse to grow blueberries. The budget will be more reasonable and the growing conditions can be controlled for this crop using basic equipment. Unheated greenhouses is preferred in order to control the costs and reduce the environmental impact.
Hydroponic cultivation of blueberries has the advantage to eliminate the soil as a limiting factor. 25L plastic pot can be used or 15L then repotting in 25l. Production can be optimized for areas with better climate and water availability.
Moreover, high tunnel offers more volume and flexibility to add equipment such as circulation fans, hot air heating system, shading/termal screens…
Below, a synthetic summary of the benefits of growing shrubby blueberries in greenhouses:
- Use of greenhouse will protect the crops from the rainfall, frost protection ;
- Implementation of an efficient ferti-irrigation strategy with systemic watering (drips) – usually 2 drippers per pot of 25L ;
- Weed management using proper ground cover (white/black) ;
- Fruits protection against birds and others animals ;
- Crops protection using specific IP net against aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars… ;
- Possible to use trellising to support the shrubs ;
- Lower investment cost to build low-tech tunnel ;
Sources:
How to Grow Blueberry Bushes in a Greenhouse ? https://www.ehow.com/how_6103824_grow-blueberry-bushes-greenhouse.html
Intensive berry production using greenhouses, substrates and hydroponics. Is this the way forward? https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/sites/default/files/reports/2014_AU_Nicola-Anne-Mann_Intensive-Berry-Production-Using-Greenhouses-Substrates-And-Hydroponics-Is-This-The-Way-Forward.pdf
La culture de la myrtille en Suisse: http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/attachments/36679.pdf (French)
Dear Mr Corenthin Chassouant
I saw your website and you mentioned some interesting points about blueberry production in greenhouse conditions. My name is Ahmad Estaji. I also have a PhD in horticulture. I am a strawberry producer in Iran and I want to produce blueberries in Iran under greenhouse conditions.I need some information about fertilizing and irrigation the plant during the growing season. I am also happy to give some information like irrigation, fertilization, pruning, and the temperature about the dormancy period of this plant in winter.
best regards
Dear Mr Estaji,
Thank you for your comment, Sure it would be a pleasure to discuss about it. Is that possible to leave me an email and your phone No, please ?
[email protected]
Corenthin
[email protected]
+98 9192681257
Hi I’m thinking about growing blueberries in tropical climate, is there a way to get the needed chill hours in a green house? How do you go about doing that if it’s possible?
Hi Melissa,
Usually, you can manage the temperature in a greenhouse by increasing the humidity % using a fans and pads or high pressure fogging system for example. However, the challenge is to manage the cooling efficiency while the outside humidity is high (>75%). In some cases, when the outside humidity is too high all day it becomes very difficult to cool down your greenhouse…
In your case, growing bluberries under high-tunnel in tropical regions, I would recommend to use circulation fans (HAF). Indeed, it will be very important to keep a good air flow draining out the humidity from the growing area.
Another advise would be to select the best project location to get cooler temperature (more particularly at night) and manageable humidity %. Then, I would select a high and wide (>9m) tunnel structure to grow blueberries to get more volume (buffer effect). Moreover, I will look at high-tunnel structure will the possibility of having sides ventilation to increase the air renewal capacity.
Thank you,
Corenthin
Hello. I live in Armenia. I will be planting my Blueberries directly into the correctly prepared ground in my Greenhouse.
How far about should I plant my bushes please and the distance between the rows.
Thank you.
Hi Robert,
Thank you for the comment, it sounds very interesting!
Is it possible to send to me some pictures ([email protected]) of your current growing system and set-up ? Then, I will do my best to advice on the blueberries density.
Thank you,
Corenthin
Hello, I am based in a hill station in India. I wish to start blueberry production using polyhouse technique. What would be the pros and cons owing to the temperature conditions as it is pretty cold in d winters. We receive a lot of rains. Summers are short but warm and sunny
Hello
Do you know the temperature for blueberries in green house
Hi Shervin,
In the literature, some specialists mentioned:
Blackberry, raspberry and blueberry plants require chilling before they will produce fruit. The potted plants should be taken outside after they finish fruiting and when nighttime temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (or below 5 degrees Celcius). Blackberry and raspberry plants need to spend about 200 hours below 40 F / 5 C. Blueberry plants need 500 to more than 1000 hours below 40 F / 5 C. Low-chill requirement varieties are best for a greenhouse. When the chill requirement is met, the plants can be returned to the greenhouse. The greenhouse should be kept between 60 and 70 F (or between 15 C to 22 C) .
Source: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/berry-growing-greenhouse-47743.html
hi!
What should be the humidity in pots with blueberries? In percentage.