Growing Blueberries

Guidance on planting is above as follows

HOW TO PLANT BLUEBERRY BUSHES

• Tip: Be careful not to plant them too deeply. The rootball should be just below the surface (one-quarter to one-half inch).
• Dig holes about 20 inches deep and 18 inches wide (or about twice as wide and twice as deep as the roots of the plant).
• Space bushes 4–5 feet apart in a row, with at least 8 feet between rows. Prepare a planting mixture of 2 parts loam and one part oak leaf mold, peat moss, aged sawdust, or compost, and place a layer of this mixture in the bottom of the hole.
• Set the bush in the hole with the rootball just below the surface and its roots spread out. Pack the hole tightly with soil.
• Apply fertilizer one month after planting, not at the time of planting. Apply ½ ounce of a 10-10-10 fertilizer in a band around the plant 6 to 12 inches from the crown.

more from this page https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/garden-journal/growing-blueberrie...

Bare-root shrubs are best planted in the spring but container-grown ones can be planted at any time. Space them 4-6 feet apart and don’t plant them any deeper than they grew in the pot.

Grow at least two different varieties for better pollination and higher yield.

Blueberries should be fertilized sparingly in the spring, once the leaf buds begin to swell and again when the fruit starts to form.

from that page in the comments at the bottom (like this) 

Soil is the key to success with any plant. Have yours tested and see what nutrients it lacks and what the pH is. Blueberries need acidic soil to grow and produce well. If the pH is too high the leaves will be yellow and the plants will struggle to grow. A site with full sun is best. They are very sensitive to drying out so they need plenty of water, especially in the early years. Mulching with wood chips or pine needles will help protect the roots and conserve moisture. It takes a few years for the plants to become established and begin to pump out the berries so after you have made any necessary soil corrections be patient. Eventually you should start to get the berries you are eagerly looking forward to!

If you think it’s too late to plant, and it might be, our friends at the Wisconsin coop extension (https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/growing-blueberries-containers/) have this advice re overwintering potted blueberries:

How do I overwinter my blueberry plants? Because containers do not provide adequate insulation from the cold, be sure to protect container-grown blueberries during the winter to prevent root damage. In mid- to late October, bury containers in the ground at a site where snow is likely to accumulate and where plants will be protected from cold winter winds. Mulch the soil surface with four to eight inches of straw in mid-November or cover the bushes with burlap. Prevent rabbit damage by placing chicken wire fencing or hardware cloth around the bushes. During early to mid-spring, remove containers from the ground and place them in full sun. Alternatively, containers can be left buried in the soil as long as the containers have proper drainage holes and the site where the containers are buried is well drained and exposed to full sun.

Finally, from a master gardener in Toronto: https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/blue-berry-bushes/ 

Did I say “finally…”? One more https://globalnews.ca/news/1602975/over-wintering-your-perennials-in-pot...

You will notice some redundancy amidst the info; the bottom line—we think—is to protect the plants in a garage or basement until spring. Please take the time to read and note the advice these sources offer. And good luck!

The best advice we have in above. Read it all, but especially how to care. And peruse thee Qs and As below. It’s insightful and encouraging. Good luck!

Food and water are not on the menu here; scientists are learning that high temps such as you describe can affect pollen development and pollination. There is no specific/guaranteed solution at this time.

Early spring is the best time to plant dormant, bare-root blueberries in Iowa. Soak the roots of bare-root plants in water for about an hour before planting. Prune back the plants by half by removing the small side branches and by heading back the main branches. 

Potted or container grown blueberries can be planted from spring to mid-summer. Little or no pruning should be necessary. Carefully slide off the container just prior to planting. 

Hi, Marcia. Are you getting blossoms on your plants? Often, when blueberries are not fruiting, it is due to lack of pollination. Perhaps it has been poor weather and the busy bees have not come out?  Blueberries are very susceptible to late spring frosts, too. Also, while blueberries are self-fertile they do much better when there is another variety that blooms about the same time. There could be other issues, such as acidic soil pH (which needs to be below 5.5), good drainage (no wet feet!), and proper pruning, but usually it’s the bees.