Blueberries have been a prized possession of humanity since the dawn of time.
The sweetness of these edibles make for delectable desserts, dazzling smoothies, and an array of other products while still providing the vitamins and nutrients for a healthy lifestyle.
However, these berries can be challenging to grow.
Finding the right fertilizer can make this process much easier, and with this comprehensive guide of the 5 best fertilizers for growing blueberries, you will be on your way to an abundant harvest!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The advantages of using fertilizer for your blueberry plants
- What makes a good fertilizer for blueberries
- How to most effectively apply your fertilizer
- And much more!
Below is a quick list of my favorite fertilizer products for growing luscious blueberries. Keep reading to learn more of my top tips to choose and use the best fertilizer for these tasty berries!
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
My Top Pick  | My Top Pick | Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food
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| View on Amazon |
Best High-End  | Best High-End | Down to Earth All Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer 4-3-6, 5 lb
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| View on Amazon |
Best Budget Pick  | Best Budget Pick | Jobe's Organics Soil Acidifier, 6 lb
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| View on Amazon |
 | Espoma Fruit & Berry Food 4lb
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| View on Amazon | |
 | EcoScraps for Organic Gardening Berry Plant Food, 4 lbs
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| View on Amazon |
My Overall Top #1 Pick: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food
When it comes to picking the right fertilizer for your blueberry bushes, Miracle-Gro steals the show. While all of these fertilizers are excellent choices for your blueberry babies, Miracle-Gro’s Plant Food product hits the bullseye for the factors I look for in a blueberry fertilizer.
The factors I look for in a great fertilizer are effectiveness, price, environmental impact, and ease of use. With Miracle-Gro, I feel that these standards were met and overachieved in some areas.
In terms of effectiveness, the Miracle-Gro product outperformed the others in my garden. I saw massive new growth in my plants after 2 weeks of using the Plant Food that just wasn’t the same across the board. This new growth is really important to blueberries in their early lives and will set the foundation for large output each year!
The Miracle-Gro product is not the most cost-efficient in the bunch, but definitely would not be classified as overpriced. Looking at the other top blueberry fertilizers, it is pretty comparable.
I really like that Miracle-Gro uses organic compounds in their products. In my garden, heavy metals or dangerous chemicals are not welcomed. This product meets my standards in this regard.
Lastly, the product is really easy to use. I finally got the Miracle-Gro sprayer, which makes the process much more time efficient, but you don’t need that to use this product with ease. Simply dissolve it into your watering can and you’re set!
Top 5 Best Fertilizers for Blueberries
In a hurry? Check out our top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these fantastic blueberry fertilizers.
- Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food (My Top Pick)
- Down to Earth All Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer (Best Pick For Improving Overall Soil Quality)
- Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier (Best Budget Pick)
- Espoma Fruit & Berry Food (Best Pick For Increasing Harvest)
- EcoScraps for Organic Gardening Berry Plant Food (Best Eco-Friendly Pick)
What are the Advantages of a High Quality Fertilizer for your Blueberries?
Blueberries can be difficult to grow, due to their unique requirements. While they do not need much in terms of nutrients, the pH (or acidity) of the soil they’re growing in is extremely important. Without proper pH, your plants will suffer and won’t produce to their fullest potential.
Blueberries will do best in a pH range of 4.5-5.0. They are usually pretty content with average nutrients in their soil. However, it’s really important to prevent overfertilizing for these plants. Too much fertilizer will cause damage to your roots, which is called salt burns.
You may be asking, how is it that such a nutrient-dense berry could require so little? This is explained by looking at the origin of these plants. Blueberries evolved in coniferous forests, where the competition for resources and the acidity of the soil is very high. Strawberries are another acid-loving plant that benefits from low pH and thrive in sandy soil.
Because of these specific conditions, blueberries had to acquiesce to their environment. This is why those lovely little berries are so nutrient dense without needing top tier nutrients or soil!
When applying your fertilizer, you want to focus on the beginning and the end of the season. First, find out where your soil lines up in terms of pH. Remember, you want to be in the sweet zone of 4.5-5.0 pH. Next, apply your fertilizer thoroughly around the edges of the plant. After that, your blueberries have all they need to grow into productive giants!
For another look at blueberry care, check out this video!
How to Pick the Best Fertilizer for Blueberries?
When trying to find the right fertilizer for you, there are three factors that are essential for blueberries specifically. Without these three pillars, you might not see the results you’re looking for.
Nutrient Content
This is the most important aspect of your fertilizer. Blueberries are unique, as they require especially acidic soil. Fertilizers that have both pH lowering properties (acidic products), and high amounts of nitrogen are going to be the most effective for your plants. You can see the ratio for the contents of a fertilizer through 3 important numbers. They look like:
10-10-10 (can usually be found on the packaging of the fertilizer!)
For blueberries, you want a fertilizer with a high nitrogen ratio compared to the amounts of phosphorus and potash contained in the product. In other words, you want a lot of nitrogen to put in your plants, and aren’t as worried about the other elements. Read on to find out the ideal ratio!
Nitrogen-Focused Fertilizer
As previously mentioned, blueberries are pretty content with a low amount of nutrients in the soil. They tend to have their requirements met for most nutrients before fertilization. However, blueberries do need a good amount of nitrogen. On a bag of fertilizer, there are usually three numbers that look like:
10-10-10
This is the ratio of available nutrients in that bag of fertilizer. In other words, those numbers tell you what the fertilizer has the most of proportionally to the other nutrients. The first number is for nitrogen, the second for phosphate, and the third is for potash.
We want a ratio that leans towards nitrogen, similarly to leafy plants such as ferns. When picking out a fertilizer, look for a product that has a high first number. For example, if we look at our top pick for blueberry fertilizers, Miracle-Gro’s Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food, the ratio looks like:
30-10-10
This is exactly what we are looking for! The reason nitrogen is so important is because it is often lacking in the soil. A boost of it will do wonders for the health of your blueberries!
Slow Releasing
Blueberries, while filled with vitamins and nutrients, don’t actually need a lot of nutrients in their soil. In fact, I find that they tend to do better in average to poor-grade soil. Blueberries perform the best when given a low dose of fertilizer as opposed to a high dose of one. Blueberries are unique in this aspect of their care, as most berries require much richer soil.
Blueberries have very shallow roots. Shallow-rooted crops have the majority of their root structure within 5 inches of the soil. This makes the plant susceptible to becoming dried out or flooded with too much water. The same principle applies to fertilization for shallow-rooted plants. (Use my pro-tip to help prevent this!)
Thus, you don’t want to overwhelm your blueberries with too much fertilizer. Look for products that slowly release the nutrients in the soil, as opposed to quick releasing fertilizers. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with a quick release fertilizer, but it may be more difficult to effectively control due to the problem of over-fertilization.
My Reviews of the Best Fertilizer For Blueberries
1. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food (My Top Pick)
Miracle-Gro is a well known company to the gardening community.
Their product, the Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food, is yet another exceptional product from them.
As one of the leaders in the fertilizer industry, Miracle-Gro stays true to its name recognition with this high quality product.
The formula of this product is designed to provide all the essentials for acid loving plants, and I found that it does just that. I wasn’t sure how well it would work for my blueberries (since it is marketed for other acid loving flowers), but it has made a noticeable difference in my garden! And the 30-10-10 NPK ratio is nice and strong, perfect for mature bushes.
There isn’t a bad smell associated with the product, which is nice for my indoor plants. Also, I find that my dogs aren’t tearing up my garden to get to this like some of the other products on the market. As someone who grows plants in an area with lots of squirrels and rabbits, it’s nice to use a product that doesn’t attract animals.
Miracle-Gro’s Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food is also an organic product, so no heavy metals or bizarre chemicals that may hurt your plants.
The biggest downside to this product is the price per pound. It is a bit pricey compared to other fertilizers. However, I think it is the most effective and easy to administer to your plants, so if cost isn’t an issue for you this product is a must!
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Highly effective + No bad smell + Great for mature plants + Organic + Easy to administer | – Can get pricey – Strong nutrient composition that could harm younger blueberry bushes |
2. Down to Earth All Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer (Best Pick To Improve Overall Soil Quality)
This product has qualities that make it unique compared to other blueberry fertilizers.
To ensure a healthy and productive blueberry plant, a soil pH of 4.5-5.0 is required for optimal growth. This means that the soil needs to be fairly acidic in order to produce delicious fruit!
With Down to Earth’s All Natural Acid Mix, you get a multi-use fertilizer. This product uses natural ingredients, like cottonseed meal and kelp meal, to provide an eco-friendly solution to your blueberry growing pains.
I like that the product does not have a laundry list of chemical ingredients, as can be seen with other less organic products. The 4-3-6 NPK ratio is also fairly gentle.
The ability of the fertilizer to bring the soil pH down to the desired level is super handy, and takes away the tiresome process of having to use a pH product along with your fertilizer.
Be careful not to apply too much of this product into your soil, however. It can cause your soil to be too acidic, which will hurt your plants.
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Brings down pH and fertilizes + Eco-friendly ingredients + Gentle nutrient composition + Easy to follow instructions | – High price per pound – Can over-acidify your soil when used improperly |
3. Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier (Best Budget Pick)
Jobe’s Soil Acidifier is a superb product for bringing down the pH of your soil. This is important when growing blueberries, as much of the issues during your grow season can be caused by your soil’s pH being off.
I like this product for many reasons, but first, let’s address the smell of it.
This product actually has a neutral to pleasant scent, which is so rare for blueberry fertilizers. This is important to me because I grow blueberries inside and outside, and a bad smelling product can really stink up the house.
I also love the effectiveness of Jobe’s Soil Acidifier. Before I used this on my blueberry bushes, they looked sickly and weren’t in the best shape.
I used the product as directed and the improvement was fast and noticeable.
This product is also recognized as being organic by the USDA, so you don’t have to worry about any weird chemicals in your soil hurting your plant.
The price for Jobe’s Organic Soil Acidifier is the best in it’s class, while still maintaining value through the quality of the fertilizer. I wish the product was a bit easier to dispense into your garden.
It comes as really fine powder, so it was a bit messy to work with when applying to my plants. It’s also important to note that this product is strictly sulfur, with no other nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus. It isn’t super well-rounded, however, it really increases your soil quality.
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Best price in class + Improves overall soil quality + Effective + No bad smell | – Can get messy when applying – Strictly sulfur |
4. Espoma Fruit & Berry Food (Best Pick For Increasing Harvest)
Espoma is a top-tier brand for gardeners all over the world. This Fruit and Berry Food is yet another high-end product from them, as it works effectively to increase your blueberry bushes output.
Some fertilizers require that you really pack their products into your soil, which can cause a bevy of issues, but with this product, a little goes a long way.
It’s also designed to increase your crop yield, which makes this great for later-season application.
This fertilizer does have a smell, but it’s not as strong as other fertilizers and doesn’t linger around your plants.
Additionally, the Fruit and Berry Food is designed to slowly dissolve into your soil. And the 4-3-4- nutrient composition is gentle enough for younger blueberry bushes, but still packs a bit of a punch.
I like this because it prevents your plant’s root system from being overwhelmed with too much fertilizer at once, which is a huge area of concern for blueberries.
My main quarrel with this product is the price per pound, which is higher than some other blueberry fertilizers that are also effective. However, you should keep in mind that this product will stretch far due to the quality and potency of the fertilizer formula.
Overall, I think Espoma nailed this product. It works as advertised and will make the process of growing your beloved plants smoother!
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Highly effective + A little goes a long way + Gentle NPK ratio + Slow releasing formula | – High price per pound |
5. EcoScraps for Organic Gardening Berry Plant Food (Best Eco-Friendly Pick)
To sum up this fertilizer is one word would have to be resourceful.
EcoScrapes, the company that produces this blueberry fertilizer, takes a shot at tackling a big issue in the United States: the vast amount of disposed food in landfills.
They use organic materials, like food scraps, to make their fertilizer organically while simultaneously eliminating waste.
Their product, Berry Plant Food, utilizes acidic compounds to provide your blueberry plants with the pH and nutrients necessary for splendid growth! And the 4-5-4 nutrient composition is designed to increase your harvest.
Since this product has a lot of organic material in it, it can help build up your soil like compost would.
A downside to the product is the smell, which can be pretty brutal indoors. Make sure you mix this well into your soil, as it can cause mold to form or can attract flies if left on the top of the soil.
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Organic + Eco-friendly + Increases crop yield + Effective | – Strong scent, attracts animals (should be kept away from dogs) |
My Top Pick: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food
After comparing the different high-end blueberry fertilizers on the market, I believe Miracle-Gro’s Plant Food to be the best of the bunch.
This product has it all. Regarding the three core variables that make a great fertilizer, Miracle-Gro hits a grand slam and satisfies all those requirements with flying colors. To be the best, however, I also considered price, effect on the environment, and ease of use.
Miracle-Gro’s product did really well in these categories. The price isn’t the cheapest throughout the fertilizers I examined, but I think it is fair considering the quality of the product. It is organic, so I can rest easy knowing I’m not going to have nasty chemicals in my raised beds or containers.
Ease of use is especially a big deal to me. I hate to work with fussy products, and Miracle-Gro’s Plant Food is incredibly simple and easy to use. Because of these factors, this product wins the day!
Final Thoughts On The Best Fertilizer for Blueberries
Growing blueberries can be an incredible experience. While these little berries can be a challenge for even the most experienced gardener, they are absolutely worth it. When I first set out to grow my blueberries, I made a few disastrous mistakes.
I didn’t use a solid fertilizer, and ended up having a subpar harvest. The fertilizer I used didn’t add enough acidity to the soil, and I ended up overwhelming the roots with too much fertilizer.
Remember, you can’t go wrong with a product that lowers the pH of your soil! A low pH is also good for other berries, such as blackberries (in fact, you might notice some familiar products I recommend for them).
Make sure to test the pH of your soil before you plant, and follow the tips and tricks in this article! Things may get tricky, you may run into problems, but this is the fun of gardening, after all! You got this, I have faith in you!
Have a great season, and a fantastic harvest!