How to Grow Pink Lemonade Blueberries

Take a break from normal garden staples and add vibrant color to your garden with Pink Lemonade blueberries, a new cultivar introduced to the market in 2010. Traditional blueberries are pink while they are still maturing and only turn blue once they are fully ripe. Pink Lemonade berries mature to a vibrant shade of hot pink. Berries burst with blueberry flavor during the summer, light pink flowers bloom during spring and fiery orange foliage adorns the plant during fall. Proper planting techniques and plant care will ensure the health and vitality of the plants for years to come.

Soil testing kit

pH altering materials (if needed)

Spade/shovel

Mulch

Select a planting sight that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Plants tolerate some shade, but blossom and fruit production decline if the plants receive too much shade. Pink Lemonade blueberry plants can be used in landscaping beds, borders or large plantings.

Test the soil in the planting area to determine its pH. Pink Lemonade blueberries grow best in acidic soil with pH levels between 4.0 and 5.0. Soil testing kits are available online and at your local nursery.

Amend the pH levels as needed -- high pH levels will yellow foliage and ultimately kill the plants. If pH levels are between 5.5 and 7.0 and the soil is sandy, adding between 4 and 6 inches of acid peat to the top 6 to 8 inches of garden soil should be sufficient. Otherwise, add 1 to 2 pounds of elemental sulfur for every 50 cubic feet of sandy soil or 3 to 6 pounds per 50 cubic feet of loamy soil, to raise the pH by one point. Elemental sulfur takes approximately one year to work. Iron sulfate will work within one month, but requires triple the dosage as compared to elemental sulfur. If the soil has a pH level higher than 7.0 or if it does not drain properly, create a raised planting area to plant the blueberries.

Dig a hole that is wide enough to easily accommodate the plant's root system and deep enough for the upper roots to be covered with 3 to 4 inches of soil. Place the Pink Lemonade blueberry plant into the hole and fill half-way with soil.

Flood the hole with water to remove air pockets. Once the water has drained, fill the hole in with the remainder of soil.

Add a 2-to-4 inch layer of mulch to the planting site. This regulates soil temperature, discourage weed production and retains soil moisture.

Water the Pink Lemonade blueberry plant thoroughly after planting and then regularly to maintain soil moisture. Plants should receive approximately 1 inch of water per week.

Pink Lemonade blueberries are hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones four to nine, characterized by average annual minimum temperatures of -30 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove flowers from the plant during the initial two years after planting. This encourages vegetative growth and enhances fruit production and overall plant health.