Rainline Garden

When to plant blueberries in Salem, OR

Plant blueberry bushes in Salem Mar 15 – May 3.

Easy Plant potted or bare-root bushes

Why these dates

Salem's typical last spring frost is April 3. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the west-side valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about March 15.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
4 to 5 feet apart
Planting depth
Same depth as in the pot
Frost
Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest
Small crops in year two or three; full crops by year five

Step by step

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant blueberry bushes Mar 15 – May 3, 4 to 5 feet apart. Same depth as in the pot.
  3. Mix peat moss or acidic compost into the planting hole, mulch with sawdust or bark, and pinch off flowers the first year.
  4. Harvest: Pick berries a few days after they turn fully blue, when they roll off into your hand.

Varieties that do well here

  • Duke (early)
  • Chandler (huge berries)
  • Bluecrop
  • Top Hat (for containers)

Watch out for

Birds. Cover bushes with netting as berries color, or plant extra.

Need acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 5.5), which much of western Oregon and Washington already has. Plant two varieties for better crops. West of the Cascades, fall planting works well too.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Salem, OR?

Typically April 3. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 27. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Salem McNary Field.

Is it too late to plant blueberries in Salem?

The spring planting window runs through May 3. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer. Fall planting also works well here.

How long until I can pick blueberries?

Small crops in year two or three; full crops by year five. Pick berries a few days after they turn fully blue, when they roll off into your hand.

Also plant in Salem around the same time

Planting dates for blueberries in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Salem · Blueberries in every city