Blueberries with High Soil Calcium: pH Management Strategy

High calcium (1088 lbs/acre) in your future blueberry bed? pH 5.3 is okay but 5.0 is better. Sulfur lowers pH, counteracting calcium effects.

Prescription

• Apply 0.1 lb yellow sulfur (flowers of sulfur) per 10 sq ft under each bush.
• Retest soil in 1 year—target pH 5.0.
• Mulch with pine bark or pine straw (acidifying).
• Fertilize with ammonium sulfate (in camellia/azalea products).

Why This Works

Sulfur lowers pH, reducing calcium availability. Acidic mulch and fertilizer maintain lower pH. Blueberries need pH 4.5-5.2 for iron uptake.

Images

blueberry fruit

blueberry flower