How to Choose Blueberries
One trick to success with growing blueberries is to choose the right variety for your region. Blueberry plants are classified by height:
Lowbush: 1 to 2 feet; hardy in zones 3 to 6
Half-high: 3 to 4 feet; hardy in zones 3 to 5
Highbush: 4 to 7 feet; hardy in zones 4 to 7
Rabbiteye: 10 to 15 feet; hardy in zones 7 to 10
For growing blueberries in the South, choose rabbiteye or Southern highbush types. In regions with cold winters, highbush, lowbush, and half-high berries all grow and bear well. Lowbush, half-high and newer dwarf blueberry bushes adapt well to being grown in containers; just be sure to select a variety that is hardy to two zones colder than your hardiness zone, since pots provide less root insulation than the ground does. For instance, if you garden in zone 6, choose a blueberry that’s hardy to zone 4.
