Legacy Blueberry Bush for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on June 28, 2022

Planting instructions

Much like other blueberry bushes you may be familiar with, the Legacy blueberry bush thrives in acidic soils that have a high volume of organic nutrients. These plants will also grow in both sun and partial shade, but with full sun, they are more likely to produce better harvests. Legacy blueberry bushes grow to be about 6 feet by 6 feet, so be sure to space your plants accordingly if you choose to grow more than one.

Watering and nutrients

You should water your Legacy blueberry bush frequently after planting to ensure successful establishment. Established plants will need about 1 to 3 inches of water per week during the growing season. Often, it is wise to increase your watering frequency during this plant’s fruit development stage, especially since the Legacy variety fruits during the notoriously hot and dry month of August. When fertilizing, be sure to use a blend suitable for acid-loving plants and has ample amounts of each main plant nutrient. Apply that fertilizer once per year in spring.

Pollination

Blueberry bushes typically bloom in May just before the leaves appear. When in bloom, these plants attract insects (mainly bees) which conduct pollination, allowing for fruit development to ensue. Legacy blueberry bushes come with the advantage of being self-fertile. However, as is true for most self-fertile fruiting plants, Legacy blueberry bushes will produce more and tastier fruits when you grow them alongside one or more highbush blueberry shrubs to allow for cross-pollination. Still, with a single plant, you can expect to find plenty of ripe blueberries when pollination is successful.

Pruning

The best time to prune a Legacy blueberry bush is in the early spring, after the last winter frost has passed. When pruning, start by removing any part of the plant that has been damaged or is already dead. After, you can focus on pruning your Legacy blueberry bush into a more advantageous shape. Typically, this involves thinning this plant’s branches to encourage a few main branches to dictate the plant’s overall form. Thinning also helps to encourage airflow, which lessens the odds of moisture-related diseases.

Pests, diseases, and animals

If you are interested in growing a Legacy blueberry bush, then you are well aware of how delicious this plant’s berries can be. Unfortunately, those berries are just as tasty to many types of animals, including birds, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and many more. Along with those threats, Legacy blueberry bushes can contract several diseases, including leaf scorch, rust, blight, leaf spot, and anthracnose. These plants can also experience infestations of aphids, stink bugs, weevils, scale, and more.

Harvesting

Harvesting the fruits of a Legacy blueberry bush is a straightforward task. All you need to do is wait until you notice that the blueberries on your shrub have become entirely blue. When this consistent color arrives, it should be easy to grasp a berry with your fingers and pull gently to remove it from the plant. Repeat this process with each ripe berry. Most blueberry bushes offer a harvest in late spring or summer. The Legacy blueberry bush fruits are ripe somewhat late in the season, with an August harvest time.

Achieving maximum results

Full sunlight is one of a few key factors that will make for better blueberry production. Another of those essential factors is soil acidity. Legacy blueberry bushes love soil with a low pH, so you should amend your soil as needed to meet that acidity need. You should also know that you can grow this plant strictly for its ornamental appeal, as it has lovely fall foliage and a form that works well in hedges.

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