Blueberry Chandler: How to Grow This Giant Berry Bush at Home
Vaccinium corymbosum
Position
- Thrives in full sun or partial shade
- Prefers a sheltered position, protected from strong winds
Hardiness
- Tolerates temperatures as low as -29°C (-20°F)
- Protect blossoms from late spring frosts to avoid yield loss
Soil Type
- Requires well-drained, moisture-retentive acidic soil
- Avoid waterlogged or heavy clay soils
Soil PH
- Acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5
- Does not tolerate neutral or alkaline soils
- Grab a soil test kit and ensure the perfect conditions for growth
Height
- Height: 120-150cm (4-5 feet)
- Spread: 90-120cm (3-4 feet)
Seasons of Interest
- Flowering: April to May with clusters of delicate white or pinkish flowers
- Fruiting: Late July through August for main harvest
- Foliage: Green leaves throughout the growing season, turning vibrant red in October
Additional Notes
- Space plants 1.5–2 metres apart to ensure proper air circulation
- Requires consistent watering, particularly during dry spells, but avoid overwatering
- Use ericaceous fertiliser to maintain soil acidity and promote healthy growth
- Net plants during the fruiting season to protect berries from birds
- Mulch with ericaceous mulch, such as pine bark, keeping a gap around the stem’s base
The Secrets to Growing Blueberry Chandler: Bigger Berries, Longer Harvests
Blueberry ‘Chandler’ (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Chandler’) is a standout highbush variety, famed for producing some of the largest and most flavourful blueberries available to home gardeners. With individual berries reaching up to 20mm in diameter and an impressively long cropping season, this variety is perfect for anyone seeking quantity and quality from their fruit garden. Whether growing in open ground, raised beds, or containers, Chandler offers a rewarding experience with a bountiful harvest of sweet, juicy berries from early August into mid-September. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover how to grow, care for, and harvest Blueberry Chandler to ensure vigorous growth and consistent yields year after year.
Why Choose Blueberry Chandler for Your Garden?
Blueberry Chandler earns its popularity for good reason. It not only produces exceptionally large berries, but it also offers one of the longest harvesting periods of any blueberry variety. From early August to mid-September, the plant yields clusters of firm, sweet, and aromatic fruit perfect for eating fresh, baking into desserts, or preserving. The bush is a decorative addition to any garden, with bell-shaped white flowers in spring and striking crimson foliage in autumn, making it a productive and ornamental shrub.
Chandler is ideal for UK gardeners looking for a reliable, attractive, and productive fruit bush. Its robust growth habit and adaptability to container growing make it suitable for small urban gardens and spacious plots.
Ideal Conditions for Growing Blueberry Chandler
Soil Requirements: Acidic and Well-Drained
Chandler thrives in acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. In most UK gardens, native soil tends to be neutral or alkaline, so growing in containers with ericaceous compost is often the simplest solution. For those planting in beds, you can amend the soil with sulphur chips and organic matter such as pine bark or leaf mould to improve acidity and structure.
Light and Location: Sun-Loving but Versatile
For best results, you can choose a location with full sun. While Chandler can tolerate partial shade, full sun promotes stronger growth and better fruit ripening. Position the plant in a sheltered spot protected from strong winds, especially if you’re growing it in a container.
Preparing the Soil or Containers for Planting
Ground Preparation
If planting in the ground, enrich the soil by incorporating generous amounts of organic matter like composted bark, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure. Good drainage is essential—blueberries do not tolerate waterlogged roots. Where necessary, improve drainage with grit or sand or by planting in a slightly raised bed.
Container Growing
Chandler performs exceptionally well in large containers. Choose pots at least 30–40cm wide and deep, filled with ericaceous compost. Ensure pots have good drainage holes and stand them on pot feet or gravel to avoid sitting in water.
Planting Blueberry Chandler
Best Time to Plant
Plant Chandler in autumn or early spring, when the soil is moist and temperatures are mild. This gives the roots time to establish before the growing season begins.
Planting Technique
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball in open ground. Place the plant so that the top of the root system sits just below the surface level. Backfill with acidic compost, firm gently, and water thoroughly. Please ensure the root ball is not planted too deeply for container-grown plants.
Watering and Feeding for Optimal Growth
Watering: Keep Moist, Not Wet
Blueberries prefer consistently moist conditions, particularly during flowering and fruiting. Use rainwater where possible, as mains tap water is often too alkaline. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, especially during hot spells, as this can reduce yield and cause stress to the plant.
Feeding: Acid-Loving Nutrients
Feed Chandler in early spring with a fertiliser designed specifically for ericaceous plants. Repeat feeding after fruiting to support root development and next season’s bud formation. Avoid general-purpose feeds, which may contain lime or nutrients that alter soil pH unfavourably.
Mulching: Retain Moisture and Maintain Acidity
In early spring, apply a thick mulch of pine bark or composted pine needles to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain soil acidity.
Pruning and Maintenance of Blueberry Chandler
When to Prune
Prune in late winter or very early spring, while the plant is dormant. Pruning maintains shape, encourages air circulation, and supports productive fruiting wood.
How to Prune
Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches first. Cut back older stems near the base to stimulate the growth of younger, more productive shoots. Aim to maintain a balanced, open-centred framework to improve light penetration and airflow.
Pest and Disease Management
Common Threats
Chandler is generally a healthy, trouble-free variety, but it can be vulnerable to:
- Bird damage – Protect ripening fruit with netting.
- Aphids and scale insects – Inspect regularly and treat with organic sprays such as insecticidal soap or natural predators.
- Root rot – Avoid waterlogging by ensuring well-drained conditions.
The best preventative measures are good airflow, correct watering, and an acidic growing medium.
Harvesting Blueberry Chandler
When to Harvest
Chandler berries ripen gradually over several weeks, providing an extended picking window from early August to mid-September. Harvest when berries are entirely blue, slightly soft to the touch, and easily detach from the stem.
Regular picking encourages further ripening, and fruits can be left on the bush for several days after turning blue to improve sweetness.
How to Store and Use Chandler Berries
- Fresh eating – Sweet, firm, and aromatic—ideal for enjoying straight from the bush.
- Freezing – Freeze excess berries on a tray before transferring to freezer bags for long-term storage.
- Baking and cooking – Their firm texture suits muffins, pies, and tarts.
- Preserving – Make delicious jams, compotes, or syrups that capture Chandler’s flavour.
From Darren’s Patch
There’s something truly special about growing Blueberry Chandler in my garden. Year after year, it always impresses me with its size, flavour, and sheer generosity—those fat, juicy berries are an absolute treat! I’ve got a few bushes nestled in large pots near the patio where I can keep a close eye on them (and easily sneak a handful now and then). The long harvesting season is a real bonus, giving me fresh blueberries for weeks on end—perfect for adding to breakfast or baking into a quick crumble. What I appreciate, though, is how reliable Chandler is—keeping the compost acidic, watering with rainwater, and giving it a light prune rewards you handsomely. Whether you’re new to fruit growing or adding to a well-established patch, it’s a brilliant choice. I wouldn’t be without it.
Key Points to Remember:
- Blueberry Chandler produces exceptionally large, sweet berries from early August to mid-September
- Prefers acidic, well-drained soil and thrives in full sun or partial shade
- Requires regular watering with rainwater and mulching to retain moisture
- Prune in late winter to remove old stems and encourage new growth
- Protect with netting to prevent birds from eating the fruit
- Benefits from cross-pollination with other blueberry varieties for higher yields
Whether you’re a seasoned fruit grower or just starting, Blueberry Chandler offers a rewarding mix of ornamental appeal, extended cropping, and unmatched berry size. Its long harvest window, ease of care, and suitability for container growing make it a versatile and productive addition to any UK garden. With the right soil, regular watering, and a little pruning, Chandler will repay you year after year with plump, flavour-rich fruit perfect for summer treats, winter preserves, and everything in between.
To see the RHS article, please click here.
Want to learn about other Blueberry varieties? Read about Blueberry Duke here.
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