Vaccinium corymbosum
To heck with apples , consume someblueberrieseach twenty-four hour period is what keeps the doctor away !
Or at least that ’s what prof of nutrition and epidemiologyDr . Eric Rimmand his colleague at Harvard Medical School announced , based on the results of a study put out in 2013 .
Truth be secernate , I ’d eat them even if they were n’t so darned good for me . A fresh blueberry bursting in my oral cavity is the poppycock of summer . And if you ’re as big a fan as I am , perhaps you ’ve gone berry picking before .
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.
We unite to vendors to help oneself you find relevant Cartesian product . If you corrupt from one of our links , we may earn a delegation .
If you ’ve ever drive past or visited a farm with rows of marvelous blueberry bush , those were probably highbush industrial plant . Of all the available species and varieties , northerly highbush is the most usual eccentric cultivated commercially .
That ’s because these will grow in a wide range of climate and are self - fruitful , produce a large harvest time of delicious berry even without a companion pollinator implant nearby .
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.
So how do you keep a highbush industrial plant happy and generative if you determine to get this type yourself ? We ’ll cover everything you require to know . Here ’s what ’s up ahead :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Highbush Blueberries?
genus Vaccinium corymbosumis perhaps the most well - known species of blueberry , and the juicy berries they bring forth in the summer are the most common variety you ’ll find at grocery storage .
The deciduous woody shrubs can reach up to eight feet magniloquent at maturity date .
These industrial plant were bred to wield cool temperatures and to produce a high yield of sweet , big berries perfect for eat off the bush or using in recipes .
Highbush blueberries are easy to reap thanlowbush blueberriesbecause you do n’t have to squat down to pick them , and yields are typically gamey .
These are divided into northerly and southern type .
northerly types are grown widely in the eastern US , in the Mid - Atlantic neighborhood and New England in Zones 4 to 8 , though some will grow in Zone 3 .
Southern highbush type farm best in Zones 5 to 8 , and may show evergreen or deciduous foliation . These were breed and bring out in the 1980s by growers in southern states who wanted to grow this species in a warmer climate .
There are also hybrid of highbush and lowbush varieties , which are known as half - high blueberries .
When selecting your works , in addition to the growing zone , you also need to keep “ chill hours ” in creative thinker , or the number of hr each winter that the temperature falls between 32 and 45 ° F .
blueberry require a certain number of chill hours to produce yield . Though there are some exceptions , northerly plants typically call for more , while southern multifariousness require fewer gelidity hours .
Cultivation and History
Blueberry works are native to eastern North America , and indigenous universe there both deplete the fruit raw and used them to make a nutrient mash of berries and animal fat called pemmican .
Until 1911 , all blueberry grow in North America were the wild , uncultivated lowbush type .
Highbushes came about when the daughter of a cranberry granger named Elizabeth Coleman White decided to work with botanist Frederick V. Colville to cultivate a taller , more productive variety that she and her category could harvest to sell along with their cranberries .
recruit the highbush blueberry bush , which has become the rife type for commercial raiser in the US .
Chances are , if you ’re picking up that familiar clamshell of blueberry at the foodstuff store , it ’s filled with a character of highbush Chuck Berry .
Propagation
There are several easy way to propagate highbush blueberries , including root cutting off involve from a mature plant , or buy a mere tooth root plant or transplant .
you could also grow them from seed , but the lead plant might not grow rightful to type , and it takes a while . Still , it ’s a fun project to do with the Thomas Kyd .
By Cuttings
If you have a local gaga flora that you intend tastes particularly in force , you could multiply it through cuttings .
Just be sure to check with your local administration or the property owner before you jump cut off plants that do n’t belong to you .
you could also reproduce a intercrossed plant using this method .
By Bare Root
you’re able to purchase bare root plants from many nurseries and retailers .
The advantage with scanty roots is that they be less than transplants , but they will be quick for harvest in about the same amount of time .
you’re able to determine more about propagate blueberry bush bushes in our template .
Transplanting
Transplanting is a quick method acting to get from plant to eating your harvest home .
We have an entire guide onhow to transplant blueberriesto help you succeed .
How to Grow Highbush Blueberry Bushes
You may have heard that blueberries thrive in acidic territory , and that ’s true . They need a soil pH of between 4.5 and 5.5 .
If you do n’t have ground that is that acid of course , you ’ll need to amend it . exquisitely ground sulphur or aluminum sulfate are reliable additives thatyou can use to lower stain pH.
Our usher to grow blueberrieshas more tips for helping you to create the correct consideration for your plants , and it covers everything from prepping the soil for planting to pruning and mulching .
Almost all northerly highbush cultivar are self - fertile , so they do n’t postulate a companion to grow a George Bush full of berries . However , a companion can help increase the number and the size of the fruit .
Southern highbush plant , on the other hand , need a pollination pal if you require yield . The put-on is to pick two ( or more ) plants that flower at about the same clip .
Here are some common cultivar that make unspoiled friends :
received plants should be space about four to six feet apart . lowly cultivars can be planted two to four feet apart .
blueberry of course grow along the edges of watercourse , or even on hills in waterlogged areas , where their solution wo n’t be submerged .
That should narrate you that while they like a luck of urine , they do n’t appreciate it when their root are sitting in suffer water supply .
Ideally , you should place your flora in an area with a tenuous gradient so water drains away from the roots . Frost also tends to subside in low orbit and at the base of Alfred Hawthorne , so a high degree on a slope is a well location for prevent frost damage as well .
Keep in nous , however , that wind is typically more severe on hilltops . lead can damage your plants , so position them next to a windbreak if you do n’t have a protective gradient available . A words of acid - loving conifers or a stone rampart are ideal choice .
Not only is it nice to be able to grow these plants near ponds , waterways , and other arena where vegetable might not thrive , they ’ll also attract local wildlife . But keep this in mind , since you may lift up apportion your harvesting !
While they can grow in fond shade , afull Lord’s Day locationencourages more blossoms , which interpret into more yield . It also means more brightly colored fall pull up stakes .
Though some larger highbush varieties have roots that can reach as recondite as two feet , in oecumenical , thesehave shallow rootswith most of the root social structure located in the top foot of soil .
That means they ask even lachrymation .
Plants call for one to two inch of water system a calendar week , assuming you have n’t gotten any rain . If you are n’t indisputable how much haste you ’ve received , render using a rain standard of measurement .
You should also tot up a finely chop Ellen Price Wood mulch around your flora to help keep piss ( more on that below ) .
Do n’t employ your thou compost , since this ordinarily has a pH that is too high ( or alkaline ) for spring up blueberry . Spread the wood matter out about three feet broad around plants , and stack it three inch deep .
In the first year , you may add ammonium sulfate fertilizer in June or July , enforce granule in a circle 15 column inch away from the base of the plant .
But remember , you shouldtest your soilfirst to find if fertilizer is necessary .
Ammonium sulfate helps miserable pH and adds nitrogen . Add one ounce per plant life .
After that , fertilise while plants are blooming . you may apply half of the fertilizer when flora just depart to bloom and then again in four weeks , or you may fertilize all at once two weeks after blossoms have emerged .
Fertilizing too too soon can result in failure to take up the nutrient you ’ve provided .
Two - class - honest-to-god plants need a4 - 6 - 4 ( NPK)organic fertiliser apply at a charge per unit of about six ounce per plant , adding two extra ounces every year to follow until you reach a peak of 16 ounces .
You may need to enforce more nitrogen if you are using fresh sawdust mulch , since it can link up up atomic number 7 . Use a half teaspoon of blood meal as a side dressing .
Down to Earth Blood Meal
I like Down to Earth ’s rakehell meal . If you want some for your garden , Arbico Organicscarries containers in a variety of sizes , from a half British pound to 50 pounds .
Be careful not to add too much N , because blueberry plant work together with a fungus in the soil calledEricoid endomycorrhizaeto take in nutrient .
Too much nitrogen can reduce the fungous population , which causes a whole legion of problems .
That ’s why annual soil testing to find out the atomic number 7 level of your soil is recommendedbeforeyou enforce fertilizer .
get more tips on fertilizing blueberry industrial plant here .
Highbush blueberry produce best with regular pruning . And be certain to refresh the mulch annually in the spring , gradually building it up to a profoundness of about six inches from the original three inches of material that you added .
Growing Tips
Cultivars to Select
There aremore than 50 cultivarsof highbush blueberries available , a testament to how crucial they are as a commercial-grade harvest . Because there are so many varieties , you might need to check with local experts to see which are best suited to your country .
Remember that some plant , typically the southern cultivars , need companions to grow . All plant life demand a specific range of shivering hours to fruit , and these are noted below .
Here are some of the most pop type . you’re able to observe more in ourroundup of recommended varieties .
Bluegold
‘ Bluegold ’ is a northerly cultivar that matures belatedly in the time of year . It has excellent relish with unshakable , medium - sized fruits that are idealistic for freezing .
This diversity grows good in zone 4 to 7 , postulate 800 - 1,000 chill hour , and hit heights of up to six feet tall . Watch out , though – it ’s highly susceptible to blueberry stupor virus .
‘ Bluegold ’
you’re able to get hold plants in # 1 containersavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Duke
‘ Duke ’ bring forth firm yield and is an abundant producer , which is probably why it ’s one of the most widely plant northern varieties .
It blooms late and yield ripens early , which intend it does n’t start the hazard of being damage by later bound Robert Frost as often as early blooming types do .
It grows good in Zones 4 to 7 , needs about 800 to 1,000 chill hour , and may need trellising because of its impenetrable yields . It grows to be about six feet marvellous at maturity .
‘ Duke ’
One drawback is that it ’s particularly raw to pH and aliment in the soil . If you fail to put up what it want , it wo n’t fruit or your harvesting will be smaller than common .
you could findplants available at Burpee , and in # 1 and # 3 containersat Nature Hills Nursery .
Ivanhoe
‘ Ivanhoe ’ berries are idealistic for usage in sweet because they ’re so angelical , with a bold feeling .
The business firm , medium - to - large berry are untoughened and they do n’t stack away well , which is one ground why this cultivar has fallen out of favour with commercial growers .
But this is n’t a problem if you ’re growing them yourself , and relish them straight off the bush !
This northerly variety does well in zona 5 to 8 and grows to be extremely grandiloquent , with some plants hit eight human foot in ideal conditions . Plant in realm where they will get about 800 iciness hour .
Jersey
‘ Jersey ’ is one of the more common and former northerly highbush varieties . It grows good and produces turgid , scented berries with an fantabulous flavor .
It ’s exceptionally fearless , grows well in Zones 4 to 7 , and needs 800 to 1,000 chill hours .
‘ Jersey ’
It can also reach up to eight feet tall , but maintain it trim to six foot is recommended , to make harvesting easier and to encourage the plant to focus on produce fruit rather than gaining more height .
Sound adept ? You canpurchase these plants from Burpee .
Midnight Cascade
‘ Midnight Cascade ’ is unique in that it ’s the first commercially useable blueberry bush suited to growing in hanging handbasket .
The medium - sized fruits have a satisfying smack with a insidious suggestion of vanilla extract , and plant have a cascading growth blueprint .
‘ Midnight Cascade ’
This southerly type strive 24 inches magniloquent and grows best in geographical zone 5 to 9 , with 450 shiver hours .
Grow with another ‘ Midnight Cascade ’ plant to ease pollination . You cannab these plant over at Nature Hills Nursery .
Northblue
Another pick if you ’re looking for something smaller , this northerly dwarf cultivar reaches about two feet tall at maturity , and grows best in zona 4 to 8 .
‘ Northblue ’
It develop big , dark dreary fruit with an exceptional flavor .
you could grab an 18- to 30 - month - old ‘ Northblue ’ plantat Nature Hills Nursery .
Northsky
‘ Northsky ’ grow to be only two fundament tall , but despite its modest size , you’re able to get up to five pounds of light low berries per bush during the harvest home .
‘ Northsky ’
This form is suit to zona 3 to 8 and needs 800 to 1,000 shivering hours .
If you want to give ‘ Northsky ’ a go , plants in # 1 containers areavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Patriot
‘ Patriot ’ wasdeveloped in Maine , so it grow well there , as you ’d expect . It ’s a northerly cultivar that can stand heavy territory and frost .
It has large , flavorful yield but create a small payoff than some other cultivar .
‘ Patriot ’
‘ Patriot ’ grows serious in Zones 3 to 7 and will strain four to six animal foot magniloquent at maturity . Give it 800 to 1,000 iciness hours .
If you want ‘ Patriot ’ for your garden , you could buy plants at Burpee .
Perpetua
‘ Perpetua ’ grows up to five feet tall at maturity , is suited to Zones 4 to 8 , and need about 600 tingle hours .
What set it apart is that it grow two crop each year : one in midsummer , and another in the evenfall .
‘ Perpetua ’
The small Berry are intensely scented .
If you require to add ‘ Perpetua ’ to your garden , you could encounter plantsavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Managing Pests and Disease
Highbush blueberry specifically suffer from a figure of pests and diseases , in addition to the pests and diseases that may bother all plant life in the genus .
Pests
Birdsand deer are big fan of blueberries of all varieties . Read morein our produce guidefor tip to protect your blueberry harvest from hungry herbivores .
In addition to insect blighter like maggot , mallet , and cat , highbush blueberry are sometimes attacked by blueberry tip borers .
The larvae ofHendecaneura shawianahatches in later leaping as the novel growing starts to indurate on plant life .
The caterpillars tunnel into the canes , manducate up to a fundament down the cane by the time winter arrives . They cause new shoots to wilt or curve , and the leaves may turn yellow with violent veins .
Prune infected cane to get rid of them . If you notice damage on your plants , cut the affected cane at least a infantry down , or cut back it away altogether .
Diseases
Keep an eye out for the postdate diseases .
There are no cultivars available that are resistant to everything , and not all diseases occur in all areas , so you might want to check with your local agricultural extension office to find out what to grow in your region to avoid job .
Blueberry mosaic ( BlMaV ) is thought to have live in native plant for centuries . It stimulate plant life increment to become stunted and you ’ll see the leaves start to turn yellow-bellied , pinkish , or mottled .
While most kind are repellent , it does impact a few different cultivars . Since there is no therapeutic for this computer virus , you must draw septic flora and destroy them .
Blueberry shock virus ( BIShV ) is common in the Pacific Northwest . It cause blossoms and blossom to fail off rapidly during the blooming geological period .
The leaf will return , but the plant wo n’t fruit . After a few days , the flora will return to normal , though the computer virus stay in the tissue .
It ’s carried from plant to plant by pollinator and contagion readiness in when plant are in bloom . Avoid susceptible cultivar and bribe evidence virus - complimentary come or plant .
In the home garden , there is n’t much you may do but rent the disease run its course . Commercial operations are often force to pick plants and start anew so it does n’t spread .
you could do this , but since the plants will continue producing as normal , you may opt to just live with it .
Not technically a disease , but rather a physiologic disorder get by a nutrient deficiency , greensickness takes place when the industrial plant does n’t receive enough iron and the leaves ca n’t produce chlorophyll .
You ’ll often see yellow or discolored foliage and the plant may be stunted . folio may also cast prematurely .
It is n’t needs that there is n’t enough iron in the soil , but rather , your plants may be ineffectual to access it because the soil is too alkaline . Anything above a pH of 6.0 may cause a problem .
In the unforesightful term , you could spray plants with chelate iron , which you could purchase at your local garden supplying storehouse or online .
You should also lend a stratum of sawdust mulch to protect the roots from overheating if you inhabit in an region with temperatures that give above 85 ° fluorine .
Stressors like overweening estrus reduce root growth and can also stimulate plants to have difficulty accessing branding iron in the soil .
Ripe rot , sometimes called anthracnose yield rot , has been annihilating to some orchards in the Pacific Northwest .
It ’s do by a fungus calledColletotrichum acutatum , which favors warm , moist circumstance . It ’s spread out by piss , whether that ’s in the form of rain , humidness , or irrigation .
The first thing you ’ll detect is a blackening of new shoot bakshish , play along by peak that depart to turn brown or black . You may finally see pink spores on infect berry .
You might pretermit the pinkish spores on the flora , but you ’re certain to acknowledge them when you harvest the fruit .
Spores are clean up by your hands or dick like clippers and will spread rapidly as you pluck the fruit and move from bush to bush .
Your good defense is to prove to meliorate air circulation and reduce wetness on plants . Do n’t urine from overhead and keep your plants pruned well .
check that to keep George Bush space well when you plant . you could also utilise a copper - base fungicide intervention , according to the manufacturer ’s direction .
Find more details in our blueberry plague and disease guide .
Harvesting
Highbush blueberries are the early species to start ripening , and some are ready to start hook as early as April in some areas .
Under idealistic weather , with the right soil , water , weather , and minimal equipment casualty from pests and disease , a undivided bush can produce nearly 20 pounds of Charles Edward Berry . Plants can go along to produce for up to 50 years .
Let the berries ripen fully on the plant before picking them .
How will you bed that it ’s time ? If you tug a berry , it should derive aside promptly . see at the fruit root ; it should be blue , not red or green . The berries should also be matte or dull , not shiny .
Berries growing in a clustering will mature unevenly , so some will be ready to go and others may need another few days to a calendar week .
foot the individual berries by hand and softly place them in a pail or basket .
berry taste unbelievable mightily off the bush when they are tender from the sunshine , but if you do n’t contrive on eating them aright away , stick them in a nerveless area or in the refrigerator .
This helps to improve their shelf life . Do n’t wash the fruits until you are ready to dig in .
get word to harvest blueberries in this guidebook .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
Recommended use for this luscious homegrown fruit are pretty all-inclusive .
Many of us are certain to love them as a topping on yoghourt or oatmeal for breakfast , or as a treat on methamphetamine hydrochloride cream or meringue for dessert , but do n’t forget that they ’re delicious in savory dishes as well !
you could make a sauce using fresh berries that is delicious as a topping on meat or fish . Or put them on diffuse brie on top of a slicing of toast .
Try making blueberry kefir at family , a tasty probiotic potable .
Our baby site Foodalhas the formula .
Or worst up these blueberry scone for breakfast – you canfind the recipe on Foodal .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Prolific and Beautiful
If you ’re willing to put in the effort , highbush blueberry will give you more fruit than you could probably handle , all while adding smasher to your yard .
On top of that , I call up homegrown blueberries are far superior to the ones you’re able to buy at the memory board .
And for more entropy ongrowing blueberriesand other berries in your garden , check out these guides next :
Photos by Fanny Slater , Kelli McGrane , and Kristine Lofgren © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more particular . Originally issue March 26th , 2021 . Last update April 2nd , 2023 . Product picture via Arbico Organics , Arbor Day Foundation Store , Burpee , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited pic : Shutterstock .
About
Kristine Lofgren
