Blueberry

Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum, is a crown forming, woody, perennial shrub in the family Ericaceae grown for its fruits, or berries, of the same name. The blueberry plant possesses oval or elliptical leaves which grow alternately on the stems. The stems, or twigs, are yellow/green in color and turn reddish in winter. Flowers are bell shaped and can be either white or pink, occurring in clusters of 8 to 10 flowers. Berries are blue to black in color and 0.6–1.3 cm (0.25–0.5 in) in size. Lowbush blueberry plants (including Vaccinium angustifolium) are smaller in stature, reaching heights of 35 to 60 cm (13.8–23.6 in) and with proper management can produce fruit for between 40 and 50 years. Lowbush blueberries are also sometimes referred to as Maine, New Hampshire or wild blueberry and are native to eastern/central Canada and northeastern United States. Highbush blueberries (including Vaccinium corymbosum) are generally 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) in height but can reach up to 5 m (16.4 ft) and may also be referred to as huckleberry or swamp blueberry. Highbush blueberry accounts for most of the commercial production of blueberry fruit and is also native only to North America.

Crop Details

Scientific Name: Vaccinium corymbosum

Common Name: arandano (Sp); airelle à corymbes (Fr); Kulturheidelbeere (Germany)

Fall foliage

Blueberry blossoms

Flooded blueberry bog

Blueberry field

Foliage

Ripening berries

Foliage

Blueberries

Blueberry fruit on bush

Blueberries can be eaten fresh or can be dried or baked for further processing. Frozen or pureed berries are commonly used to make jams and preserves and baked goods. Lowbush blueberry is commonly used to make wine. blueberries are an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, iron and a number of antioxidants. 

Basic Requirements

Lowbush blueberry grows best in well-drained, acidic soils with a pH between 4.5 and 4.8 and should be planted in early Spring as purchased plants or as “plugs” (a small cutting, including root, from an established bush). The newly planted blueberry should be covered in a couple of inches of mulch to conserve moisture in the soil. Any flowers produced by the plants should be removed for at least one year after planting to promote vigor and new growth.

Growing from Seed

Highbush blueberry can be propagated from seeds, cuttings from an established plant or bare root and should be planted in late Fall. Blueberry plants grow best in well drained, highly acidic soils with a pH between 4.5 and 5.8. The plants have a shallow root system and should be planted in a hole at least twice as large as the existing root system and mulched with a 7-10 cm (3-4 in) layer of organic mulch.

General Care and Maintenance

The first year of blossom should be removed to encourage new growth and it is also recommended to do the same in the second year. Plants should be pruned annually, particularly after the first two years, to promote plant vigour and remove diseased or broken canes. Irrigation is recommended due to the shallow root system and greatly promotes the fruit yield this practice is highly recommended if growing commercially.

Plants should be pruned by cutting close to the ground and a pruned plant will not produce any fruit in the first year, but in the second year subsequent to pruning their should be a good yield. Growth can be stimulated by field-burning, as these plants are very fire-tolerant.

CABI Crop Protection Compendium. (2008). Vaccinium datasheet. Available at: http://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/55994. [Accessed 07 November 14]. Paid subscription required.

Caruso, F. L. & Ramsdell, D. C. (1995). Compendium of Blueberry and Cranberry Diseases. American Phytopathological Society Press. Available at: http://www.apsnet.org/apsstore/shopapspress/Pages/41736.aspx. Available for purchase from APS Press.

Lord, W. (2001). Growing Highbush Blueberries. University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Available at: http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000578_Rep600.pdf. [Accessed 07 November 14]/ Free to access.

Lord, W. (2013). Wild New Hampshire Blueberries. University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Available at: http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/resource001686_rep2265.pdf. [Accessed 07 November 14]/ Free to access.

Nelson, G. & Davis, K. (2002). Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum L.. United States Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Fact Sheet. Available at: http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_vaco.pdf. [Accessed 07 November 14]/ Free to access.