There is no better tasting blueberry than ones that are grown and picked fresh in your backyard garden. Blueberries are high in antioxidants, low in calories and sodium. They contains no cholesterol and are high in fiber, folic acid, carotenoids, vitamins C, A and B. A major component of the fiber is pectin, which is known for its ability to lower blood cholesterol levels. Blueberries have a very sweet flavor and can be eaten fresh or used to make jams, jellies, preserves, and even juice.
The first step in having a successful blueberry crop is to plant varieties that are best for your climate. Blueberries produce a large fruit and will produce a bigger crop if they are planted with different varieties to allow for cross pollination. When planting blueberries with multiple varieties that have different maturity dates you will lengthen the harvesting season.
There are a few different types of blueberries. Highbush blueberries are the type that are usually found in supermarkets. They are named because there large, dark berries grow on a bush that can grow from six to eight feet high. The northern highbush blueberries grow best in zones 4-7. There popular northern varieties include 'Blueray,' 'Bluecrop,' 'Jersey,' and 'Patriot.' Southern highbush types, which grow best in zones 7-10,they include 'Cape Fear,' 'Gulfcoast,' 'O'Neal,' and 'Blue Ridge'.
Lowbush blueberries are a hardy plant that is good for zones 3-6. This makes them a great choice for gardeners who live where winter temperatures regularly drop below zero. They are a ground-hugging low-bush. There stems grow only six to eighteen inches high and spread by underground runners. The berries are small and sweet, with a powdery, sky blue blossom. There are a few varieties of low bush blueberries and plant size will vary from one seedling to the next.
Half-high blueberries were born when growers cross pollinated the high-bush blueberries that grows best in zones 7-10 to the cold-hardiness of low-bush that does best in zones 3-6. These plants don't grow as tall as the high-bush and they don't spread by underground runners. Some of the varieties of a half-high blueberry are 'Friendship,' 'Polaris,' 'Northland,' and 'North-blue.'
Rabbiteye blueberries grow best in zones 7 to 9. This gives southern gardeners another option besides the southern high-bush. They are typically smaller than high-bush blueberry and they ripen later in the season. There are newer varieties like 'Bonita' and 'Climax'. Rabbiteye bushes can grow to ten or more feet tall and the plants are less fussy about the soil they grow in than other types of blueberries are.
Blueberries like there soil to be well aerated, moist, very high in humus, and very acidic. These soil conditions are not difficult to create. First you will need to do a soil test. The ph level that blueberries like is between 4 and 5.5. If you need to alter the soil to make it more acidic you can do this by mixing in sulfur the season before you plant your blueberries, sulfur is a natural mineral. The amount of sulfur to use is going to depend on your soil's existing pH level and the soil's texture. It can range from as little as one pound per hundred square feet to seven pounds per hundred square feet. If you indicate on your soil test that you want to plant blueberries in the area of your soil sample most testing laboratories will tell you the amount of sulfur to use or if any other amendments are needed. When applying surfer you want to mix it into the top six inches of soil across the area of the plants fully matured root zone.
Planting blueberries is a fairly simple job. The spacing of the plants is going to be different depending on what variety you choose. Low bush blueberries need to be spaced two feet apart, highbush need to be six feet apart and rabbiteyes need to be spaced fifteen feet apart. Once you have the hole for the plants dug, you want to mix composted leaves into the soil. This will help with maintaining the acidity of the soil below the plant, soil aeration, retain moisture and add nutrients.
Once you have finished the planting, mulch around the plants with a three to four inch layer of compost, straw or shredded leaves. When applying mulch keep the mulch away from the stem of the plant. The mulch will help to suppress the weeds, retain moisture, add nutrients to the soil and keep the ground cooler.
Blueberries like between one to two inches of water per week. Once your plants are planted keep checking to make sure that the soil around them doesn't dry out. Keeping the newly planted blueberry plants watered is very important until they are fully settled in. Keeping a rain gauge setup in your garden is a good way to know what the rain fall amounts were in your garden. If there is a time where there is a lack of rain you can water the plants with a gallon container or watering can, figure about one gallon of water for every square foot of root zone area.
For the first two years it is best to remove any buds that form on the plant to let it get fully established. There isn't much care that needs to be give to blueberry plants for the first two years. The third year once the plants are fully established and start producing berries you should do a soil test to maintain the acidic levels of the soil, blueberries don't like a rich soil. After the third year you can start a late winter pruning and remove the old wood that is unproductive to make room for new young growth to start. Pruning will aid the plant into producing a larger and sweeter berry.
Once your plants start to produce berries care needs to be taken to protect the berries from birds. Birds will eat every berry that are on the plant. The only way to protect this from happening is by netting or building a wire cage around the plants.
A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.
John Yazo
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