Blueberries – Vaccinium corymbosum A MEMBER OF THE ERICACCAE FAMILY

dens have alkaline soil of around 6.5.

the heavy clusters of fruit do not all ripen together.

Blueberries and I have never been great friends, I truly have tried with them, and it seems to me you can either grow them really well or not at all.

My best success was growing them in bags of straight peat. Books I read say “one of the easiest berries to grow” but in garden centres customers regularly return for a repeat purchase, so seems that failure is not mine alone.

DESCRIPTION

Described as a deciduous shrub growing 1.2-1.8m high and 1.2 to 1.5m wide. Hardy with white dainty bell like flowers. The leaves are usually dark green changing to reds and bronzes in autumn.

SOIL

They like free draining, rich, moist soil. Blueberries also need an acidic soil (ph. 4.5). Most gar-

So when planting your blueberry consider adding peat or untreated sawdust into the hole.

When To Plant

The optimum time for planting is in winter, when the plant is dormant.

Know that their roots are shallow, fibrous and delicate.

They are cold hardy, needing chilling hours for their fruit to set.

Fruiting

They produce fruit from Oct thru to April – variety dependant. There are three distinct fruiting season within these months. Early, mid and late. The berries can take 3 months to ripen. Start picking 7 days after the first berries turn blue and harvest only the completely blue fruit.

Selective picking is necessary, as

Plant Health

Most blueberries are self- fertile, but fruit set is improved by cross pollination. To ensure good pollination and a long picking season, put in 2 each of 4-6 different varieties.

Space plants 1.5 to 1.8 metres apart if you want to future proof them.

Healthy bushes can produce 3-10 kg of fruit each season and they can remain productive for 15-20 years.

My reading tells me their favourite fertiliser is poultry manure and like all berries, they are best watered at ground level, to prevent splitting and fungal rot.

TYPES

There are 3 types of Blueberries. NORTHERN HIGHBUSH

These have high winter chill requirements. Flowers in mid spring and ripen Dec – March.

SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH

Best grown in warmer parts of the country where their late winter flowers are less likely to be hit by frosts. They ripen Oct – Dec.

RABBITEYE

Flowers in early spring, so need to be protected from frosts. This type is far more tolerant of drought, heat and less than optimal soil conditions. They ripen in Dec – April.

PESTS

Blueberries have few disease and insect problems, so best not to spray.

PRUNE

In winter by removing old and weak branches. Open up the bush and let the light in.

Be aware that Blueberries bear fruit on the wood made in the previous seasons growth. Strong branches produce large berries and weak branches/small berries.

Propagation

Take cuttings off last season’s growth. Take shoots in dormancy (late winter). Usually 12 cm lengths. Dip in rooting hormone and insert into a mixture of peat moss and coarse sand. They can be troublesome to strike. Keep moist and spray with fungicide to prevent rotting.

BIRDS

They are the nemesis of any blueberry grower. Blueberries, cherries and red currants are any birds favourite food. Plants will need to be netted or a frame made. Consider this when planting your blueberry.