Blueberry
(Vaccinium corymbosum)
Northern Highbush Blueberries are by nature acid-loving bog plants with shallow roots requiring constant and consistent moisture, but never water logged. The degree of acidity required by blueberries can be quite a challenge to achieve and has led some to give up trying. But, if given the right growing conditions blueberries can be very easy to grow.
A fail-safe way to grow blueberries in almost any soil is to incorporate peat moss into the planting medium. For planting directly in the ground, work up a planting area approximately 2½ feet in diameter and 1 foot deep for each plant. Remove 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil. Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix well. (One 4 cubic foot compressed bale will usually be sufficient for 4-5 plants.)
Where the soil is not ideal or marginally-drained, raised beds or containers are an excellent option. In a container environment, it can be easier to regulate growing media and moisture. A mature blueberry bush can be around 6-7 feet tall and wide so select a suitable size container. Fill it with a high organic potting mix such as potting mixes intended for Azaleas. Or make your own mix using equal parts peat moss and composted bark, commonly called "dark bark fines". Be sure to not use cedar or redwood bark due to issues with toxicity.
Make sure your blueberry plant is located in a sunny spot and be careful to keep the soil consistently moist, but never soggy. Fertilize monthly during the growing season, but be sure to use only acid based fertilizers derived from sulfate (never nitrate) such as you would find in fertilizers intended for Azaleas. Organic growers can use cottonseed, blood meal, fish meal - but no potash. Stop feeding in August, since the plant needs to slow down vegetative growth and set flower/fruit buds for the next season.
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Blue Crop, Early Mid-Season, Highbush Blueberry
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The Blue Crop Northern Highbush Blueberry is a very popular variety that is considered to be one of the best all around northern highbush blueberry varieties for both commercial and home gardening applications. It is a consistent producer of excellent quality, sweet and large fruits (65 berries per cup) with yields ranging from 10-20 pounds per plant at maturity depending upon cultural care. Blue Crop is also very adaptable, drought resistant, disease resistant and has excellent ornamental value with it's good green color in the summer and fiery red color in the fall. Early mid-season producer. The plants grow 4-6 feet tall with a naturally upright growing habit and are cold hardy to USDA zone 4.
Partially self-fertile - plant near a different variety of blueberry for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Blue Gold, Late Mid-Season, Highbush Blueberry
Selected in 1989, Blue Gold is a dependable producer of medium sized, very sweet, excellent quality and firm blueberries with excellent flavor. The fruits ripen uniformly and clusters are large making this one of the easiest cultivars for hand harvesting, but mechanical harvesting is feasible, too. Height of the bush will vary at around 4-5 feet. Growth is compact and low growing, producing many branches. To encourage upright growth, prune heavily. Even though Blue Gold is short in stature, it yields heavily. It can supply the same quantity of quality fruit produced on the taller highbush (averaging 12 pounds per plant in commercial production).
Blue Gold is tolerant to fluctuating temperatures and extremely cold climates. In areas where the winter temperatures were -35 degrees F, bud damage did not occur. Late mid-season producer. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
Plant near a different variety of Blueberry for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Blueray, Mid-Season, Highbush Blueberry
An old favorite, Blueray features large bright blue berries with outstanding dessert flavor making this a leading variety of U-Pick markets. Plants grow upright 4-6 feet tall and have excellent ornamental value with their stunning pink spring flowers, dark green color in summer and burgundy red in fall. Blueray performs well in areas with hot summers and very cold winters. Ripens early to mid-season. Can weep with weight of fruit. Cold hardy to USDA Zone 4.
Plant near a different variety of Blueberry for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Earliblue, Early Season, Highbush Blueberry
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A vigorous variety, Earliblue grows about 6 feet tall with a spread of about 5 feet. It produces large crops of medium to large, sweet and flavorful berries which are great for both fresh eating or processing. The foliage of this variety is dark green turning a brilliant red in the fall. Hardy to USDA zone 4. Early season producer.
Partially self-fertile - plant near a different variety of Blueberry (preferably an early or mid-season producer) for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Hardiblue, Mid-Season, Highbush Blueberry
Hardiblue is an old and very well established variety in the Northwest that is known for its heavy crops of superior flavored, very sweet berries. The dark blue, medium sized fruit is perfect for fresh eating or for making delicious muffins and pancakes.
Growing 4-6 feet tall, Hardiblue has a reputation for being adaptable to many soil types, including heavier clay soils. This variety makes for a nice ornamental as well with it's bright red fall color and in the winter, the wood is a dark red color which makes for striking contrast in a glittery-white winter landscape. Cold hardy to USDA zone 4.
Plant near a different variety of Blueberry for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Nelson, Late Season, Blueberry
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A dependably heavy producer, Nelson produces large berries of high quality. The firm berries are born in loose clusters making it easy to separate the ripe fruit from the stems. The flavor is tangy-sweet and is perfect for all uses including fresh eating, processing, baking and freezing. The bush has an upright growing habit maturing to 5-7 feet tall. Yields are consistently high averaging 12-15 pounds per plant at maturity. One of the most outstanding late-season varieties for fresh markets. Cold hardy to USDA zone 3.
Plant near a different variety of Blueberry (preferably a mid to late season producer) for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Olympia, Mid-Season, Highbush Blueberry
With very sweet and flavorful fruit of outstanding quality, Olympia is sure to be a favorite in your family. The large fruit is ideal for all uses including fresh eating, freezing, processing and cooking and has a very highly sought after flavor profile. The plants are vigorous growers with an upright habit that typically mature at about 6+ feet tall with yellow-red color in the fall. Olympia Blueberry can be susceptible to late spring frosts so be sure to plant this one in areas that have good cold-air drainage. Cold hardy to USDA Zone 5.
Plant near a different variety of Blueberry for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Patriot, Early Season, Highbush Blueberry
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Patriot is a cold hardy variety that bears consistent crops of large fruit. Production is high, ranging between 10 and 20 pounds at maturity. Ripening is usually early-mid July and continues to early-mid August. The fruit starts out quite large but berry size tends to get smaller the further into the season you get. The berries are firm, highly flavorful, and of high quality. Harvest is best done by hand, though mechanical harvest can be achieved during the final harvest. The bush has an upright habit growing 4-6 feet tall, and tends to spread when fruit is ripe. Ornamental use of Patriot is good. It is adaptable to many soil types and will perform better in wetter soils than many other varieties. Patriot seems to have resistance to Phytophthora cinnamoni root disease. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
Partially self-fertile - Plant near a different variety of Blueberry (preferably an early or mid-season variety) for cross-pollination and best fruit production.
Toro, Early Mid-Season, Highbush Blueberry
A newer variety of blueberry, Toro is a reliable producer of heavy crops of large, sky-blue berries. The berries are born in tight clusters and have excellent flavor - very sweet with low acidity. They are perfect for all uses including fresh eating, processing, baking and freezing. While not as fast a grower as some of the other varieties, Toro still matures at about 5-6 feet tall with a stocky, upright growing habit. The shrubs are quite attractive looking especially in the fall with their bright red autumn colors. They have shown remarkable tolerance to fluctuating winter temperatures and are hardy to USDA zone 4
Partially self-fertile - Plant near a different variety of blueberry (preferably an early or mid season producer) for cross-pollination and best fruit production.