Why Not Grow Your Own Blueberries?

Why Not Grow Your Own Blueberries?
By Michael J McGroarty

Blueberries are good for you! They are low in calories, low in sodium and contain no cholesterol. They are a good source of fiber and they contain pectin which is known to lower blood cholesterol levels. They are said to help prevent bladder infections and are said to have some ability in preventing some kinds of cancers.

Blueberries are easy to grow, but it takes them three years before they produce much fruit and almost six years to get fully up to speed.

If you are in a northern state like Ohio you want Highbush Blueberry plants. If you are in a southern state, you want Rabbiteye or Southern Highbush Blueberry plants.

High bush blueberries are the most common "garden" varieties. Northern high bush varieties grow in zones 4-7. Southern high bush varieties grow in zones 5-9. Southern high Bush varieties tend to have smaller berries than the Northern high bush varieties, but they are much more heat tolerant. High bush blueberry plants grow to an average height of 6-8 feet. Sometimes they will grow as high as 12 feet. When planting, space them 3-4 feet apart. Stems become unproductive after 6 years and should be pruned off.

Rabbiteye blueberries get their name because the berry turns a pink shade (like a rabbit's eye) before ripening to blue. Rabbiteye are low chill varieties suited for zones 7-9. They can be grown in colder zones, but because of their low chilling requirements they are apt to produce berries early. You might lose a crop to spring frost.
Rabbiteye blueberries are more tolerable of drought and poor soil conditions than the other varieties. Surprising to most people, they are actually taller than the high bush varieties. Rabbiteye, if left alone, can reach heights of 20 feet!

Blueberry plants will produce fruit if you only plant one kind of Blueberry, but if you plant more than one cultivar in your berry patch your plants will produce more fruit and the fruit will be larger. So if possible plant two different varieties so they can cross-pollinate.

Like most plants Blueberries really like good rich soil that drains well. They need water on a regular basis when first planted, but don't keep the soil soggy all
the time. Allow it to dry between watering.

Plants should be at least 4' apart, 5' would be better.

For the first 3 years little pruning is required. By the 4th year you can remove all dead wood from inside the plant, and remove any branches that are criss-crossing inside the plant. All remaining branches need plenty of sunlight and air flow.

It's a good idea to put a layer of mulch over the root zone of Blueberry plants to maintain moisture, uniform soil temperatures and control weeds.

By years 5 and 6 you will be in Blueberry heaven and your Blueberry plants will just keep right on producing an ample crop of Blueberries for many years to come.
Just keep them pruned. In the colder states normal pruning is done in mid March. Warmer states prune much earlier.

Have a Blueberry good time!

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