Along with lip-smacking sweetness, flower and foliage are also worthy reasons to grow blueberries. White, bell-shaped blossoms make a lovely addition to a spring garden and fiery scarlet foliage adds drama to a fading autumn landscape. In addition to taste and appearance, blueberries are ripe with medical advantages; they help lower cholesterol and studies suggest that blueberries also reduce the risk of some cancers.
Types of Blueberries
1. Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are those usually found in the produce department of your grocery. As you might expect, they are named because the bushes grow to 6-feet in height. Fruits are large, from ½ to an inch in diameter. Depending on variety, highbush blueberries are hardy from Zones 4 through 11.
2. Lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) generally reach no more than 18-inches in height. Propagated from shoots spread through underground runners, lowbush blueberries form low mats of plants that produce best on a two-year cycle. The first year is the growth year and the second year is the fruiting year. The sweet, quarter-inch fruits of lowbush blueberries commonly are known as Wild Blueberries and are hardy in Zones 3 through 6.
3. Half-high blueberries (V. corymbosum x V. angustifolium) are a hybrid between lowbush and highbush cultivars. Although shorter than high-bush blueberries, half-high grow in much the same way as their taller relatives. Taste and size meet halfway between highbush and lowbush. An extra advantage for the northern grower is that half-high blueberries were especially bred to withstand the heavy snowfalls and cold winters of inland North America and are hardy to Zone 3.
4. Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei), native to the Southeastern United States, are the tallest of the blueberry bushes, reaching up to 10-feet in height. Because of their thick skins, rabbiteye blueberries are able to withstand southern heat in zones seven through nine.
Site Selection
All types of blueberries grow best in full sun. Plants tolerate partial shade, but production declines as shade increases. Blueberries are shallow rooted and poor competitors against large rooted trees, shrubs, and weeds that compete for water, nutrients, and crowd airways necessary to good blueberry production.
The most important element is growing blueberries is soil composition. To make the most of your blueberry planting, begin necessary soil amendments the year before planting. Blueberries grow best in loose, sandy loam. Although you may run across wild blueberries growing in a bog, on closer inspection you'll see that plants grow on small, natural hills.
Blueberries need moisture retentive, well-drained, humus-rich soil with good aeration. Soil acidity is also very important in growing blueberries. Plants need a pH of 4.0 to no more than 5.0 to thrive. Initially, bring the pH down to acceptable levels with sulphur or 4 to 6 inches of acid peat mixed into the first 6 to 8 inches of topsoil. Also, enrich soil with good organic compost.
Planting blueberries
Although most blueberries self-pollinate, plant two or more varieties within a type for a larger harvest of more voluptuous fruits. Five plants provide enough blueberries for fresh eating, drying, and preserving for a family of four.
Plant blueberries in spring after all danger of frost passes. When growing several plants, you may find it easier to prepare a bed rather than digging holes for individual plants. Add a generous portion of peat moss to your trench or hole both to increase the organic content and to ensure continued soil acidity.
Standard spacing for highbush, half-high, and rabbiteye bushes is five to six feet apart in rows eight to ten feet distant. Dig holes or make your row three to four inches deeper than the size of the root balls. Pack soil firmly around the roots of each plant.
Plant lowbush varieties one to three feet apart in rows three to four feet distant. Cover about a third of the top stems with soil to encourage runners to develop.
Once established, a blueberry bush may remain productive for decades with just a minimum of care. The second part of this article is available on the www.gardening-guides.com. The site Linda writes for.
Linda is an author of Gardening Tips Tricks and Howto's. The next part of this article is available at our site Gardening-Guides.com,
where you can also download the whole series as a free full color e-book. Just follow the links.
The no dig garden is exactly what it describes...a fertile... Read More
Well it is now September, and the mornings are great... Read More
If your fish hang out at the bottom of the... Read More
You've found a great Porch Swing and you know exactly... Read More
There's a new garden in town. It is (mostly) easy... Read More
Purchased corn, whether on the cob or in a can... Read More
Traditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome... Read More
There is nothing more cheerful than vases full of fresh... Read More
Just about right now, we start to see moss on... Read More
Cattleya Care: a bit more in-depth.This month we are going... Read More
Push Reel Mowers are making a "comeback" of sorts, though,... Read More
All your hard work has paid off, and now you... Read More
The bright yellow flowers of the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)... Read More
In Orchid Care The Flower Will Tell You About Some... Read More
Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from... Read More
Every Garden can benefit from the addition of container gardens.... Read More
Since Victorian times metal garden furniture has become a popular... Read More
To help gardeners choose flowers, various systems for rating hardiness... Read More
I recently bought a small tractor for my garden, which... Read More
Most riding lawn mowers are machines fun ride and extremely... Read More
Rising from a muddy pond, a lotus flower blossoms. Such... Read More
Mention metal patio furniture and you probably think of the... Read More
I would like to know...WHO STOLE SUMMER???What did you do... Read More
Traditionally Hindu tepmples were located either on hills or forests... Read More
Whenever you decide to look for a butterfly house for... Read More
Imagine that you want to stay warm in your backyard... Read More
The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people... Read More
One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding... Read More
It is unavoidable, Fall is coming and we like to... Read More
There is a lot of concern about herbicides and what... Read More
Hybrid tea roses and the original tea rose are the... Read More
When creating a comfortable, usable outdoor space, nothing could me... Read More
The easiest way to build a shed in the backyard... Read More
Here's where your creative instincts kick in. This is where... Read More
Gardening is a hobby that brings joy, entertainment, and a... Read More
The number one, most asked question that I receive about... Read More
Copy-write 2005 Jan Money.Hydroponics gardening offers many advantages to the... Read More
If you're looking for a beautiful, old world garden style,... Read More
Have you noticed you do not see as many butterflies... Read More
Okay, so you have agonized for weeks and finally went... Read More
If you are a gardener you probably already do a... Read More
The history of artificial or fake grass is to say... Read More
Recently I got involved with gardening. Preior to that, all... Read More
Flowers are a favorite of many backyard gardeners. Thanks to... Read More
Flowers can be an integral part of cooking. While most... Read More
Flower gardening is not only about the present, but can... Read More
Having a beautiful and functional landscape is every homeowners dream.... Read More
Without a doubt, hummingbirds are beautiful and interesting creatures.Those living... Read More
Installing a backyard fish pond is an aesthetic addition to... Read More
Yellow roses are beauties, aren't they? Don't they look beautiful... Read More
Push Reel Mowers are making a "comeback" of sorts, though,... Read More
Growing your own seedlings is very gratifying and far more... Read More
There are many reasons for creating an indoor garden ?... Read More
Composting is where the gardening thing comes full circle. You've... Read More
A property that has a well manicured lawn has one... Read More
Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and... Read More
Earthworms are a gardener's best friend.Research has shown that earthworm... Read More
When choosing a new greenhouse for your garden there are... Read More
Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying,... Read More
Is it possible for a garden sundial to tell perfect... Read More
You'll often hear garden writers recommending the use of Epsom... Read More
Materials Needed 1 decorative clay or metal planter 1 package... Read More
Landscape lighting can add a beautiful quality to any home.... Read More
Rising from a muddy pond, a lotus flower blossoms. Such... Read More
Whenever you decide to look for a butterfly house for... Read More
As our global community continues to expand we often find... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |