Did you know blueberries are good pollinators for bees? In fact, lots of different types of bees! It’s just another great reason to plant them in your landscape that isn’t all about the pancakes. (Though, who are we kidding? It’s always about the pancakes.) Read about blueberry pollinating bees here.
Now, let’s talk about selecting, planting and caring for your blueberry bushes…
Blueberry Varieties
There are five primary varieties grown throughout the United States.
- Lowbush: Zone 3-7, think Maine
- Northern highbush: Zone 4-7, Western North Carolina
- Southern highbush: Zone 8-10, south of WNC
- Rabbiteye: Zone 7-9, again, head south
- Half-high: Zone 3-6, hybrids of highbush and lowbush, which do well here
Northern highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum) is the most widely grown in commercial production and among homeowners. It’s disease-resistant and self-pollinating. And…Planting two allows for cross-pollination, resulting in bigger, better fruit even on self-pollinators.
Blueberry Buddies
Planting multiples with different maturity dates will spread the harvest out, but for pollination purposes, you do need two of the same type that bloom simultaneously.
- ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Blueray’ are both highbush, mid-season bloomers. Plant them together.
- ‘Bluegold’ and ‘Jersey’ are both highbush, late-season bloomers. You’d plant them together.
When picking your blueberry, choose the right type for your zone and the one that makes your taste buds happy.
- Prefer sweet? Go with ‘Blueray.’
- Like slightly tart? Try ‘Chippewa.’
Planting Blueberries
- Blueberries require acidic soil high in organic matter and well-drained, but not dry. Don’t assume because you live in Western North Carolina that you have acidic soil. The pH is best between 4 and 5. A quick soil test will tell you what your pH is. (We have soil test kits available at B.B. Barns.) Adding proper amendments will help in the landscape, but don’t forget you can grow the BrazelBerries® varieties in containers. Container-grown blueberries like these are easy because you can create the perfect soil environment in a container.
- Bushes should be planted in the early spring and can handle some shade, but dense shade is not an option. Blueberry bushes fruit best in full sun, but afternoon shade is acceptable.
- Space bushes five feet apart to help with cross-pollination.
- Do not apply fertilizer when planting, but add it two weeks or up to a month later. Espoma Holly-tone fertilizer helps with the soil acidity (suitable for your rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas, too). Established plants only need fertilizer once a season.
- Amend the soil when planting based on your soil needs, and try Daddy Pete’s Composted Cow Manure for top dressing. (Our staff can explain the different amendments to you to help you decide what’s best for you.)
Blueberry bushes in the fall add color to the landscape. Their spring blossoms are beautiful, and they’re easy to maintain. The berries are the bonus. Even if you decide the birds can have them, they’re worth the real estate in your landscape.
Caring for Blueberries
- Blueberries are thirsty plants, and they require one to two inches of water a week.
- Skip pruning for the first three to four years. Then prune to stimulate better fruit production and keep bushes thinned out for better air circulation and sunlight penetration. Pruning time is late winter before spring growth begins.
- Mulching helps keep shallow blueberry roots moist. Two to four inches of pine needles is perfect.
- Drape netting over the bushes before the berries ripen. Birds will make off with even green berries.
- The birds are the pests, and sometimes powdery mildew is an issue.
Harvesting Blueberries
- Blueberries are ready for picking in mid July to August.
- Eating them fresh is best, but freezing them is easy.
Finally: The Pancakes
Finally, the reward. Pancakes. If you don’t have your own recipe, try this one… Enjoy!
