Table of Contents
Blueberry bushes can grow all over the U.S., and farmers in 26 states produce blueberries commercially. More than 98% of that production happens in just 10 states, spanning the country from coast to coast: Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Michigan, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Texas and Minnesota.
Where is the best place to plant blueberry bushes?
Select a sunny, sheltered spot. While blueberries are tolerant of shade, better crops are obtained in the sun. At the same time, they should not be exposed to harsh, drying winds. Don’t plant blueberries too close to trees, as the trees will not only block out sunlight, but will also suck up any moisture in the soil.
Where do blueberries grow naturally?
For over 10,000 years, native wild blueberries have grown in the thin, acidic, glacial soils of Maine and Canada, where they thrive in the cold, harsh climates and form a lush, natural carpet across the land.
What climate do blueberries grow in?
Blueberries are typically grown in humid, northern climates that have winter chills, mild summers and low-pH or acidic soils, conditions that limit their range. But many new varieties are available for lower chill areas, very warm areas, as well as coastal areas. The blueberry now has an enormous range.
Do blueberry bushes grow wild?
Cultivated blueberries take careful planning and planting, whereas wild blueberries grow naturally in fields and rocky hills called barrens. No one plants wild blueberries; they’ve grown naturally for thousands of years. Because wild blueberries grow on their own, they are a low-maintenance crop.
Can blueberries get too much sun?
Blueberries grow best in full sun. Plants will tolerate partial shade, but too much shade causes plants to produce fewer blossoms and less fruit.
Can blueberries grow in shade?
Blueberry plants need full sun: Blueberries will tolerate partial shade, especially late in the day. Blueberries will grow in higher pH, but to achieve highest production, you will need to amend the soil around the plants.
Are blueberries hard to grow?
Growing blueberries can be challenging. Sometimes the leaves turn yellow in the middle of the growing season. Other challenges include stunted growth and poor quality fruit. Sometimes the flower buds wilt and the berries start to look like little gray pumpkins.
Where do blueberries come from in the winter?
During the winter months most of the blueberries you see in the grocery store are from the Southern Hemisphere, where our winter is their summer. Chile is the largest blueberry producer in the Southern Hemisphere followed by Argentina and New Zealand.
Can you grow blueberries year round?
You can enjoy blueberries in all their forms all year long – including fresh and frozen blueberries straight from the farm.
Can blueberries grow in hot weather?
Choose from the Southern Highbush blueberry varieties, which are happy in warm areas. They’re self-pollinating but you’ll get even more fruit if you plant different varieties together.
How hot is too hot for blueberries?
As long as temperatures are about 65-85 F, fields are well irrigated, stocked with enough managed bee colonies and have abundant wild bee populations, there should be excellent blueberry fruit set this year. That is a lot of things that need to go right! Hot air is coming into Michigan this week.
How long does it take for a blueberry tree to bear fruit?
Highbush blueberry plants usually require six to eight years to reach full production and range from 5 to 8 feet high at maturity. Highbush blueberry plants usually require six to eight years to reach full production and range from 5 to 8 feet high at maturity.
Are huckleberries and blueberries the same?
Strik said while true huckleberries are related to blueberries, it’s an entirely different genus. “What we commonly called huckleberry [in the West] are native blueberry species, and all the different huckleberries that we have here are genus Vaccinium which is the same genus as commercial blueberries,” Strik said.
Where do you find wild blueberries?
As their name suggests, wild blueberries can be found in abandoned fields, along the side of the road, in forests and on mountains. These hardy plants spread through seeds and the development of rhizomes, or underground stems.
Will blueberries spread?
Blueberry plants will gradually spread from their growing location through a process called suckering. Some plants, like blackberries, spread aggressively using this method, but the spread of blueberries is slow and not invasive in the home garden.
Do I need 2 blueberry bushes to get fruit?
Answer:Blueberry plants are self-fertile (each flower has the necessary male and female parts), however you still should buy more than one variety. That’s because a blueberry plant produces more berries and bigger berries when it cross pollinates with a different blueberry variety.
How often should I water blueberries?
Give them at least 1″ per week during growing season and up to 4″ per week during fruit ripening. Keep the soil moist to a depth of 1″. Water evenly on all sides of the plant. Insufficient water when the buds start to grow in late summer and when fruit is developing the following summer can lead to smaller berries.
How do you winterize blueberry bushes?
Protect the blueberry bush from cold winter winds and ice damage by wrapping it in burlap. Start at the top of the plant and cover the bush with burlap, pinning the material together. Continue wrapping until the entire bush is covered. Leave the burlap on the blueberry bush until spring.
Do blueberries prefer morning or afternoon sun?
Plant blueberry bushes in full sun for best production. Plants will tolerate late afternoon shade. Blueberries prefer well drained soil.
How tall do blueberry bushes get?
Blueberry Planting Tips Blueberries are grouped by plant size. Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Jubilee’, for example) are 6 to 12 feet tall at maturity, while half-high blueberries (such as Vaccinium ‘Chippewa’) usually grow 2 to 4 feet tall.
How long do blueberry bushes live?
With proper care and in the right environment, blueberry bushes live 50 years or more.
