One of my favorite summertime treats is homegrown blueberries. Their sweet-tart flavor is great for eating by blending into pancake mix, baking in pies, or cooking down and making jam.
Although some people may not be interested in growing blueberries at home, under the correct circumstances, this crop might be the ideal addition to portions of the garden with acidic, well-draining soil (for example, close to a stand of pine trees) and full light.
Dwarf varieties can even be grown in containers on the patio. Additionally, pink or white blooms and colourful fall leaves, increase the attractiveness of an ornamental garden.
Native to North America, Elizabeth White and Fred Coville created the first hybrid cultivar developed in New Jersey at the turn of the 20th century, and they have since become incredibly popular.
Biloxi
This cultivar of Southern Highbush was created at Mississippi State University and is only recently available. Additionally, it works well in low or even no chill conditions.
"Biloxi" may thrive in your environment even if you live in a growing zone where there aren't enough nights with temperatures below freezing to produce other forms of fruit. Even if you plant it in a colder region, you may still anticipate some fruit because it really grows better with less than 150 chill hours every season.
Plant on acidic soil treated with pine mulch and peat in a location with full light for medium-sized berries that are available for picking early in the season.
Bluecrop
The Northern Highbush cultivar "Bluecrop" is upright, open-growing, and spreading, and you can anticipate it to grow at a medium rate, reaching a mature height of around five to six feet with a spread of four to six feet.
Green leaves that turn scarlet in the fall on red stalks offer decorative appeal into the winter at a medium growth rate. Most significantly, the medium-sized, firm, pale blue fruit is prized for its superb flavor and hardiness.
Blueray
This Northern Highbush cultivar is renowned for being a superb variety to grow alongside other highbush varieties for cross-pollination.
The mid-season ‘Blueray’ berries are known for being crack resistant, with a strong blueberry flavor, fragrance, and firm flesh.
Fall foliage changes from green to scarlet, reaching a maximum height of five to six feet and a spread of three to four feet.
The mid-season "Blueray" berries are renowned for their solid flesh, potent blueberry taste, and resistance to cracking.
Since this type is noted for overproducing, it will naturally set an excess of fruit that might stress the plant, so it needs to be pruned regularly and carefully.
Brightwell
One of the largest varieties, it may reach a maximum height of eight to ten feet, spreads fairly equally, and produces huge fruit.
A variety is known as rabbiteye, with berries that ripen to a blue colour from pink.
With this self-fruiting variety, you may expect abundant harvests; but you can always expect greater yields by cross-pollinating with another plant. It is advised to use Climax or Tifblue.
Although 'Brightwell' may tolerate some shade, fruit-bearing plants always benefit from full light. It bears beautiful pink flowers and has green foliage that changes to crimson and orange Colour in the fall.
Pink Popcorn
These blueberries, one of the most unique kinds, are actually pink when mature and have the same flavor as your typical blueberries.
'Pink Popcorn' is a compact Northern Highbush cultivar that matures to a height and spread of 4-5 feet and requires peaty, acidic soil and consistent moisture.
This variety has dark green Leave that turns red in the fall, white flowers, and a medium rate of growth.
These plants produce a lot of berries and fruit that are ready to be picked early to midseason. They self-pollinate, are disease resistant, and require little maintenance.
