On the other hand, pruning stimulates growth and increased productivity. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. Quite self-fertile. Small berries with a wild blueberry flavour. Plant part: Fruit. Blueberries are self-fruitful and will set fruit without cross-pollination but they do require “busy bees” for pollination and fruit set. Pruning is rarely needed in the first two years, just remove any crossing or misplaced branches. Feed container plants every month using a liquid fertilizer formulated for ericaceous (lime-hating) plants, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Blueberries are a vibrant and tiny blue fruit packed with nutrition. It flowers late, but ripens early making an ideal choice for areas with late frosts. Mulch plants in open ground in spring or autumn with 7-8cm (2½-3in) layer of acidic or neutral organic matter, such as composted sawdust, composted or freshly chipped pine bark, composted pine needles or leafmould. Bilberry are non-climacteric fruits with a smooth, circular outline at the end opposite the stalk, whereas blueberries retain persistent sepals there, leaving a rough, star-shaped pattern of five flaps. ‘Northsky’ – extremely hardy but also grows well in warmer climates. Lovely red & gold autumn colour. Both flowers that open pink and fade to white and the autumn colour is ornamental. If you have no flowers on your blueberries, you may have insufficient pollination. Check your soil pH if unsure. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, General enquiries ‘Ozarkblue’ – winter hardy, but better suited for warmer regions where it remains semi-evergreen. When using soil-free media (multipurpose compost), ideally choose a peat-free one, but be aware that peat-free media might require frequent use of chelated iron to avoid chlorosis. Pot-grown blueberries in soil-less growing media often require annual repotting as the compost tires quickly, even if it means changing some of the old compost with fresh and putting the plant back into the same pot. Birds can be a problem, protect the ripening fruit with netting. Mild flavour; keeps well, ‘Spartan’ AGM – vigorous, upright and hardy. Good flavour and reliable cropper, ‘Bluecrop’  - vigorous,  upright hardy shrub, good autumn colour. Blueberries are typically ready for picking between June and August. Planting another blueberry within 100 feet (30 m.) of another will help beescross pollinate the blossoms, boosting your chances for fruit production. If grown on soils with higher pH the plans can suffer from chlorosis and require treatment with chelated iron. Blueberries produce not only delicious fruits, but also attractive flowers and vivid autumn colour. The blossom end of blueberries will shrivel first, following anthracnose infection. This time of year is best because you can see which new buds will produce fruit (fat buds) and which ones will produce leaves (flat buds). Blueberries also produce better if they are cross pollinated. Apart from producing fruit they are ornamental, producing bell-like flowers in spring. bred cultivars can start fruiting from mid November and continue through to mid February. However, the best time to prune is late February to the beginning of March. Native bees will do the trick in the backyard garden. Reliable cropper producing large berries, ‘Hardyblue’ - large, upright, vigorous and hardy; a good choice for areas with late frosts and one of the best for heavier or less than ideal soils. ‘NorthCountry’ – small fruits with authentic wild American blueberry taste. Sweet and high yielding, ‘Herbert’ – moderately vigorous, open spreading and hardy. Move containerised plants indoors in a shed or garage during prolonged cold spells, or wrap the pot in hessian or bubblewrap to protect the roots. ‘Misty’ â€“ suitable for warm areas with hot summers and mild winters, usually remaining evergreen. Blueberries fruit on short sideshoots produced during spring or early summer of the previous year. Fruit starts hard and green, softening as it ripens, attaining its distinctive blue-black colour with a coating of white bloom. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Evergreen species grow better from semi-ripe cuttings, taken in late June to early July. Up to 40cm (16in) high and 1m (3ft) spread, with some tolerance of less acid soils. Well suited for tubs. Overview Information Blueberry is a plant. This information is for educational purposes only. Wait a couple days. Attractive All Year: Blueberry bushes give us flowers in spring, berries in summer, and beautiful, ornamental appeal in fall and winter. This requires a mix of cultivars. Mulch newly-planted blueberries with pine bark (composted or chipped) or leafmould. They are easy to pick and last well. In pruning, strive to achieve a balance between fruit and new growth. Full sun, but will grow in partial shade Acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) with good drainage When blueberries are very dark, try a few to make sure they’re sweet enough for picking (likely to be from December to March, depending on the variety) They can also form fruit buds on the second flush growth produced later in the summer, at the tips of strong shoots. Has a tendency to sucker. Heavy cropping, though can lack vigor if not well fed and pruned. Brilliant pink flowers fading to white, with heavy crops of tangy, medium sized berries over a long period. 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