The Best Time to Plant Blueberries, Flowering and Fruiting Periods, and Variety Selection
Blueberry is also known as lanmei, dusi, dushi, dushi and other names, and is a perennial shrub small-berry fruit tree of the genus Vaccinium in the family Ericaceae. The fruit has functions such as preventing cranial nerve aging, protecting eyesight, strengthening the heart, fighting cancer, softening blood vessels, and enhancing human immunity. So when is the best time to plant blueberries? When do they flower and fruit? How long after flowering do they fruit? Which variety is best?
The best time to plant blueberries
The best time to plant blueberries is the period from autumn to before the buds sprout the following spring, because during this period the seedlings are easy to transport and manage, and planting is relatively simple. In northern regions, planting is generally done in spring; autumn planting is prone to freezing damage if winter management is improper. Spring planting is usually in March to April, and 2- to 3-year-old small seedlings are generally used. Small seedlings are cheaper, and they also have strong adaptability and are very easy to keep alive.
When blueberries flower and fruit
In northern regions, the phenological period is on average about 10 days later than in Changchun. The bud-break period is in mid-May, the flowering period is in late May to early June, the fruit colors in late June to early July, and ripens from late July to early August. In addition, varieties in the lowbush blueberry variety group ripen earlier, and varieties in the half-high blueberry variety group ripen about 10 days later than lowbush blueberries.
Blueberry seedling planting varieties
1. Lowbush blueberry: Lowbush blueberry plants are short, 30-50 cm tall. They are cold-resistant and can be cultivated in areas with low temperatures of -40 degrees C. The cultivation and management techniques required are simple, and they are extremely suitable for large-scale commercial cultivation in the cold high mountain areas of Northeast China, with a yield of about 500 kg per mu.
(1) Meideng: A mid-season variety (ripening in mid-July in the Changbai Mountain area). The fruit is round and light blue, with abundant bloom, aroma, and good flavor. The tree is vigorous and high-yielding. In the Changbai Mountain area, 5-year-old plants average 0.83 kg per plant, with the highest reaching 1.59 kg. Its cold resistance is extremely strong, and it can overwinter safely in the open field in the Changbai Mountain area, making it the first recommended variety for developing blueberries in cold high mountain areas.
(2) Fendi: Fendi is a Canadian variety, mid-season, with fruit slightly larger than Meideng, light blue, covered with bloom, high-yielding, and early-bearing.
2. Half-high blueberry: Half-high blueberry is obtained by crossing highbush and lowbush blueberries. The fruit is large and of good quality, the plant is relatively short, and the cold resistance is strong, generally resisting low temperatures of -35 degrees C. It is suitable for cultivation in cold northern regions, with a tree height of 50-100 cm.
(1) Northland: An early-to-mid-season variety. The tree is vigorous and upright, about 1.2 m tall, making it the taller variety among half-high blueberry types. The fruit is medium-sized, with abundant bloom, firm flesh, juicy, good fruit flavor, sweetness BX12.0%, and medium acidity. The picking scar is medium-sized and dry. It is not particular about soil, extremely high-yielding, and cold-resistant.
(2) Northblue: A late-season variety. The tree is vigorous, about 60 cm tall, and dark green, glossy leaves are one of its major characteristics. The fruit is large, the skin is dark blue, the flavor is excellent, it stores well, and it is cold-resistant (-30 degrees C). It is high-yielding, with a harvest of 1.3-3.0 kg per plant; the harvest increases somewhat in warmer regions. It is prone to root rot under poor drainage. Apart from promptly pruning dead branches, there is no need for special pruning.
(3) Northcountry: An early-to-mid-season variety, about one week earlier than Northblue or Northsky. The tree is moderately vigorous, 45-60 cm tall, with a crown width of about 100 cm. Tree vigor varies somewhat with soil conditions. Cold hardiness is very strong, tolerating low temperatures of -37 degrees C. The berries are medium-sized, with good flavor and good storage quality. The skin is bright blue, and the fruit is soft, sweet, and has a good flavor. Fruit yield is high, with a harvest of 1.0-2.5 kg per plant. It is cold-resistant and can overwinter in the open field in cold high mountain areas.
3. Southern highbush blueberry: Southern highbush blueberry prefers humid, warm climatic conditions, and is suitable for development in areas of China south of the Yellow River, such as Central China and South China.
(1) Sharpblue: A mid-season variety. The tree is moderately to strongly vigorous, with an open growth habit. The berries are medium-to-large, sweetness BX15.0%, acidity pH4.00, aromatic, with abundant juice, suitable for making fresh juice. The picking scar is small and wet. The chilling requirement is 150-300 hours. It has strong soil adaptability and is high-yielding, but not suitable for transport.
(2) O'Neal: An early-season variety. The tree is vigorous, with an open growth habit. The fruit is large, sweetness BX13.5%, acidity pH4.53, with a strong aroma, making it the most aromatic among southern highbush blueberry varieties. The flesh is firm, the picking scar is small and quick-drying, and the chilling requirement is 400-500 hours. It is a heat-tolerant variety and high-yielding.
(3) Misty: A mid-season variety. The tree is moderately vigorous, with an open growth habit. The berries are medium-to-large, sweetness BX14.0%, acidity pH4.20, aromatic. The picking scar is small and dry, and the chilling requirement is 200-300 hours. It is the most high-yielding among southern highbush blueberry varieties and is an evergreen variety of warm zones.
4. Northern highbush blueberry: Northern highbush blueberry prefers a cool climate and has relatively strong cold resistance. Some varieties can resist low temperatures of -30 degrees C, and it is suitable for development in the humid coastal areas of northern China and cold regions.
(1) Coville: A representative late-season variety. It has strong soil adaptability, strong tree vigor, and large plants. Young trees are upright, and after fruiting the branches droop and gradually open up. The fruit is large, sweetness BX10.5%, with strong acidity. The skin is bright blue, with abundant bloom, and the picking scar is medium in both size and moisture. The fruit stores easily, has little cracking, and has a long ripening period.
(2) Darrow: A late-season variety. The tree is moderately vigorous, upright. The fruit is large to very large, sweetness BX14.0%, acidity pH3.45, with a strong aroma. The acidity of the fruit tends to increase as the altitude of the cultivation site increases. The skin is bright blue, and the picking scar is medium in both size and moisture. It has little cracking and poor storage quality.
(3) Bluecrop: A mid-season variety, and the main cultivar grown in Michigan, USA. The plant grows vigorously, with an open crown. Young trees have softer branches and strong cold resistance; its drought resistance is the strongest among northern highbush blueberries. It is high-yielding and has a strong ability for continuous high yields. The fruit is large and light blue, with thick bloom, firm flesh, a dry picking scar, and a light fragrance. When not fully ripe it is slightly sour, and the flavor is good. Sweetness is BX14.0% and acidity is pH3.29, making it an excellent variety for fresh fruit sales.
5. Rabbiteye blueberry: Rabbiteye blueberry plants are tall, long-lived, resistant to heat and humidity, not demanding about soil conditions, and drought-resistant. However, their cold resistance is poor, and low temperatures of -27 degrees C can freeze many varieties. They are suitable for cultivation in hilly areas south of the Yangtze River basin and in South China.
(1) Baldwin: A late-season variety. The tree is vigorous, with an open growth habit. The berries are medium-to-large, with high sweetness and medium acidity. The skin is dark blue, with little bloom. The fruit is firm and has good flavor. The picking scar is dry and small. The harvest period is long, making it suitable for garden and agritourism orchard cultivation.
(2) Gardenblue: A mid-to-late-season variety. The tree is vigorous and upright, 2.60 m tall, with a crown width of 1.40 m. The fruit is medium-sized, more sweet than sour, and aromatic. It has little bloom and firm skin. It can also grow vigorously in poor soil conditions, so it is suitable for cultivation in parks, along walls, and similar sites.
(3) Powderblue: A late-season variety. The tree is vigorous, upright. The berries are medium-sized, slightly smaller than those of Tifblue, with extremely firm flesh. Sweetness BX15.2%, acidity pH3.40, aromatic. The skin is bright blue, with abundant bloom. The picking scar is small and dry. It has little cracking, good storage quality, and high yield.
How to grow blueberries well at home:
1. Avoid fruit seedlings from a certain place, and choose good-quality varieties. You must distinguish the small seedlings well; buying high-quality seedlings is the key. The biggest fear is buying fake seedlings, or poor-quality ones, or inferior small seedlings that grow for a year but neither flower nor fruit, or bear only a few berries.
2. For growing blueberries, soil is the most important and very critical. Choose nutrient-rich humus soil, soft and breathable organic soil. Do not choose soil that is too compacted. Also, when watering normally, do not water too frequently, and do not let the moisture in the flowerpot be too high.
3. Next is fertilizing. When fertilizing, it is recommended to use organic fertilizer, such as chicken manure or rotted cake fertilizer. If using compound fertilizer, use just a few granules at a time, do not place them too close to the roots, and just put them at the edge of the flowerpot.
4. If it is a non-cold-resistant type, remember to spread something around the flowerpot in winter or cover it with straw. It can also be placed on a sunny balcony. In the Central China region where the editor is located, placing it directly on an open-air balcony also allows it to overwinter successfully.