The Best Time to Plant Blueberries, Their Flowering and Fruiting Periods, and Variety Selection
Blueberry, also known as lanmei, dusi, dushi, dushi and so on, 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 the best?
The Best Time to Plant Blueberries
The best time to plant blueberries is the period from autumn to before buds break 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 generally 2- to 3-year-old small seedlings are used. Small seedlings are, first, cheaper and, second, highly adaptable and very easy to establish.
When Do 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-highbush blueberry variety group ripen about 10 days later than lowbush blueberries.
Blueberry Seedling Planting Varieties
1. Lowbush blueberry: The lowbush blueberry plant is short, 30-50 cm tall. It is cold-resistant and can be cultivated in areas with low temperatures of -40 degrees C. Its cultivation and management requirements are simple, and it is extremely suitable for large-scale commercial cultivation in the high-cold mountainous areas of Northeast China, with a yield of about 500 kg per mu.
(1) Meiden: 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 plant is vigorous and high-yielding. In the Changbai Mountain area, 5-year-old plants average 0.83 kg per plant, with a maximum of 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 top recommended variety for developing blueberries in high-cold mountainous areas.
(2) Fendi: Fendi is a Canadian variety, mid-season, with fruit slightly larger than Meiden, light blue, covered with bloom, high-yielding, and early-bearing.
2. Half-highbush blueberry: Half-highbush blueberry is obtained by crossing highbush and lowbush blueberries. The fruit is large with good quality, the plant is relatively short, and its cold resistance is strong, generally withstanding low temperatures of -35 degrees C. It is suitable for cultivation in the cold regions of the north, with a tree height of 50-100 cm.
(1) Northland: An early- to mid-season variety with a vigorous, upright growth habit and a tree height of about 1.2 m, making it one of the taller varieties among half-highbush blueberry types. The fruit is medium-sized with abundant bloom, firm flesh, juicy, and good fruit flavor, with a sweetness of BX12.0% and medium acidity. The scar is medium-sized and dry. It is not particular about soil, extremely high-yielding, and cold-resistant.
(2) Northblue: A late-season variety with a vigorous growth habit and a tree height of about 60 cm. Its dark green, glossy leaves are one of its major characteristics. The fruit is large, with dark blue skin, good flavor, and good storability, and it is cold-resistant (-30 degrees C). It is high-yielding, with a harvest of 1.3-3.0 kg per plant, and the harvest increases somewhat in warmer regions. It is prone to root rot infection under poor drainage conditions. 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, with medium vigor, a tree height of 45-60 cm, and a crown width of about 100 cm. The growth habit varies with soil conditions. Its cold resistance is very strong, withstanding low temperatures of -37 degrees C. The berries are medium-sized, with good flavor and good storability. The skin is bright blue, and the fruit is soft and sweet, with 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 high-cold mountainous areas.
3. Southern highbush blueberry: Southern highbush blueberry prefers humid, warm climatic conditions and is suitable for development in areas south of the Yellow River in China, such as Central China and South China.
(1) Sharpblue: A mid-season variety with medium to vigorous, spreading growth. The berries are medium to large, with a sweetness of BX15.0% and an acidity of pH4.00, aromatic, and juicy, suitable for making fresh juice. The 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 with a vigorous, spreading growth habit. The fruit is large, with a sweetness of BX13.5% and an acidity of pH4.53, and a strong aroma, the most aromatic among southern highbush blueberry varieties. The flesh is firm, and the scar is small and quick-drying. The chilling requirement is 400-500 hours. It is a heat-tolerant variety and high-yielding.
(3) Misty: A mid-season variety with medium vigor and a spreading growth habit. The berries are medium to large, with a sweetness of BX14.0% and an acidity of pH4.20, and aromatic. The scar is small and dry. 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. (Note: "" is the Chinese name for the variety 'Misty'.)
4. Northern highbush blueberry: Northern highbush blueberry prefers cool climates and has relatively strong cold resistance; some varieties can withstand low temperatures of -30 degrees C. It is suitable for development in the humid coastal areas of northern China and cold regions.
(1) Coville: A representative late-season variety with strong soil adaptability, vigorous growth, and a large plant. Young trees are upright, and after fruiting the branches droop and gradually spread. The fruit is large, with a sweetness of BX10.5% and strong acidity. The skin is bright blue with abundant bloom, and the scar is medium in both size and moisture. The fruit keeps well, has little cracking, and has a long ripening period.
(2) Darrow: A late-season variety. Medium vigor, upright type. The fruit is large to very large, with a sweetness of BX14.0% and an acidity of pH3.45, and 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 scar is medium in both size and moisture. It has little cracking and poor storability.
(3) Bluecrop: A mid-season variety and the main cultivar planted in Michigan, USA. The plant grows robustly with an open crown; the branches are relatively soft when young. Its cold resistance is strong, and 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, light blue, with thick bloom, firm flesh, and a dry scar, with a light, fragrant aroma. It is slightly tart when not fully ripe and has good flavor, with a sweetness of BX14.0% and an acidity of pH3.29, making it an excellent variety for fresh fruit sales.
5. Rabbiteye blueberry: The rabbiteye blueberry plant is tall, long-lived, resistant to heat and humidity, not strict about soil conditions, and drought-resistant. However, its cold resistance is poor, and low temperatures of -27 degrees C can freeze many varieties. It is suitable for cultivation in the hilly areas south of the Yangtze River basin in China and in South China.
(1) Baldwin: A late-season variety with vigorous, spreading growth. 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 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 with a vigorous, upright growth habit, a tree height of 2.60 m, and a crown width of 1.40 m. The fruit is medium-sized, with more sweetness and less acidity, and aromatic. It has little bloom and firm skin. It can grow vigorously even in poor soil conditions, so it is suitable for cultivation in places such as parks and along walls.
(3) Powderblue: A late-season variety with a vigorous, upright growth habit. The berries are medium-sized, slightly smaller than those of Tifblue, with extremely firm flesh. The sweetness is BX15.2% and the acidity is pH3.40, and it is aromatic. The skin is bright blue with abundant bloom. The scar is small and dry. It has little cracking, good storability, and high yield.
How to Grow Blueberries Well at Home:
1. Avoid seedlings from a certain place and choose good-quality varieties. You must be able to distinguish good small seedlings well; buying high-quality seedlings is the key. What you fear most is buying fake seedlings, or poor-quality small seedlings that, after a year of growing, neither flower nor fruit, or bear only a few berries.
2. For growing blueberries, soil is the most important and very crucial. 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 humidity in the flowerpot be too high.
3. Next is fertilizing. When fertilizing, it is recommended to use organic fertilizers, such as chicken manure or decomposed cake fertilizer. If using compound fertilizer, use just a few granules at a time, do not place it too close to the roots, and just put it 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, it can also overwinter smoothly when placed directly on an open-air balcony.