Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush), V. virgatum (rabbiteye) and hybrids · Heath family (Ericaceae)

At a glance
Hardiness zones	3 to 9
Sun	full sun
Water	moderate
Life cycle	perennial
Frost	Hardy: takes frost
Soil pH	4.5–5.5
Spacing	48 to 60 inches

About Blueberry

Blueberries are long-lived shrubs that can bear for decades once they are happy. Their one big demand is truly acid soil; in the wrong soil they slowly yellow and starve.

Northern highbush blueberries are hardy in zones 3-8 (NC State) and need 800-1,200 chill hours; rabbiteye and southern highbush types need far fewer chill hours and are grown into central Florida (UF/IFAS), but rabbiteyes are damaged below about 5-10 F.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Set out plants: up to 6 weeks before the last frost

Plant bare-root bushes in late winter to early spring (potted plants in spring or late fall). Remove flowers the first year; expect a small crop in year 3 and 1-2 pounds per bush by year 4. Space rabbiteyes about 6 feet apart. Water is essential the first two years.

Soil

Acid, well-drained soil high in organic matter (3% or more) that still holds moisture; do not plant where the pH is above 6.0 unless you lower it first.

Blueberries need acid soil with a pH of about 4.5-5.5: test first, work in elemental sulfur several months ahead (Oregon suggests 2-5 lb per 100 sq ft on clay loam, 1-3 lb on sandy soil), and mix in 2-4 inches of sawdust or bark (or 4-6 inches of peat moss).

Feeding

First year: late April, late May and late June (or at bud break, bloom and after fruit set): ammonium nitrogen fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) or urea (46-0-0), or an azalea fertilizer. Use small amounts: about 1 ounce of ammonium sulfate per plant each time (Oklahoma), scattered evenly around the bush, not in a pile, and watered in.
Later years: split into 2-3 small feedings from bloom through early summer: ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), urea (46-0-0), or an azalea fertilizer. Increase slowly with age (Oklahoma suggests about 2 ounces of ammonium sulfate per feeding for plants 4 years and older); follow a soil test.

Avoid nitrate fertilizers, fresh manure and yard or manure composts (they raise pH); pinch off flowers the first year or two so the bush grows roots first.

Harvest

Berries color before they are sweet: pick highbush every 5-7 days, and wait 3-6 days after rabbiteye berries turn blue. Ripe berries roll off with almost no tug.

Blueberries give one crop a year, picked in several rounds, starting mid-May to early July in North Carolina depending on type and location. Pick highbush every 5-7 days, and let rabbiteye berries hang 3-6 days after they turn blue.

Varieties (60)

Variety	Type	Notes
St. Cloud	Cold-hardy highbush	Medium, dark blue, firm berries that are sweet and crisp. Bush about 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
Superior	Cold-hardy highbush	Medium berries with a sweet-tart flavor. Bush about 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
Pink Popcorn	Cold-hardy highbush (pink fruit)	Medium berries that ripen cream to pink instead of blue; bush about 4 feet tall and wide.
Sunshine Blue	Compact hybrid	Medium, medium-blue, sweet berries. Compact, ornamental bush about 3 feet tall.
Top Hat	Dwarf (container type)	Small to medium berries with a wild-blueberry taste; best for baking. Tiny bush only about 2 feet tall, suited to pots and edging.
Chippewa	Half-high	Medium to large, sky-blue berries that are firm and very sweet. Compact, upright bush about 4 to 4.5 feet tall.
Northblue	Half-high	Large, dark blue, firm berries with good flavor. Upright bush about 3 feet tall; UMN reports 3 to 9 pounds per bush.
Northcountry	Half-high	Sweet with very good flavor. Compact bush to about 3.5 feet with medium berries under half an inch; low to medium yields.
Northland	Half-high	Medium, dark blue berries with a mild, sweet flavor. Vigorous, spreading bush about 4 feet tall that sends up many shoots; can yield up to 12 pounds per bush.
Northsky	Half-high	Small to medium, sky-blue berries that are sweet and mild. Very compact bush about 2 to 3 feet tall; yields are small.
Polaris	Half-high	Medium, firm, crisp berries with an intense flavor. Compact, upright bush about 4 feet tall and wide.
Ozarkblue	Highbush (University of Arkansas release)	Good flavor. Open bush with medium to large, firm berries; yields are high but can be erratic.
Aurora	Northern highbush	Mild flavor. Stocky, spreading bush with medium to large, dark blue, firm berries and high yields.
Berkeley	Northern highbush	Mild flavor. Vigorous, open, spreading bush with very large, light blue, soft berries; prone to fruit rot.
Bluecrop	Northern highbush	Large, firm, light blue berries with a mild, sweet, classic blueberry flavor. Vigorous, upright bush about 5 feet tall and wide; a steady, heavy producer that can overbear if not pruned.
Bluegold	Northern highbush	Very good flavor. Vigorous but low, squat bush with large, firm, light blue berries.
Blueray	Northern highbush	Large, aromatic berries with very good flavor. Spreading bush. Susceptible to mummy berry.
Bluetta	Northern highbush	Compact bush with medium, light blue berries and a poor picking scar; too soft for shipping. Low to medium yields.
Brigitta Blue	Northern highbush	Good flavor, slightly tart. Very vigorous, upright bush with large, light blue, firm berries that store and ship very well; yields vary.
Chandler	Northern highbush	Very large berries with excellent flavor. Slightly spreading, sturdy bush with a long picking season and moderate yields. Lush fall growth can invite bacterial blight.
Darrow	Northern highbush	Excellent flavor, slightly tart. Vigorous, upright bush with large to very large light blue berries that resist cracking; high yields.
Draper	Northern highbush	Large, flavorful, light blue berries with a crisp texture. Young plants send up many long shoots that need pruning. Ripe fruit may drop early in some northern areas.
Duke	Northern highbush	Large, firm, light blue berries with a mild flavor. Big, upright, high-yielding bush. Prone to root rot and struggles when soil pH and fertility are off.
Earliblue	Northern highbush	Sweet and aromatic with good flavor. Vigorous, upright bush with medium to large light blue berries; medium yields.
Elliott	Northern highbush	Firm, small to medium berries with a tart flavor. Upright bush that bears young and needs hard pruning. Fruit can crack or soften.
Hardyblue	Northern highbush	Very sweet with excellent flavor. Vigorous, upright bush with small, dark blue, soft berries.
Jersey	Northern highbush	Small to medium, sweet berries with a classic taste that store well. Very vigorous, large, upright bush; can set more fruit than it can size up.
Legacy	Northern highbush	Firm, sweet, aromatic berries with excellent flavor that keep well. Very vigorous bush with a drooping habit that stays partly evergreen; high yields over a long harvest.
Liberty	Northern highbush	Very good flavor. Vigorous, upright bush with medium to large, bright blue, firm berries and high yields.
Nelson	Northern highbush	Large, firm berries with good flavor. Upright bush with good cold tolerance.
Olympia	Northern highbush	Very sweet with excellent flavor. Vigorous, spreading bush with medium, dark blue, soft, thin-skinned berries that resist cracking.
Patriot	Northern highbush	Very large, firm berries with a tart, aromatic flavor. Short, upright bush about 4 feet tall; copes with heavier soils and has some root rot resistance. Can get bacterial blight in the Northwest.
Reka	Northern highbush	Good flavor. Very vigorous upright bush with very high yields of medium to large dark blue berries; good for processing.
Spartan	Northern highbush	Very large, light blue berries with excellent flavor. Upright, open bush that blooms late but ripens early. Resists mummy berry but does poorly in heavy soil.
Toro	Northern highbush	Good flavor. Stocky, spreading bush with very large, firm, light blue berries and high yields.
Alapaha	Rabbiteye	Good flavor. Medium, firm berries. Blooms 7 to 10 days after Climax, which helps it escape late frosts.
Austin	Rabbiteye	Medium to large berries. Productive bush.
Baldwin	Rabbiteye	Very vigorous bush with moderate yields of large, very dark blue berries of good quality.
Brightwell	Rabbiteye	Medium to large berries. Fruit can split in wet weather.
Climax	Rabbiteye	Small to medium berries. Ripens its crop over a short window.
Columbus	Rabbiteye	Very good flavor. Very good yields of light blue berries.
Ochlockonee	Rabbiteye	Good flavor. Vigorous, upright, very productive bush; berries larger than Tifblue with good color and firmness, and may resist rain splitting.
Onslow	Rabbiteye	Productive, vigorous bush with large, firm, medium blue berries; may tolerate somewhat higher soil pH than other blueberries.
Pink Lemonade	Rabbiteye	Good flavor. Upright, ornamental bush with medium berries that ripen light to dark pink.
Powderblue	Rabbiteye	Medium, light blue berries. Productive bush.
Premier	Rabbiteye	Medium to large berries.
Tifblue	Rabbiteye	Small to medium berries that are tart unless picked fully ripe.
Vernon	Rabbiteye	Good flavor. Large, very firm berries with good color. Blooms about a week after Climax but ripens before it.
Emerald	Southern highbush	Large, high-quality berries. Vigorous, spreading bush. Its flowers are easily hurt by February and March freezes.
Farthing	Southern highbush	Vigorous, dense, compact bush with large, firm, dark berries; yields well above Star. Sets so many flower buds that dormant pruning helps prevent overcropping.
Jewel	Southern highbush	Medium to large berries of excellent quality that taste tart until fully ripe. Very vigorous bush. Quite prone to leaf rust and somewhat prone to Phytophthora root rot.
Norman	Southern highbush	Medium-sized berries with excellent firmness and picking scar.
O'Neal	Southern highbush	Large berries with excellent flavor.
Rebel	Southern highbush	Productive bush with large berries of good to excellent color and firmness; berries can turn bland if left on the bush too long.
Springhigh	Southern highbush	Vigorous, upright bush with very large berries and good survival; flower thrips can make berries soft.
Star	Southern highbush	Large, firm berries with a small stem scar. Bush of medium vigor.
Suziblue	Southern highbush	Very good flavor. Vigorous bush with large berries and very good firmness.
Sweetcrisp	Southern highbush	Sweet with a crisp, crunchy bite. Vigorous, spreading bush with very firm berries that keep a long time; berries run smaller than Emerald and yields are below average.
Windsor	Southern highbush	Very large berries with excellent flavor. Vigorous bush with stout, semi-spreading stems.
Summit	Southern highbush (University of Arkansas release)	Excellent flavor. Large berries.

Pests to watch for

Spotted wing drosophila, Whiteflies, Stink bugs, Katydids, Mice (house mice and deer mice), Blueberry maggot, Strawberry sap beetle, Rose chafer, Birds, Winter moth, Dogwood borer

Diseases and problems

Mummy berry, Stem blight, Twig blight, Botrytis gray mold, Black walnut toxicity, Soil pH problems, Iron chlorosis, Frost and freeze injury, Powdery mildew, Tomato and tobacco ringspot

In the kitchen

Eaten fresh, baked, frozen or dried.

Keeping it: Refrigerate unwashed blueberries in a ventilated container for up to a week; rinse them just before eating.

Pets: Not listed as toxic by the ASPCA

Sources

Photo: Photo: Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Photo resized for the web.

Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.