How To Grow Organic BlueBerries - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods

BlueBerries - are high in antioxidants, low in calories and sodium, contains no cholesterol and is high in fibre, folic acid, carotenoids, as well as vitamins C ( about 25mg/100g), A and B. A major component of the fibre is pectin, which is known for its ability to lower blood cholesterol. The juice from fresh blueberries also contains a compound that inhibits bacteria from anchoring to the bladder, helping prevent urinary tract infections.

Blueberries have a strong, sweet flavour and are quite easy to prepare and can be eaten fresh (raw) or used to make jellies, pies, preserves, jams, pastries or juice. Freezing does not reduce their value.

The cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) would make a great plant for home gardeners as it requires little space, but as it is a woodland plant it needs highly acidic soil conditions to grow well. You will need to prepare the growing area well in advance to make sure it is at a pH of between 4 - 5. To ensure healthy growth, you will need to maintain this pH throughout the life of the plant.

It prefers to be grown in full sunlight, in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil. Blueberry plants are fully to marginally frost-hardy, some varieties coping with temperatures as low as minus 25°C (minus 13°F). They need cool winters and low summer humidity or mildew may be a problem.

Blueberry plants love organic matter and a thick mulch mixture of grass cuttings, dead leaves (not beech or red maple), straw or conifer needles are suitable.

Blueberry plants grow as spreading bushes, up to 1.5m /60inches tall. Some varieties have red foliage in autumn / fall.

The best time of year to plant into your garden is during autumn (fall) and winter while the plant is fully dormant.

Make the planting hole about 50cm / 20inches wide and deep. Fill it with compost or a mixture of peat and soil. Plant about 1cm / ½ inch deeper than it was in the pot or bag.

Blueberries are self-pollinating, but for heavier cropping, grow two or more cultivars side by side. Set plants about 1.5m / 5feet apart. If you plan on growing many plants, space rows about 3m or 10 feet apart.

During the last month of spring they produce red to white bell-shaped flowers. The large blue berries ripen from the middle of the first month of summer through til the end of the first month of autumn / fall.

They begin to produce fruit in the third season, but may not become fully productive for about six years. Flower buds are produced on tips and along the second-year-old shoots.

You will need to protect the fruit from birds as it is very attractive to them. Bird netting can be very difficult to remove, so I suggest you make a frame-work of poly tubing or similar before using netting.

Feed your blueberry plants only in autumn / fall with mature compost and lightly work it in to the soil, covering with a thick layer of mulch, remembering to keep mulch about 10cm / 4inches from the base of the plant.

You will not need to prune your blueberry plants until around the fifth year of growth. Remove any flowers that may appear in the first season and second years growth after planting to encourage vigorous growth.

From the fifth season onwards, during their dormant time in autumn / fall, remove the oldest shoots nearest the ground as well as any dead or weak branches and thin, terminal wood with undersized buds. Prune any inward-facing branches to allow more light to the centre of the plant.

Blueberry bushes have quite shallow root systems so are very sensitive to water fluctuations. They will need 2-5cm / 1 - 2 inches of water per week. In really dry conditions, additional watering is crucial to obtain good yields of high quality fruit. But it is unnecessary to apply water in autumn / fall or winter unless soil it is very dry. It is always preferable to use rain water.

You can purchase varieties that are early season fruiters, medium through to late season producers. Choose varieties that grow best in your area. Propagation is by layering. Good luck in growing this wonderful, health inspiring plant!