Blueberries (Vaccinium)

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Growing Blueberries

• Blueberries should be planted in early spring. 
• Blueberries thrive in full sun or part shade, but however, you will harvest more fruits if you plant your blueberries in full sun.
• Blueberries are best grown in well-drained, moisture-retentive, organically rich, acidic soil (4.0 to 5.0). Sandy loam is preferred.
• Plant in a sheltered site and provide a good organic mulch (3 in. deep or 7 cm) to control weeds and protect the roots from heat.
• Do not allow the plant to produce fruit for the first year or two after planting. Pinch back any flowers developing on newly set plants to allow the energy to go to growth.
• Although blueberries are self-fertile, cross-pollination produces the best fruit crop (larger berries and larger yields). For optimal pollination and yield plant more than one variety with the same bloom time. Space your plants 4-5 ft. (120-150 cm) apart in rows that are 9-10 ft. apart (270-300 cm).

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Pruning Blueberries

Blueberries need annual pruning in winter, while the bushes are dormant after the plants have been in the ground for about six years (a highbush blueberry stem typically remains productive for about six years).

• First 2 years: no pruning required. Simply remove any dead or damaged branches.
• Remaining years:

  Highbush Blueberry: make large shaping cuts — Remove all low-spreading branches and the oldest canes if they are weak, particularly if in the center of the plant. Head back the upright bull shoot" to the desired height to keep the bush from growing too tall. On the remaining canes, systematically thin out the shorter, thinner shoots, leaving enough of the thick shoots to bear the crop and make new growth.
  Rabbiteye Blueberry: same pruning as above but prune just enough to keep the center of the bush from becoming too shaded and to keep the plants from growing too tall, selectively cutting the oldest and largest stems to the ground.
  Lowbush Blueberry: the best fruits are borne on the youngest stems, especially those growing directly from the underground stems. Prune these plants severely, cutting them completely to the ground every few years.

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Pests and Diseases

Blueberries are not affected by serious pest or disease issues.

• Birds love blueberries as much as we do, so plants may need to be covered with netting as the fruit begins to ripen in order to protect the crop.
• Chlorosis (manganese and iron deficiencies) will cause decreased growth, yellowing foliage, early defoliation, and severely weakened plants.
• Potential but infrequent disease problems include stem blight, root rot, anthracnose, cane cankers, mildew and botrytis. Blueberry maggot, cherry fruit worm and spotted wing drosophila may attack the fruit. Mummy berry is a fungal disease that causes the berries to shrivel and drop.