Earliblue blueberry

Earliblue blueberry is a medium-sized shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces large clusters of blue round berries which are usually ready for picking in early summer.

The plant was developed in 1936, and then introduced in 1952. 'Earliblue' is one of the earliest producers, with berries ready for harvest in June to mid-July. Blueberries prefer acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). At least six hours of sun is a must for best tasting berries, Good drainage is essential as blueberries’ shallow fibrous roots are easily starved for oxygen. However, blueberries are not tolerant of drought conditions and need to be kept moist.

Earliblue blueberry will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. The green foliage may turn shades of red and yellow in autumn.

The berries have a sweet taste and a juicy texture. Medium to large size, light blue, firm, resists cracking, medium scar, good flavor, aromatic, medium-loose clusters, ships well, fruit ripens early, ripe berries will remain attached.
Earliblue blueberry

Blueberry plant

There are four types of blueberries: highbush, lowbush, hybrid half-high, and rabbiteye. The most commonly planted blueberry is the highbush.

Highbush blueberries are an upright bush with a relatively shallow, fibrous root system and woody canes. Fruit is borne on buds formed during the previous growing season in late summer.

Blueberry bushes have pointed, oblong leaves that are leathery to the touch and turn a brilliant red color in the fall. The flowers appear in clusters of small, white, bell-shaped blooms in the late spring, leading to deliciously edible berries that ripen from green to a deep purple-blue.

Blueberries are low-maintenance plants, but do require the right conditions to grow. Blueberries have shallow roots and should be planted in loose, well-drained soil with an organic matter content higher than 3%. Organic matter can be increased by using cover crops before planting or incorporating peat or pine needles into the soil at planting, as well as annual mulching.

Blueberry plants grow slowly, and they may not seem to get much bigger from year to year. It takes a blueberry bush about 10 years to reach mature size, but this also means they will live a long, long time.

It will be 2 or 3 years before start getting large harvests, but it is definitely worth the wait.
Blueberry plant

Highbush blueberry plants

There are three commercially important species of blueberries that are native to the Eastern United States:
1.“Highbush”
2.“Lowbush” and
3.“Rabbiteye”

Highbush blueberry is a native, upright, 6-12 feet tall, crown-forming shrub. The common name refers to the relatively tall stature of these plants. Twigs are yellow-green (reddish in winter) and covered with small wart-like dots. Leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple, elliptic or ovate, 1 to 3½ inches long and slightly waxy above with pubescence (hairs) at least on the veins beneath.

Highbush plants require fewer chilling hours to produce fruit and are well adapted to Florida and California’s moderate climate.

Blueberries grow best in a well-drained sandy loam, rich in organic matter. Clay soils can be made suitable for blueberries by adding organic matter (such as peat moss) and sand. In very poorly drained soils, blueberries may be planted in ridges 4 inches above the sur-rounding soil level.

Highbush blueberry has a root system devoid of root hairs, but the role of root hairs is often taken over by mycorrhizae. The extensive hyphae of these fungi in-crease the volume of soil that can be accessed by the plant and improve nutrient uptake. Moreover, ericoid mycorrhizal fungi protect roots against infection by pathogens, such as Phytophthora spp., increase the plants’ tolerance for stress-ful environmental conditions and influence plant growth and yield.

Highbush and lowbush species are the most common species grown for commercial production. Most fresh market blueberries are from highbush plants and most processed blueberries are from lowbush plants.

Highbush blueberry produces abundant fruit every year. Highbush blueberry is self-fertile, but cross-pollination increases fruit set and results in larger, earlier berries with more seeds

Highbush blueberries are eaten raw, smoke-dried, sun-dried, boiled, and baked in a wide variety of culinary settings. They have one of the highest concentrations of iron of the temperate fruits.
Highbush blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Maintenance of blueberries plant

Water quality is an issue with blueberry plants. They do not tolerate alkaline or salty water. The plant need water every other day during the first six months after planting to encourage good establishment.

After the first year water twice a week during fruiting and once a week after plants have finished fruiting.

Blueberries need evenly moist soil and will require regular acidifying soil amendments.

Growing blueberries is basically the same as growing their cousin, azaleas, except they require full sun.

Blueberries are sensitive to the type of fertilizer used, how much and how often apply it and the irrigation water provided to them.

Do not fertilize during the first six months of growing. After the first six months, feed with balanced fertilizer before the plants bloom and after fruit harvesting, to encourage growth for next year.

Some gardeners elect to cover with netting of the birds become greedy. To make fruit gathering easier, others prune their bushes 6-8 feet high.

This compact shrub can be planted near the back of a perennial border, incorporated into the vegetable garden, or used as a focal point in the yard.
Maintenance of blueberries plant

Blueberries in United States

Blueberries in United States
Blueberries are harvested from both wild plants and cultivated varieties. In the United States, blueberry cultivation is mainly in New Jersey, Michigan and North Carolina.

Blueberry bushes require an acid soil and yield fruit the first year after planting or the first year after the plants has established growth.

There are many varieties of both high and low bush blueberries. The fruit of blueberry ripens 50-65 days after the blossom occur at the mill where small twigs and leaves are separated by air.

They are then graded for size, washed in a flotation-type washer, and passed over an inspection belt where green or partially ripe specimens are picked out by hand.

Blueberries handled as the fresh product are usually hand-poured into small baskets holding 473ml or 946 ml. the baskets are then overwrapped with cellophane and the product is held at refrigerator temperatures above freezing.

Fresh blueberries should be cooled to 32F – 35F and held at this temperature until sold to the consumer. Shelf life 4 – 8 weeks.
Blueberries in United States