Blueberry Highbush grow and care – shrub of the genus Vaccinium also known as Northern highbush blueberry or Vaccinium corymbosum, Blueberry Highbush perennial deciduous plant, can grow in temperate, cold mediterranean or cold subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 4-10a and with the right care in hardiness zone 10b (some cultivars).
Leaves become red in the autumn or grow red and change the color to green.
Flower color white transparent to light pink in bell shape grow in cluster.
How to care:
Fertilizer at least once a year spring, put pine mulch, prune once a year
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (Care explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction by cutting
How to propagate by cutting: Propagating by cutting require high humidity, moist soil, better sterile water, peat soil (acidic soil), temperature need to be above 10-25C (50-77F), might take at least two month and if started in the autumn it will takes until the spring, need to take
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction? Yes, ensure the cultivar, the quality of the fruit: size, taste more sweet or sour and quantity
Difficulties or problems when growing: Some virus attack a lot of verity
Planting season – when to plant: Winter, spring and in hardiness zone 4-9 possible in the summer and in hardiness zone possible 10a possible in autumn, in hardiness zone 10b possible all the year better not in the summer
How to plant: When start in bare root important to cut part of the roots and the plant, put organic matter, humus, dead leaves and mix it with the soil (acid soil), when planting need to increase the amount of water
Pests and diseases: Virus, aphids
Pruning season: End of the autumn to beginning of the winter, but if there isn’t a lot of fruits better after the fruits season
How to prune:
Prune the week branches and dead, crossing branch, in order to get bigger fruits better to reduce the buds in order to get bigger fruits, old stems, reduce the amount of branches and need to take care that all the fruits will get enough light
Size of the plant: 2-3 m, 6-10 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade (in hardiness zone 10b better to grow in half shade)
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a pots, planter, flowerpot, containers: Yes, start with pot that will be 40-60% more than the root ball, every time that the plant arrive to full capacity need to switch to bigger until arrives to desirable size (but better to grow the plant in pot that will fit will bear more fruits) size of the pot can be 10-20L (2.5-5 gallons), switch the soil in mid of the winter, soil lose the viability over time and it’s efficient of care for the roots of the plant, drainage it’s important and need to make holes and to use peat soil and maybe some lava grit in the bottom or something like that, put a bottom for the container and when water the plant let it fill the bottom but also need to dry in the same day, it’s important to fertilize once a year, mulch of pine it’s important.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring and some species in hardiness zone 10b can bloom all year
General information about the flower White in bell shape grow in cluster
Pollination is done by: Bees, self-pollination
Edible Fruit
Fruit harvest season: Spring to summer and some species in hardiness zone 10b can bear fruits all year
Fruits pests or diseases: Birds
What can be done with big quantities of Blueberry Highbush fruits? Eaten raw, jams, juice, beverage
Work requirements on the fruit: Nothing special
How long does it take to bear fruit? 2-3 years
How to grow Blueberry Highbush from seeds
Sowing requirement: High humidity, moist soil, full sun to half shade 10-20C (50-68F)
Saving seeds and care until sowing: Dry and dark place better in refrigerator
Sowing season: End of the winter to spring
Planting spacing: 3*4cm (1.2*1.8 inches) when transplant it better to sow them in different pots it’s easier to follow in control and care for the seedling
Depth of Sowing: Better not to cover just to put on the soil
Conditions for seeds germinate: High humidity, moist soil, full sun, consider when grow in pots to cover with plastic wrap
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Germination time: 2-4 months
Condition of seedling: Full sun, protect the seedling from pests, winds and heavy snow
Do the seeds require burying? Yes
Chilling hour’s requirements: 2-5 Month
Scientific name:
Vaccinium corymbosum
Alternative names: Blue huckleberry, Tall huckleberry, Swamp huckleberry, High blueberry, Swamp blueberry
