Who doesn’t love blueberries? They’re healthy and so delicious in desserts, on your cereal, with chicken or just by themselves.
Have you ever thought of growing them yourself?
Blueberries grow on bushes that are native to North America. Depending on the variety, they can grow up to 6’ tall.
In summer, the leaves have a leathery appearance and they turn bright red in the fall. The berries grow in clusters so you don’t need many bushes to get a lot of berries. Cultivated blueberries are larger but less sweet than their wild cousins.
The bushes need to be about 5 years old before producing a significant number of berries.
They need full sun, very acidic soil and plenty of water to thrive. Annual pruning keeps them strong enough to product about 8 quarts of berries per bush.
You may have issues with insect pests and diseases but the biggest problem will be protecting the berries from birds and other wildlife.
Remember that if you go out in the fall to pick wild blueberries, be very careful that you don’t cross paths with any bears. They love blueberries!