Growing Blueberries

1
Growing Blueberries

• By
• Robert Tomesh
• UW Extension

2
Blueberry Types

• Lowbush growing wild
• Seed, green tip cuttings, dig plants, root
  cuttings
• Half-high Minnesota and Michigan
• - Northblue, Northsky, North County, St. Cloud,
  Friendship
• Highbush Blue Jay, Bluetta, Bluecrop, Elliott

3
Lowbush Blueberries

• Include 3 or 4 different species
• V. angustifolium
• Low sweet blueberry, light blue, waxy bloom
• V. myrtilloides
• Light blue, hairy leaves
• V. brittonii
• Blackish fruit, glossy leaves
• V. lamarckii
• Light blue, to 18 tall

4
Highbush Blueberries

• V. corymbosum
• Grow to 10 feet-plus tall
• Commercial industry in Carolinas and New Jersey
• V. asheiRabbit-eye blueberry of the southern
  states

5
Half-high Blueberry

• Developed by interbreeding selected highbush
  varieties with lowbush species
• Maintain large berry quality and productivity
• Low stature (-4 feet) for snow protection
• Adapted for shorter season production

6
Commercial Blueberry Production
7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
Blueberry Production

• Adapted to acid soils
• Must prepare soil before planting
• Must provide winter protection
• Half-high types are best suited to Wisconsin

16
                                           
Diagram of a blueberry bush.Used with
permission from Highbush Blueberry Production
17
Production Considerations

• Flower buds survive to -20 degrees F.
• Vegetative buds much lower survivability
• Ripen 60 days after bloom
• Need 40 more days to harden for winter

18
Soil Preparation

• Add organic matter
• Reduce pH with sulfur
• Microbe mediated
• Takes time
• Control weeds
• Mulch to a depth of 4 inches
• Keep watered (1 inch every 5 days)

19
Amending soil to reduce pHto lower pH one full
unit (6.5 to 5.5)

• Soil Texture
• Light, Sandy
• Medium, Sandy Loam
• Heavy, Clay Loam

• Sulfur lb/100 sq ft
• 0.75
• 1.50
• 2.25

Apply the recommended amount well before
planting. Then recheck the pH 60 to 90 days
later.
20
The soil acidity level must be maintained over
the life of the plantingannual applications of
ammonium sulfate, compost,and mulch.
21
Planting Blueberries

• Purchase potted plants (tissue culture)
• Set at same height as in the nursery pot
• Plant in spring
• Water thoroughly

22
Tissue Culture Plants
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
Soil Preparation

• Add organic matter
• Reduce pH with sulfur
• Microbe mediated
• Takes time
• Control weeds
• Mulch to a depth of 4 inches
• Keep watered (1 inch every 5 days)

27
Pruning Blueberries

• Renewal pruning
• Remove 3-5 of the oldest canes
• Remove weak or damaged canes
• Tip cane to initiate branching
• Prune during dormant season

28
Fertilizer

• Use ammonium forms of N or urea
• 3 pounds of ammonium sulfate and 2 pounds of
  0-10-10 per 100 feet of row
• 2 Tablespoons per plant 3x during first year
• ¼ cup per plant subsequent years
• Base on cane vigor and yield

29
Mulch

• Generous use of mulches will help control weeds,
  conserve moisture, and keep roots cool.
• Increased organic matter from decomposing mulch
  will help improve soil structure and nutrient
  uptake.
• Replenish mulch as needed to keep the mulch depth
  at 2 to 4 inches.

30
Frost Protection

• Good air drainage
• Overhead sprinklers
• Spray plants with a fine mist when temperatures
  are below freezing
• Homeowners with few plants can cover with
  blankets, row covers or plastic

31
Winter protection Snow
Chicken wire with Straw
32
Cultivars in Order of Decreasing Cold Hardiness

• Northsky
• Northblue
• North Country
• St. Cloud
• Friendship
• Patriot

• Northland
• Bluehaven
• Bluecrop
• Rubel
• Earliblue

33
Cultivars in Order of Ripening

• Northsky
• North Country
• Northblue
• St. Cloud
• Friendship
• Patriot

• Earliblue
• Northland
• Bluehaven
• Bluecrop
• Rubel

34
North Country Blueberry
35
Blueberry Insects

• Blueberry tip borer
• Plum curculio
• Cranberry fruit worm
• Cherry fruitworm
• Blueberry maggot

36
Blueberry Diseases

• Mummy berry
• Powdery mildew
• Twig blights
• Botrytis blossom blight
• Leaf spots
• Cane gall

37
Can be used as an ornamental shrub in the home
landscape.
38
To Grow Blueberries in WisconsinYou Need

• The hardiest cultivars
• The earliest ripening cultivars
• A protected site
• Specialized soil
• Frequent watering
• Protection from spring frost
• Protection from birds

39
Questions???