growing blueberries 7 quick facts
|

Growing Blueberries? 7 Quick Facts

Growing blueberries? It’s time to pick now that it’s mid-July! I was lucky enough to have a blueberry patch behind our old home and even have some bushes here in Virginia!
There are so many varieties that a person can actually pick and eat fresh blueberries from the 4th of July until mid -September! Growing blueberries & harvest time can be fun for the whole family!

Thinking of growing Blueberries?

Before you order any blueberry bushes here’s a great website with a lot of valuable information;

https://www.blueberrycouncil.org/growing-blueberries/planting-blueberries/

Also this quick checklist will also show you at a glance what is needed to grow this popular fruit.

Quick facts about growing blueberries

  • Blueberries need full sun.
  • Blueberries require acidic soil.
  • Plant two or more varieties for successful pollination.
  • Plants won’t have much fruit the first 2 to 3 years.
  • Harvest is bigger after 5 years.
  • Blueberry plants grow slowly and reach full size in 8 to 10 years.
  • Each winter, prune out old, weak and dead wood.

So as you can see there is some work involved in caring for your bushes but the idea of having lots of fresh blueberries to pick is well worth the effort.

When Can I Pick Blueberries?

blueberries, bush, summer
Blueberry Bushes Ready to Pick

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

  • Blueberries are typically ready for picking between June and August.
  • Don’t rush to pick the berries as soon as they turn blue. Wait a couple days. When they are ready, they should fall off right into your hand.
  • If you plant 2-year-old blueberry bushes, they should start to bear within a year or two. (Pick off any flowers that form the first year or two after planting, to allow the bush to become established.) Be aware that full production is only reached after about 6 years (depending on variety).

Can I freeze Blueberries ?

Yes you can freeze blueberries in fact they are one of the easiest fruits to freeze! Once you have picked all you can go inside and spread them out on a cookie sheet in a single layer. This will prevent the berries from sticking together and they will freeze individually! Once frozen remove from freezer.. At this time you can wash them off if you prefer. You can now freeze them in individual freezer bags, either quart size or gallon. When you are ready to use some in a recipe or added to pancakes just remove the amount you need. They defrost quickly on the countertop. Frozen blueberries will. Last 1 year in the freezer, but most people eat them up before this long!

What Can I do with fresh blueberries ?

There are many ways to eat fresh berries . If just eating a bowl of fresh berries just follow these steps:
Place the berries in a colander and dip into a bowl of cold water. Gently swish in the water and then allow the berries to drain. Carefully spread out in a single layer and gently pat dry with a paper towel. When blueberries are completely dry they can be eaten or added to other ingredients as instructed by the recipe.

Baking with Blueberries is easy and there a so many delicious recipes from cakes to unfinished and even blueberry syrup for those pancakes!

Blueberry Cake

Here is a link to one of my favorite blueberry cakes : CAKE

Blueberry Muffins

I am a big fan of Sally’s Baking Addiction and even own all 3 of her cookbooks! Check out the link below!

Please Share With Your Friends!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *