Can you think of anything better than blueberry cobbler on a summer evening? How about making it using blueberries from your own backyard?
The rabbiteye blueberry is native to Georgia and makes a great landscape plant. It is incredibly easy to grow and provides multi-season interest. In spring it is covered with dainty white flowers much like lily-of-the-valley. In the heat of the summer they explode with berries ripe for the picking. In fall the leaves turn a scarlet red rivaling that of burning bush.
Blueberry plants in the home garden seldom require spraying for insects or diseases. If well cared for, blueberry bushes will provide some fruit the second and third year after planting and by the sixth year will yield as much as two gallons each. The yield will continue to increase as the plants get larger.
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The most important thing to remember when planting is that you must have more than one variety for cross-pollination. Cross-pollination is necessary for fruit to develop. Varieties you may see at your local nursery are Brightwell, Climax, Premier, and Powderblue. When planting your blueberry bushes, look for an area in your yard that receives six hours of sun or more. For a hedge effect, space plants four feet apart. The standard spacing for rabbiteye blueberries is six feet. If left un-pruned, they can reach 8 feet in height. Dig in organic material such as compost, manure or Nature’s Helper when planting.
Blueberries like acidic soil and a pH of 4.8 to 5.2 is preferred. As new growth appears in March, top dress the area around the drip line of your plant with compost or composted manure. Keep the area around the plants weed and grass free.
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Blueberries are easy to pick and even easier to store. After picking, I put them into a Ziplock bag (unwashed) and freeze them. I take out and wash what I need for cereal, pancakes, and recipes.
The Gwinnett County Extension Service sells locally grown blueberry bushes each spring as a fundraiser. For information about the sale, call the Extension office at 678-377-4010.