FRUIT
KEY CONCEPTS I. Small Fruits Grapes Brambles Strawberries Currants and gooseberries Blueberries Selection Planting Culture II. Fruit trees   Return to Introduction		BLUEBERRIES Blueberries are very attractive landscape plants. However, they are slow to become fully productive, taking up to 6 years. Although blueberry plants are sold in local nurseries and by catalog nurseries, they are a very challenging fruit for the Ohio gardener.   SELECTION Only highbush-type blueberries are recommended for Ohio growing. A list of specific named cultivars is found in Fact Sheet 1422, Reference Fruit.7.   PLANTING Blueberries grow naturally in sandy to loam soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.2. The soil must be moist, yet well drained during most of the growing season. These requirements make successful blueberry growing in Ohio difficult. Raised beds filled with an appropriate growing medium provide the necessary drainage. Mix native soil with peat moss in a ratio of up to 1:4 parts by volume. Test the pH and add amendments based on the results of the soil test. Plant 2 varieties for cross-pollination and greater plant productivity. Space plants about 4 feet apart, except for 'Berkeley', which should be planted 5 feet apart.   CULTURE Use an acidic fertilizer and apply it regularly. Cottonseed meal, ammonium sulfate or products recommended for camellias, azaleas or rhododendrons are suitable. Manures are not recommended as fertilizers for blueberries because they are alkaline. A 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch will maintain appropriate soil moisture levels for blueberries. Mulching also prevents unwanted weeds. Cultivation is not recommended because of the shallow root system. Supplemental watering is necessary to produce a satisfactory harvest. Watering is not recommended after early September, unless the soil is very dry. Remove blossoms the first 2 years after planting to stimulate vigorous vegetative growth. Pruning is not necessary until the 4th year. Each year after that remove 1/3 of the oldest stems. Prune out dead and weak branches and thin terminal wood with small buds. Before harvesting, taste a few berries to check for ripeness. Some berries appear ripe, but they can still be quite sour. These insects cause damage to blueberries: blueberry tip borer, plum curculio, cranberry fruit worm and cherry fruit worm. Blueberries are susceptible to these diseases: mummy berry, powdery mildew, twig blights, botrytis blossom blight, leaf spots and cane gall. Sanitation, proper siting and chemicals labeled for the problem and the crop provide adequate control.
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