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Questions tagged [blueberries]

Flowering plants of genus Vaccinium; grown for their fruit.

Blueberries are plants of genus Vaccinium (ie. related to cranberries and bilberries) which are grown for their dark-blue berries. Most in cultivation are from the section Cyanococcus.

vary from 10 cm to 4 m in height, and leaves can be either deciduous or .

Fruit are sweet when ripe, but the level of acidity can vary.

Blueberries are a popular fruit() in North America (where they are native), but have increasing popularity in Europe and other parts of the world. They are typically eaten fresh, in jellies, jams, pies, muffins, snack foods, and cereals. They have a diverse range of and a relatively low glycemic load. Some studies have shown that these combined components may have an effect against cancers, Alzheimer's , and stroke . This is an area of ongoing research.

Use this tag for all questions about growing the various varieties of blueberries. Questions about bilberries, and related should use the appropriate tag instead.

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Is it really important to give blueberry plants acidic soil?

I have two blueberry bushes which I planted at the end of the summer. Although I had read online that they prefer acidic soil, I didn't have the time to check the pH of our soil, and go out to buy something to make it more acidic. My bushes seem…
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How can I safely transplant blueberry bushes planted in the spring before the winter hits?

If all goes according to plan, I will be moving this winter to another location. I currently have two blueberry bushes I planted last spring, purchased from Gurney's. I'm wondering what the procedure might be to transplant a plant like this given…
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What causes flowers to fall off of a blueberry bush?

My blueberry bush's flower bells are falling off, leaving only the center stalk (stamen? pistil? whatever it is, its part of the sex organs) Is this what happens when a blueberry flower is properly pollinated or is some type of disease/blight…
Peter Grace
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Why does my blueberry bush have brown/scorched leaves?

I recently purchased a dwarf Northsky blueberry bush from a mail order company. When I recieved it, roughly 15-20% of its leaves had the appearance of being burned or scorched; the bad leaves were about 50% brown and curled, like they were burned or…
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Why do blueberries need acidic soil?

I know that blueberries need soil in the range of ph 4-5, but no one ever says why they need the pH in that range. I've heard that it may be because of a lack of available iron at higher pH, and that other plants emit acidic in their root zone to…
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Can blueberries and raspberries be planted near each other?

We have some raspberry canes growing in a space in our yard and while doing some work this summer I removed some thorn bushes and stunted trees that were taking up sun, which was great for the raspberries since they flourished in the past two…
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Blueberry bushes leaves turned red and fell off

I was told to add coffee grounds to my blueberries. After I did the leaves on two of them turned dark red and they all fell off. Leaves have returned and loads of flowers, but the berries seem to not be developing well. It is also about a month…
Jeff T
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What are the best soil amendments for container grown blueberries?

What are the best soil amendments for blueberries grown in containers? What's the best mulch? Last year I used chopped leaves from a friend's landscaping job that is no longer around. I also remember hearing about adding coffee grounds to the…
Ann Addicks
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What happens if you don't use a trellis for berries?

I hear that most kinds of berries need trellises like the one pictured below. I believe that the trellis keeps the stalks growing upright. Beyond the aesthetics, would anything bad happen if I grew berries without a trellis - just let them grow to…
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What could be causing my blueberries to have a funny taste?

I have just harvested some of the ripest berries from a row of 6 blueberries of different varieties. They all have a slightly odd taste that I have never detected in store bought blueberries. It is difficult to describe. My wife suggested it almost…
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What is the grassy-looking plant at the base of my blueberry bush?

I bought a starter blueberry bush a couple of months ago. It has been growing well but there seems to be something else growing at the base. I'm not sure if it's more blueberry stalk or weeds, and I'm hoping someone can help.
owen gerig
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Pine Bark vs Sphagnum Peat/Sand for Blueberries and Azaleas

I had a quick question, because I'm trying to figure up my mulch and fertilizer needs for this Spring. I had bought my father a couple of blueberry plants, among others, because that's what he wanted for his birthday. They've been in the ground…
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Requirements for successful Blueberry bush planting

We tried planting Blueberries last year, and went 0 for 3. We tried to follow the instructions: Planted in a mix of 50/50 mulch and organic gardening soil Watered infrequently but heavily (1/week, skipping if heavy rain) Planted three bushes/trees…
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Should blueberry suckers be removed?

I have a potted Sunshine Blueberry plant. I noticed suckers started appearing a few inches from the main trunk. Should I leave those suckers there or cut them off? I have read that suckers on big fruit trees don't produce good fruit. Is the same…
JoJo
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Can blueberries be grown in a raised garden bed?

I am thinking of putting in a raised garden bed in our back yard here in south-west Florida. The soil here is rocky and sandy, and I've been told by more than one person that some things don't grow so well in this kind of soil. We love fresh…
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