You can grow your own blueberries
Anyone who has picked
blueberries in the northern Ontario wilderness knows how exciting that can be,
but for most people it involves traveling some distance, as well as finding and picking the berries.
Is there an easier way to get
blueberries than going out to pick them? Yes, there is and that is why
more and more people are choosing to grow their own blueberries.
Ideally, if a person can
imitate the natural habitat of the blueberries, when they attempt to grow them,
the plants will thrive. That is not always possible. Many people climb
mountains and hike miles into the wilderness to find blueberries. Others will
go to re-forestation sites, where the trees have been logged or into areas that
have been burned and re-planted, in the past. Most people don't have back yards
like that, although there are exceptions.
For an amateur grower,
blueberries plants can be started from their own seeds, but it is easier to
purchase blueberry plants. Some people will take plants directly from the
wilderness and transplant them. Others buy plants from garden centers.
Blueberries are from the family
Vaccinium, with approximately four hundred and fifty different plants known
throughout the world. The blueberry plants are native to North
America , where they have been referred to as "star
berries" by the natives, because of the five-pointed star in the calyx.
Legend has it that the Great Spirit sent star berries to relieve the hunger
pangs of children, during times of severe famine. (1)
Three of the more common
varieties that can be cultivated successfully include the following:
Southern Rabbiteye (V. ashei):
These blueberries are grown in the southern USA
Lowbush, or Wild blueberries
(V. angustifolium ): These are found growing as far north as the Arctic, in North America . (2)
When growing blueberry plants,
cross pollination is important. Obtaining two or three different types of
blueberry plants is a good idea. Maintaining a soil PH of approximately 5.0 is
vital for their survival.
In the wilderness, some kinds
of blueberries thrive in areas that are sunny, while others do well
growing close to other trees and bushes. Both the bushes and the blueberries
tend to grow larger in the shade, but the sweetest berries are found in direct
sunlight.
If you look closely at their
natural habitat in northern Ontario, you will see that there is natural compost
that forms on the forest bed. It consists of old tree trunks and branches,
needles from pine or spruce trees and leaves, along with various kinds of moss
that grow around outcroppings of rocks. Some varieties of blueberries do
well in the rocky areas, while others do much better in the shaded areas. It
depends upon the kind of blueberry.
If you take a close look at the
place where you intend to plant your blueberries, in conjunction with the kind
of plants that you purchase, you will find that placing each kind of plant in
its own natural habitat will help it to grow better.
Different kinds of blueberry
plants will grow to different heights. The ones that grow well in the sunny,
rocky areas stay relatively short, reaching a height of one to two feet.
You can plant these close together, but over time the small plants will spread,
so allow room for additional plants to grow in the future. They will seed
themselves every year, if all of the berries are not picked and the proper
growth conditions are maintained.
If you are looking at planting
rows of blueberry plants that are easier to pick, you need to find a
variety that grows into bushes. You will be able to locate these in the
wilderness areas close to the trees and in the low lying areas.
In Northern
Ontario wilderness, they normally reach about two to three feet in
height. Blueberry bushes will grow to a height of about 4-8 feet when
cultivated, in more southern areas. These blueberries need to be planted, several
feet apart. It will take several years for them to reach maturity, once
planted.
Natural wilderness compost and
animal fertilizer feed the blueberry plants in the wild, but it not
possible to duplicate that in your home environment. You do not need to do that either, as using compost and organic fertilizer will suffice. Normally, when cultivated,
blueberries are not fertilized in the first year, as it may cause damage to the
root systems.
If you are planting blueberries
for the first time, plant them in the spring, so that they have a chance to
root well over the summer. They need three to four months to grow. Make
certain that they are planted fairly deep, so that they survive through the
winter. Using peat moss, compost and organic fertilizer around the plants is a
good idea, particularly if the soil is heavy. They will grow in sandy loam
soil.
Remember to water the plants
well for the first while, but make certain that they have adequate drainage,
so that there is no root rot.
Blueberries can be picked and
put directly into the freezer in containers, once they are cleaned. They can be juiced, dried or canned. They have a high nutritional value because of
the elevated levels of vitamin C and vitamin E. They also have a high
antioxidant level, so health wise, it will be
worth the effort it takes to grow them.
The next time that you pick
blueberries, you may be able to do so in your own back yard!
(1)
http://www.blueberry.org/blueberries.htm
(2) Ibid.
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