Blueberries
Blueberries are one of nature’s super snacks, low in calories and high in vitamins. Native to North America, there are three main varieties: lowbush, highbush and rabbiteye. Lowbush are less prevalent in Australia, and are the wild variety in North America and Canada that grow around the edges of bogs. Highbush are a cultivated variety, and can be split into two. Northern highbush and Southern highbush. Southern highbush (so the one that grows in the warmer areas in the Northern Hemisphere!) and rabbiteye are the best varieties for a sub-tropical climate as they are both ‘low chill’ and require less cold weather in order to set fruit. The number of ‘chill hours’ a plant needs is the number of hours below 7 degrees Celsius. Southern highbush need somewhere between 250 and 600. Northern highbush need 750 to 1000!
Blueberries won’t all ripen together.
To be honest I’m not actually sure what type of blueberry mine is. (I have the tag but it’s a pretty lousy tag!). I did buy it as one suited to our climate though. It had a few flowers but no fruit the first summer, but this year I’ve got a nice little crop.
Blueberries flower in spring (or late winter here - mine started mid August). The flowers are perfect little baubles that would make excellent fairy skirts. Eventually the flowers morph their way into green fruit which gradually get paler and then develop a purplish-blue blush. And then you wait and wait and wait. And eventually they turn a deep dark blue. And you wait a smidge longer. Blueberries picked too early are tart! Leave them for as long as possible on the bush until they fall off in your hand.
Perfect little blueberry flower fairy skirts.
Blueberries are in the same family as Azaleas and Rhondodendrons (Ericaceae) and like acidic, rich soil. Which is why the wild ones like to grow around the edges of the peat bogs. At home they are perfect in pots where you can use a potting mix designed for Azaleas (just make sure you pick a nice big pot from the get go, as they don’t like root disturbance). Keep them watered, and feed regularly throughout summer and you’ll find them fairly tough and resilient. They fruit best in full sun but when it’s really hot they appreciate some afternoon shade. Their biggest pest are birds and possums so once you’ve got fruit you might consider netting them. So far mine have stayed safe and all been left for me. Either the chooks don’t like them or haven’t found them yet!
