Blueberries from your own garden are not only suitable as a sweet fruit treat in mid-summer, but also as a vitamin-rich and natural ingredient for jams, cakes and juices.
Which blueberry varieties are suitable for garden cultivation?
The best blueberry varieties for growing in the garden are Bluecrop, Pilot, Duke, Hardyblue and Darrow. An early ripening variety is Vaccinium Earlyblue and Northland is particularly suitable for growing in pots.
The special aroma of wild blueberries
The wild blueberries, which are mostly found in sparse moor forests and on low mountain slopes, attract walkers from around the beginning of July with their dark blue colored berries. These are a little more aromatic than the cultivated blueberries most commonly sold in stores, but are not quite as large and juicy as these. Due to the natural dyes, blueberries collected in the forest can be used perfectly for the natural coloring of the following foods:
- Jam
- Ice cream
- Cake dough
However, wild blueberries are only partially suitable for growing in your own garden, and they only produce a few berries per plant.
Cultivated blueberries as a high-yield alternative to wild blueberries
Botanically, the cultivated blueberries bred from North American original varieties are only slightly related to the wild blueberries native to this country. They also differed in the size of the fruits and their white flesh inside. Nevertheless, they are an attractive alternative to wild-picked blueberries and are also enjoying growing popularity in many private gardens. There are now usually up to 30 different varieties available in specialist retailers (€34.00 at Amazon), which have different ripening times and gradations in fruit size and color. What they all have in common is the fact that there are usually fully ripe and unripe blueberries hanging on one branch at the same time. If, despite this natural extension of the harvest season, there are too many fruits for fresh consumption, they can be easily preserved by freezing or boiling.
The best varieties for growing in the garden
The varieties that are particularly popular on blueberry plantations and in private gardens include:
- Bluecrop
- Pilot
- Duke
- Hardyblue
- Darrow
There are also varieties like Vaccinium Earlyblue, which produce their juicy fruits particularly early. The Northland blueberry variety is particularly suitable for growing in a pot on a balcony or terrace.
Tips & Tricks
Easily extend the harvest time of your blueberries in the garden by mixing up early, mid-early and late-ripening varieties.
