The wild blueberries found in this country are generally not planted or used commercially. In contrast, the cultivated blueberries sold by the garden trade come botanically from North America.
Which cultivated blueberry varieties are recommended?
The popular cultivated blueberry varieties include Pilot, Bluecrop, Duke and Patriot. Smaller varieties such as Sylvana or Northsky are suitable for growing in pots, while the larger varieties produce higher yields in the garden bed. A mixture of varieties extends the harvest season and ensures a varied garden appearance.
The cultivated blueberries created through selection and breeding
The wild blueberries native to this country are also popularly referred to as blueberries because, in addition to their bluish skin, they also have blue fruit juice, which can sometimes turn fingers and tongue blue. In contrast, the cultivated blueberries that come from North America and are the result of breeding efforts have an almost white flesh and are not colored. The fruits on the bushes are not only more numerous, but also larger and juicier. Crossing has now resulted in more than 100 well-known cultivars, of which around 30 have become dominant in growing areas and in private gardens.
Larger and smaller cultivated blueberries
Smaller blueberry varieties such as the wild variety Sylvana or the heavily fruiting Northsky are particularly suitable for growing in pots and on the balcony. However, when grown in the garden bed, strong-growing varieties such as the following will give you a higher yield:
- Pilot
- Bluecrop
- Duke
- Patriot
Since these blueberry bushes can give you a yield of four to eight kilos per bush after a few years at a height of up to 3 meters, you may also have to consider preserving them by freezing or boiling.
The benefits of mixing different varieties
A big advantage of blueberries over other types of fruit is the fact that their fruits ripen staggered over a period of several weeks during the harvest season. But you can extend the season even further if you mix early, mid-early and late varieties in your garden. You can harvest blueberries from the Vaccinium Earlyblue variety from the beginning of July and end the season in September with the berries of the late Vaccinium Jersey variety.
Tips & Tricks
A mix of different types of blueberries in the garden not only enables an extended harvest season, this approach also allows for a relaxed look in the garden through different flower colors and times of autumn color.