highbush blueberry
Vaccinium 'Blueray'
Cycle:
Perennial
Watering:
Frequent
Propagation:
Layering Propagation,Cutting,Tissue Culture,Grafting Propagation,Air Layering Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
5 - 8
Flowers:
White Flowers In Spring
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Fruits:
blue Fruits Ready In Summer
Edible:
Yes
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
High
Maintenance:
Moderate
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium 'Blueray') should be watered whenever the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Depending on the weather conditions, this could mean that you need to water the plant once every week or 2, or even more often. If it gets very hot, make sure to water your blueberry bush more frequently to ensure that it does not become too dry. When watering, give the roots a thorough soaking, making sure to water deeply enough that water will be reaching the roots. Over-watering can lead to root rot problems, so try to avoid that.
sunlight
Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium 'Blueray') need full sun to produce an abundant crop. Direct sunlight for 8 to 10 hours a day is ideal. In locations where the sun does not reach the plants for 8 hours a day, the blueberry plants should be planted in a location where they get morning sun and western or afternoon sun. In addition, the highbush blueberry plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring to ensure the proper amount and duration of sunlight exposure. This will ensure that the canopy does not become too dense, resulting in shaded areas of the plant that would prevent the proper amount of light to reach the fruit.
pruning
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium 'Blueray') should be pruned twice a year for best results- once in late winter and again in late summer. In late winter, prune back any branches that are no longer productive (e.g. have produced few or no berries). Give your plant a light overall pruning. In late summer, prune out any thin, spindly or dead wood and prune to shape. This encourages new growth. Be sure to leave the sub-terminal buds to ensure you get good berry production next summer. Look for any branches that are crossing over each other or rubbing together, and prune them out. Also, don't forget to neatly prune away any watersprouts or suckers coming off your plant. When pruning, remember the golden rule: never remove more than 1-third of the total plant mass. This ensures your shrub doesn't suffer too much shock from pruning. Work steadily and carefully, and your bush will happily reward you with a bumper crop of blueberries!
