Blueberry Plants for Zone 3 or 4

Growing Blueberries in Zones 3 and 4

• Blueberries have specific soil requirements, and will do best in soils with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 with high organic matter. These plants require full sun, and will not produce fruit for their first two seasons, so for the fastest results, buy two-year-old plants from a nursery. After two years, in summer, the plant will produce fruit that can be eaten fresh, frozen or canned. These plants can be grown in the ground, spaced 4 to 6 feet apart, or in containers.

Patriot Blueberry

• The Patriot blueberry is a Northern Highbush variety that consistently produces crops, and will tolerate cold weather. According to the Fall Creek Nursery website, Patriot blueberries will do best in moist yet well-drained soils and can adapt to many soil types. These plants will produce white blooms in the spring; large, tangy blueberries in the summer; and orange-red colored leaves in the fall. The Patriot blueberry bush will grow to be 3 to 5 feet high. This plant will produce 8 to 12 pounds of berries per year.

Northland Blueberry

• The Northland blueberry bush is the most cold-hardy of the Northern Highbush varieties. Northland blueberry bushes are easy to grow and very productive, yielding up to 20 pounds of berries from a mature plant, according to the Fall Creek Nursery website. These berries are medium-sized and very sweet, making them a good choice for baking and making jams. Northland bushes can grow to between 4 and 7 feet. They are very compact plants, making them a good choice for landscaping.

Northsky Blueberry

• The Northsky blueberry bush is a half-high variety, growing 1 to 2-1/2 feet high. This variety is the most cold-hardy of all blueberry plants, according to the Fall Creek Nursery website. This bush will produce 2 to 5 pounds of small, sweet berries per year, according to the American Blueberry Company. The Northsky can grow to 2 to 3 feet wide, and is a compact plant that is ideal for landscaping. The plant will produce white blooms in the spring, and the leaves will turn red in the fall.

Chippewa Blueberry

• The Chippewa blueberry is a half-high variety that originated in Minnesota. The plant produces medium to large berries, and can yield 5 to 8 pounds of sweet berries per year. The Chippewa bush can grow to be 3 to 4 feet at maturity, and has an upright compact shape. This bush will produce fruit throughout the summer, and will have red leaves in the fall.

Northblue Blueberry

• The Northblue blueberry bush is a half-high variety that is especially resistant to cold temperatures. This variety has been known to survive winter temperatures as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit. The Northblue will yield 4 to 7 pounds of berries per year, and produces medium-sized berries with a sweet flavor. The wild taste of these berries make them great for eating fresh or baking, according to the Fall Creek Nursery website. This bush will grow to be 2 to 3 feet high at maturity and has an upright open shape.