Jersey Blueberry Plants

History

• Today's domesticated highbush blueberries, such as the Jersey blueberry bush, are distant relatives of the lowbush blueberries that grow wild in New Jersey's Pine Barrens. According to Rutgers University, the Native Americans in the area prized these wild blueberries for their purported ability to relieve stomach problems. A history of blueberries on the university's website gives much of the credit for domesticating blueberries to Elizabeth Coleman White, a Whitesbog, N.J. resident, who spent her life studying and breeding the plants.

Characteristics

• The Jersey blueberry is a highbush variety that yields fruit from mid-June until September. It is prized for its hardiness in cold weather as well as its exceptionally sweet fruit. It grows to a width and height of approximately 60 inches and produces white flowers in May. One mature bush can yield 7 to 10 lbs. of medium-sized blueberries in a season.

Care

• Jersey blueberry bushes should be planted in early spring in full sun and placed 4 to 6 feet apart. They require an acidic soil with good drainage. To increase soil acidity, apply an acid fertilizer at the time of planting, again when flowers bloom and again when fruit appears.

  Prune your blueberry bush annually by removing small branches near the base of the bush as well as any broken or damaged limbs. They require little other care once the bushes are established.

Pests

• Bird, deer and rabbits love blueberries as much as people do. They can devour your entire crop if it is left unprotected. To prevent this, cover your blueberry bushes with netting and surround them with a deer fence. Other types of pests typically are not a threat to blueberry bushes in the home garden.

Tips

• You don't have to say goodbye to the delicious taste of blueberries once winter comes. Freeze part of your crop in plastic containers or bags and you can enjoy blueberries year-round.