Time From Flowering to Harvest for Misty Blueberries

Description

• There are dozens of varieties of blueberries. The Misty blueberry is a southern high bush variety rated for United States hardiness zones 5 through 10. (High bush blueberries require 150 to 300 “chill hours” to set fruit. Chill hours are the accumulation of hours when the temperature drops to between 30 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.) A Misty blueberry plant is cultivated for its fast growth, high yields and consistent quality. An upright, spreading deciduous bush reaching 4 to 6 feet at maturity, Misty plants produce blue-green summer leaves and burgundy foliage in fall.

Planting

• Misty blueberry plants can be purchased at local home and garden centers or online from a variety of vendors. Plants are normally shipped in one-gallon pots, ready for planting. Misty blueberry plants have deep root systems that transplant easily into larger containers or field beds. Plant in a sunny location in well drained, nutrient-rich, acidic soil. Mix equal amounts of cottonseed meal, well aged herbivore manure (cow, sheep, goat, horse, lama), garden compost and peat moss. Spread it 4 to 6 inches deep on the planting bed, and cultivate well into the soil prior to planting your blueberry bushes. Misty blueberry bushes are easy to plant and require little maintenance, and they often bear fruit the following fruit season.

Cutivation

• Misty blueberries grow best when planted with other blueberry varieties for cross-pollination. Any other blueberry variety that will grow in your hardiness zone may be used for cross-pollination, regardless of flowering time. Do not allow your blueberry plants to dry out. Provide 1 inch of water per week.

Harvest

• Early-harvest Misty blueberries bloom in mid-March and are ready for harvest in mid-May. Blueberries can be eaten plain or added to muffins, pancakes, cakes and pies.