Blueberry bushes are the surprise addition to your edible landscape Edible landscaping is the hot garden topic. What does that mean for you? Anything from cranking up the design in your kitchen garden, to tearing out your front lawn and replacing it with great-looking edible plants. Two of the cardinal rules of edible gardening (whether you're planning a Peter-Rabbit-style vegetable patch or an eye-popping display in the front yard):
1) Grow what you like to eat 2) Grow produce that costs a lot to buy at the farmers' market or grocery store We're guessing that near the top of your list will be -- blueberries! Choose from the
Southern Highbush blueberry varieties, which are
happy in warm areas. They're self-pollinating but you'll get even more fruit if you plant different varieties together.
Health benefits
Blueberries are insanely good for you. They're full of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and fiber. New studies show blueberries
clean up toxic brain debris,
lower blood pressure, and even
reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease.
Landscaping with blueberries
Blueberry bushes enhance landscapes as hedges (a row of different varieties will display a range of fall color, from burgundy to orange to blue-green) or in a group of perennials. Use smaller varieties (like
'Sunshine Blue') as container plants to create edible accents flanking your front door, or on your patio.
Blueberry culture
Blueberries need acid, well-drained soil. You'll probably have to amend your soil with compost, peat or grow in containers. For full details on warm-weather blueberry culture and soil preparation, see
"Growing Blueberries in the Sacramento Region" by the Cooperative Extension in Sacramento County.
Pick a blueberry bush, or two or three
Some favorite varieties in warm areas are 'Misty',
'Sunshine Blue', 'O'Neal', and 'Southmoon'. Try 'Sunshine Blue' as one of your varieties. It's a mid-season blueberry bush and will extend your harvest beyond the other early-season bushes. Although blueberries are self-fertile you will get a heavier fruit set and larger berries if you plant more than one variety together.
15 comments
Is Sonoma California a Northern highbush or a southern Highbush blueberry climate
Dean, you can choose from any of the Southern Highbush. They do not require the high chill hours like the Northern Highbush varieties do. We have quite a few varieties to choose from.
I live in a región where the coldest 3 months of the year are in the 40s and low 50s during the night. Sometimes a brief cold front will move in with Temps in the mid to upper 30s for a few days at a time. In the summer, temps are moderate with day time highs in the 70s and low 80s. Are there múltiple varieties available for this type of climate? Thanks!
Hello,
I read these varieties are good for warmer weather, does that include tropical? Caribbean weather?
Thank you
Virginia, I am not sure they would grow well in a tropical region. The USDA zones are listed on each variety, but they do need some cold weather during the winter, look at the chill hours as well as the USDA zone. Just keep in mind that we do not ship outside of the US.