Vaccinium corymbosum Early-Mid. 5-7'. One of the best blueberries for eating, freezing, canning and preserving. Loose clusters are easy to harvest. Productive bush is vigorous and upright. Disease resistant. Z4.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Early-Midseason. 4-6' Large firm high dessert quality berries are considered the best-tasting by nearly everyone who grows highbush blueberries. Very vigorous and consistently productive. Z4.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Early-Mid. 4'. Firm crisp berries are low acid, ripen uniformly and hold up well on the shelf as the thick skin resists splitting. Highly sought-after cultivar among market growers. Z5.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Early. 4-6'. Medium-large light blue firm fruit with excellent sweet flavor. Flavor holds up better than other varieties in the freezer. Vigorous upright high-yielding bush. Z4.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Mid-Late. 5-6'. Dense clusters of large fruit with exquisite balanced sweet and tart flavor. Stores well in refrigeration. Large vigorous upright shrub. Z4.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Mid-Late. 5-7'. Beloved old standard from 1928. Productive, adapted to a wide range of soils, highly praised, easy to grow and suited to the New England climate. Vigorous erect hardy bush. Z4.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Mid. 6-8' × 5'. High-quality medium light blue berries are firm, sweet and low in acidity. High yielding. Upright bush has shown some tolerance to clay soils. Z5.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Mid. 2-3'. Very hardy highbush-lowbush cross. Large dime-size dark blue fruit with sweet wild flavor. Good choice where space is limited. Z3.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Early-Mid. 4'. Partial lowbush parentage. Large firm blueberries with excellent flavor. Tolerant/resistant to some strains of soil fungus. Z3.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Early. 5-6'. Good quality early variety with medium-sized very flavorful deep blue berries. Extended ripening season of 4–5 weeks. Upright spreading form. Z4.
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Vaccinium corymbosum Mid-Late. 5-6'. Medium-large berries are mild and sweet with low acidity. Best attributes are uniform ripening, heavy yields (around 12 lb per plant) and good resistance to mummy berry. Z4.
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Highbush Blueberries Vaccinium corymbosum
Many of Maine’s lakes are lined with massive stands of highbush blueberries, native to North America. Grazing the shore requires only time and a suitable vessel; we prefer kayak or canoe. The beautiful vigorous shrubs are extremely easy to grow at home, productive and reliable. By planting several varieties, you can harvest berries from early July through most of August. First crops come 3–5 years after planting. Productive for at least 20 or 30 years. Berries may turn blue before they reach their peak flavor. Leave them on the bush until they are fully ripe. Check a few before you pick them all!
Growing Highbush Blueberries
Soil: Light acid soil with plenty of organic matter. Keep them watered.
Sun: Full.
Pollination: Two varieties required, three or more recommended.
Spacing: Plant 6' apart (or closer for smaller lowbush-highbush types) in rows 8–10' apart.
Planting: Mulch yearly with at least 3–6" pine needles, wood chips, hay, cardboard, even old slab wood. They don’t like grass competition.
Pruning: Fruit is produced on one-year shoots off healthy canes. Older canes become twiggy and less productive. After three years, head back long sprigs of new growth for a bushier plant. Each bush should be allowed to grow 6–10 canes varying in age from 1–6 years old. Thereafter, remove dead canes and those over 6 years old to encourage new replacement canes. Bushes with regular moderate pruning produce the most berries.
