Modern Diet Series
How People Came to Love the Blueberry
Native to North America
History
The modern blueberry has been commercially produced for only the past 100 years. It originates as a wild berry from North America. Native Americans ate the berries and used every part of the plant as medicine.
The Indigenous love blueberries, for one, because they store longer than other similar crops. They add blueberries to stews or dry them for the winter. It wasn’t until 1912 that popular culture took notice of their appeal.
Elizabeth White saw a promise in blueberry production around 1893. Most people didn’t yet see their utility. Yet, USDA botanist Frederick Coville began experiments on them in 1908 anyway. White and Coville became partners in 1911 when he came to work on her farm.
They harvested and sold their first commercial crop in 1916. White won an award for her outstanding contributions in 1932. Between the ’40s and ’60s, folks planted 200,000 blueberry seedlings across 13 states.
The highland bush grows taller and produces many larger berries. It prefers the warmer climates of the United States. The lowland bush grows shorter and more compact. It produces smaller berries and prefers the colder climate of Canada.
Details
Scientific name: Vaccinium cyanococcus
Zones: Zones 4–10, depending on variety
Difficulty: Easy
Flavor: Acidic, drying, floral, juicy, musky, sweet, tart, woody
Uses: Folk medicine, food
Nutrition: Carbs, fiber, proteins, Vitamins B6, C, and K
Origin: North America
Related: Azalea, Bilberry, Cranberry, Heather, Huckleberry, Mountain Laurel
Companions: Bluebells, Clover, Redbud, Strawberry, Thyme
Avoid near: Broccoli, Cabbage, Walnut
Pests: Cherry & Cranberry Fruitworms, Cutworms, Spanworms, Terrapin Scale
Pollinators: Bees
Varieties: Alaska, Biloxi, Bluecrop, Blueray, Brightwell, Chandler, Duke, Highbush, Jewel, Legacy, Lowbush, Misty, O’Neal, Patriot, Pink Lemonade, Rabbiteye, Sharpblue, Sunshine Blue
Growth & Harvest
In the United States, you have access to highbush varieties. Select at least two blueberry cultivars with similar bloom times for increased yield. You want at least two bushes, but three if possible.
Find a location with full sun. Blueberries want loamy, well-draining soil that is a little acidic. Perform a soil test through the Extension system for soil recommendations. Avoid nearby shade trees as they will block the sun and compete for water.
Look at the growth habits of your blueberry varieties when deciding spacing. Plant 2.5 feet apart if you want to make blueberry hedges. Space them further apart for single-plant bushes. Keep about 6–8 feet between rows.
Be sure to mulch around your blueberries to prevent weeds. The best time to plant blueberries is spring or fall. Avoid overfertilizing as they are sensitive to that. Fertilize one month after planting with fresh compost.
Recipe: Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients: Blueberries, flour, sugar, oil, milk, egg, baking powder, vanilla, salt (substitute gluten-free flour, vegan egg or plant milk)
Directions:
- Preheat over to 400°F.
- Mix the baking powder, flour, sugar, and a dash of salt.
- Whisk together egg, oil, milk, and vanilla. Add to the first bowl and mix.
- Stir until blended and fold in blueberries last.
- Grease your pan, add the muffin cups, and scoop the dough into each.
- Bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes, or until golden.
- Let cool for 5 minutes.
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