As an ornamental plant, blueberry (Vaccinium species) offers small white flowers in spring, glossy green leaves in summer, and spectacular crimson fall foliage. As an edible fruit, it can’t be beat for fresh eating, pies, pancakes, dessert sauce, and jam. Blueberries grow in Zones 3 to 10, but the species and best varieties vary from one extreme to the other:

• Lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium) is the hardiest for Zones 3 to 6. These 8- to 18-inch tall plants form spreading mats and produce small, intensely flavored berries. Grow them as ground-covering landscape plants in well-drained acidic soil and enjoy the fruits as a bonus or leave them for wildlife. Prune only to remove dead, damaged, or diseased plants. Varieties include ‘Northsky’ and ‘Putte’.
• Highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum and hybrids) can grow from Zones 4 to 10, but some varieties are better suited to either extreme. Choose highbush blueberries for plenty of large, flavorful, easy to pick fruit. Shrubs grow 2 to 6 feet tall and produce more fruit when you plant at least two different varieties. In the northern United States, try ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Blueray’, ‘Earliblue’, ‘Northblue’, ‘Patriot’, and ‘Northland’. In the south, plant ‘Gulf Coast’, ‘Misty’, ‘O’Neill’, and ‘Reveille’.
  Flower buds, which appear larger and rounder than leaf buds, form in the summer the year before they bloom. Prune in late winter to remove unproductive canes, leaving the most vigorous 15 to 18 canes.
• Rabbiteye blueberry (V. ashei) grow in the warmer Zones 7 through 9. Growing up to 10 feet tall, the varieties of this species have thicker-skinned berries. You need to plant two different but compatible varieties to get fruit. Good companions include ‘Beckyblue’ and ‘Bonitablue’ or ‘Powderblue’ and ‘Tifblue’.

Blueberries belong to a group of plants that have very specific soil needs, including a lot of decomposed organic matter and an acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.2. They grow where azaleas and rhododendrons naturally thrive, but you can also alter your soil with acidifying peat moss and sulfur to accommodate their needs. It takes at least six months to a year or more for amendments to significantly lower soil pH, so plan ahead and test the soil before planting. Test on an annual basis and amend your soil as necessary to maintain the pH level you want. See Chapter 2 of this book for more on soil amendments and pH.

All blueberries have shallow roots and need moist, well-drained soil. Mix 1/2 cubic foot of peat moss per plant into the soil at planting time.  ....read more