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Do you wish to grow a superfood in your garden or at home? Then blueberry would be the perfect shrub. Blueberries are a favourite summertime snack full of tons of vitamins and nutrients. They can be used to make a blueberry pie or blueberry jam and can also be added to pancake batter.
There are several varieties of this healthy fruit; a few are great choices to grow in your garden or backyard. You can also find some of the best blueberry plants for containers UK that can be grown without much effort. They taste delicious and are also an attractive addition to the landscape.
What Are Blueberry Plants?
Blueberries are a group of perennial plants with purple or blueberries. They belong to the genus Vaccinium. Both wild blueberries and cultivated blueberries are native to North America. Blueberries are high in antioxidants and have a long growing season.
Most blueberry varieties start producing fruits by the end of the third year. You will have to wait up to 6 years for full production. The most reliable way to know if the blueberries are ready to pick is by tasting them. Blueberry plants can also be bought from nurseries or online suppliers.
If you plan on purchasing a blueberry plant locally, choose one which is two to three years old. Before the plants arrive, decide on an appropriate spot and prepare the soil to ensure the plant grows healthily. The best part about these plants is that they are less likely to catch any diseases.
Blueberry Varieties to Grow at Home or In Your Garden [UK]
Blueberry plants are easy to grow at home. They require little maintenance and care. We have done a compilation of the best blueberry plants for containers UK that can be grown at home.
Look at the top 12 best blueberry plants for containers UK that you can easily grow at home or in your garden:
1. Bluecrop
Bluecrop is one of the most popular blueberry varieties in the world. Bluecrop grows at a moderate speed and reaches a height of 5-6 feet. It is an open-growing, upright Northern Highbush variety. The leaves on the plant turn red during autumn, giving an ornamental appeal throughout winter. Bluecorp bears huge white clusters of flowers that eventually turn into blueberries. These plants produce medium-sized blueberries, which are resistant to cracking. The Bluecrop prefers rich, well-draining soil that retains moisture. Once matured, the plant becomes drought-resistant and disease-resistant to some extent. These varieties have shallow roots, so you need to be careful while tending to other plants in that area.
2. Biloxi
The Biloxi variety is a juicier, firmer, and sweeter variety of blueberries. Biloxi blueberries are low to moderate-chill berries, i.e., they usually require 0-150 chill hours per year. These are the ideal varieties for freezing or baking. They are also great for making jams, smoothies, jellies, and pies. Biloxi blueberries have a long harvesting season, i.e., from April – July. Biloxi shrubs need sunlight for half to a full day. If you are planting these shrubs in a cold area, plant them under full sun or light to moderate shade. These varieties prefer well-draining and fertile soil. To ensure that your Biloxi shrub thrives, use coco peat, perlite, organic matter, and sand soil.
3. Blueray
Blueray blueberries are a Highbush variety that grows very wide and tall. The Blueray bushes have beautiful blossoms that transform into a rosy pink shade before turning white. Later they turn into delicious and juicy blueberries. During autumn, the foliage turns into a deep scarlet or crimson shade. These plants bear very large berries, making them ideal for eating right off the plant. The Blueray blueberry variety needs a minimum of 800 chill hours. These varieties are ready for harvest in July. The harvesting season lasts longer, and you can reap pounds of berries off every bush. Since this variety is known to produce a lot of fruit, it can stress the plant; hence, it must be pruned carefully and regularly. They are considered the best blueberry plants for containers UK as they require little care and maintenance.
4. Brightwell
The Brightwell variety is a type of Rabbiteye blueberry. Rabbiteye variety of berries changes colour from pink to blue as they grow and mature. These varieties perform well in Southern US because they tolerate drought and withstand high-intensity heat. The Brightwell bushes produce abundant amounts of medium-sized blueberries. The berries produced are high-quality and flavorful. These varieties can tolerate partial sunlight and are one of the best blueberry plants for containers UK. The plant bears pink flowers and green leaves that turn orange and red shades during fall.
5. Pink Icing
Pink Icing Blueberry is another Northern Highbush variety. It has breathtaking foliage colours during spring and bears strongly flavoured berries. During spring, the foliage has multiple shades of pink, blue, and green that turn into stunning turquoise in winter. You can plant the pink-icing variety in ornamental patio pots or along the border of your garden to add some vibrant colours to your landscape. This variety thrives well in full sun but can tolerate a little shade. It is a low-maintenance variety and doesn’t require much pruning. If it grows under ideal conditions, it can survive for 20 years.
6. Pink Popcorn
Pink Popcorn is an unusual blueberry variety. These plants bear blueberries that turn pink when they mature. The fruit is medium in size. They have the same flavour and sweetness as other blueberry varieties. Pink Popcorn prefers acidic soil with some moisture. You can harvest the fruit in July. They grow at a moderate speed with deep green foliage and white flowers. During autumn, the green foliage turns red. These varieties can reach a height of 5 to 6 feet. The branches of these shrubs have a zigzag pattern that seems alluring.
7. Legacy
The Legacy Blueberry variety bears extremely flavorful and large berries. This blueberry variety is disease resistant and reaches a height of about 6 feet or more when fully matured. It also spreads across a large area, i.e., around 3 to 6 feet. This variety grows and produces abundant yields. It produces a little slower during the initial years; however, once the plant is well-established, it can produce high yields. The berries produced are of medium size and very firm. The fruit is usually ready for harvest during August. The plant holds on to its beautiful crimson leave throughout the winters. Thus, these varieties are great if you wish to add some all-year-round visual interest to your garden.
8. Powder Blue
The Powder Blue Blueberry variety is a type of Rabbiteye blueberry. It is very sweet. This variety grows well in the southeastern United States. It must be grown with other Rabbiteye varieties for pollination. The plant has upright growing habits and can reach 8 to 12 feet. Upon maturing, the berries on the plant gain a light powdery shade of blue. The fruits are ready to harvest during late summer and have a slightly thick and waxy skin. Like most other varieties, the plant thrives well in acidic soil with a pH range of 4 to 5.5. This variety loves sunshine and needs at least 6 to 8 hours of sun to grow well.
9. Sunshine Blue
Sunshine Blue is another blueberry variety that looks visually appealing. It is a versatile evergreen plant that has low chilling requirements. The plant bears attractive pink flowers during spring and green-blue foliage that becomes a burgundy red during fall. It takes medium-sized blueberries ready for harvest in late July and August. This is a dwarf Southern Highbush variety that can tolerate various soil types. It is recommended to plant this variety with other varieties for cross-pollination. It is known for its vigorous growth during summers. It can thrive well even in compact spaces.
10. Top Hat
Are you looking for the best blueberry plants for containers UK that needs little space and less maintenance? Then the Top Hat variety can be your ideal pick. This plant grows up to a height of 1 to 2 feet. The Top Hat variety is ready for harvesting in mid-season, i.e., early to mid-season. During spring, these plants bear beautiful white flowers that eventually become juicy and nutritious blueberries on maturity. During the developing phase of the fruits, the foliage is green; once the blueberries are extracted, the foliage will turn red and orange during fall.
11. Darrow
The Darrow variety of blueberries bears sweet and delicious fruits. It features deep pink flowers during the spring months and vibrant and colourful scarlet foliage in autumn. The fruits have a wonderfully firm texture. The Darrow variety prefers acidic soil with a pH range of 4.5-5.5. It is recommended to fertilize these plants with a liquid acid fertilizer in early spring to boost growth. After harvesting, prune away the dead branches and foliage. This variety is disease-resistant. They are often used with ice cream or yoghurt as they offer a delectable flavour.
12. Tifblue
The Tifblue is a cold-hardy Rabbiteye blueberry variety. It produces large and juicy berries. This variety reaches a height of 6 to 8 feet. Because of its astounding size, it would make a great hedge. The plant bears fruits that are a light blur. During full bloom, the plant produces white flowers that eventually ripen to produce blueberries starting mid-June till late July. The leaves of the plants are bright green during the summer months. They turn into an eye-catching burgundy during autumn. If these plants grow under ideal conditions, they can produce tonnes of berries. They need chill hours between 550-600 a year. These varieties also need acidic soil to thrive.
Conclusion
Blueberries come in a number of delicious varieties, and it might be hard to choose any one. There are also some of the best blueberry plants for containers UK that can be grown easily, even in limited spaces. It is recommended to grow two to three varieties for large harvests. When it comes to blueberries, you have to be patient since the plants take time to bear fruits. To grow blueberries successfully, you have to ensure that the plants get abundant sunlight and the soil they grow in is acidic. With a few precautions and care, you can get good growth.
These plants can also be a colourful and eye-catching element in your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Sweetest Type of Blueberry?
The sweetest blueberries are the ones that come from the Southern or Northern Highbush. Some of the sweetest blueberries include Bluegold blueberries, Jersey blueberries, Legacy blueberries, Powderblue blueberries, and Northsky blueberries.
Which Blueberry Is Best in India?
In India. Rostaa blueberries are the most popular ones as they possess wonderful flavours. These nutrient-rich berries can be consumed as it is or added to toppings, desserts, or baked items.
What Is the Most Common Type of Blueberry?
The most common type of blueberry is Vaccinium Corynmbodsum or the Highbush Blueberry. In the southeastern states of America, Rabbiteye blueberries and Southern Highbush blueberries are commercially produced.
Which Blueberry Is the Healthiest?
Lowbush or wild blueberries are usually smaller in size and richer in antioxidants.
Which Blueberries Are Best for Antioxidants?
A cup of lowbush blueberries can provide 200-400 mg of polyphenols. Lowbush blueberries have been found to have a greater number of antioxidants than highbush blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
