Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Acid-loving shrub requiring ericaceous soil with pH 4.5-5.5. Plant at least two varieties for cross-pollination and better yields.
Overview
Companion Planting
Good Companions
Strawberry
CranberryBad Companions
None
Toxicity
Blueberries are non-toxic and safe for humans, dogs, and cats; the ripe fruits are a healthy treat in moderation.
Planting Tips
1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.
Care Tip: Mulch with 5-10 cm of pine bark or wood chips to retain moisture and suppress weeds; prune out old or crossing canes in late winter to encourage new fruiting wood.
Common Pests
Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)
Symptoms: Soft, collapsing berries with small puncture marks; larvae visible inside fruit upon cutting open.
Treatment: Apply spinosad-based insecticides at first fruit color; harvest ripe fruit promptly and refrigerate immediately.
Prevention: Use fine mesh netting over bushes during fruiting; remove and destroy fallen or overripe fruit to break the life cycle.
Blueberry Maggot (Rhagoletis mendax)
Symptoms: Larvae tunnel through ripe berries causing premature softening and drop; fruit may appear shrunken or discolored.
Treatment: Apply approved insecticides when adult flies are detected on yellow sticky traps; remove and destroy infested fruit.
Prevention: Monitor with yellow sticky traps from early summer; practice good sanitation by collecting all dropped berries.
Aphids (various species)
Symptoms: Curled, distorted new leaves; sticky honeydew residue on foliage; possible sooty mold growth.
Treatment: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, targeting the undersides of leaves; strong water jets can dislodge light infestations.
Prevention: Encourage natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization that promotes soft growth.
Common Diseases
Mummy Berry (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi)
Symptoms: Flowers and young shoots wilt and turn brown; infected berries shrivel into hard, gray 'mummies' that drop to the ground.
Treatment: Remove and destroy mummified berries and infected shoots; apply fungicide (e.g., propiconazole) at bud break and bloom.
Prevention: Rake and remove fallen mummy berries before spring; apply fresh mulch to bury remaining spore sources.
Botrytis Blight / Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea)
Symptoms: Gray fuzzy mold on flowers, fruit, and wounded stems; blossoms turn brown and collapse in wet weather.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plant parts; apply a fungicide labeled for Botrytis during bloom if conditions are persistently wet.
Prevention: Ensure good air circulation through proper spacing and pruning; avoid overhead irrigation during flowering.
Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi)
Symptoms: Wilting and reddening of leaves despite adequate watering; stunted growth; roots appear dark brown and water-soaked.
Treatment: Apply phosphonate-based fungicides as a soil drench; remove and destroy severely infected plants to prevent spread.
Prevention: Plant in well-drained, acidic soil or raised beds; avoid waterlogging and improve drainage before planting.