Practical
Plants

Vaccinium angustifolium laevifolium

Low Sweet Blueberry

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.7 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or used in preserves etc[7][5][6]. A very sweet pleasant flavour with a slight taste of honey[3][9][6]. Largely grown for the canning industry. The fruit can be dried and used like raisins[10]. The fruit is about 12mm in diameter[8]. A tea is made from the leaves and dried fruits[2].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

Environment

Range
North-eastern N. America.
Habitat
Dry open barrens, peats and rocks[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[11]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[4]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[8]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[11]. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn[11]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[8]. Takes 18 months[11]. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[4].

Cultivation

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[3][8]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[8]. Requires shelter from strong winds[8]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c[8]. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[8]. Cultivated for its edible fruits, there are some named varieties[1][6]. It succeeds in cold northerly locations such as Maine in N. America[6] and in central Sweden. However, it is said to have little or no value as a fruit crop in Britain[3]. This sub-species is more commonly grown in Britain than the typical form[8]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  5. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  9. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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