Cultivated Blueberries 




Cultivated Blueberries grow in large clusters, plump, tender and 
practically seedless; with the delightful tang of the wild fruit. 
Any gardener who is experienced in growing rhododendrons or laurel 
will enjoy growing blueberries. The general culture is much the same 
except that some pruning and fertilizer is needed with blueberries for 
best results. 
The blossoms of blueberries are not so large or colorful as those 
of rhododendrons but they have a beauty of their own. The foliage is 
dark green during the growing season and red for a long season in the 
autumn. The fruit is the chief interest as it hangs in large clusters on 
the bush and as it is served with cream on the table. 
Growing Blueberries in the Garden 
Blueberry soil should be acid, aerated, well drained and supplied 
with an abundance of partly decayed organic matter. 
For satisfactory results special care should be used to make a soil 
suitable for the blueberry. Many soils are sufficiently aerated and well 
drained but usually additional organic matter would be beneficial. Natural 
acid peat as found in swamps is the best corrective material to use if it 
can be obtained. Partially decayed leaves and weathered sawdust give 
excellent results. The organic matter used should be generously applied 
and well mixed with the soil before the blueberry is planted. 
When large applications of these organic materials are made to an 
ordinary soil, it becomes acid enough for good growth of blueberries. 
However, if the original soil is very alkaline, it can be made acid by the 
addition of from a quarter to half pound of aluminum sulphate to the 
square yard. Of course the organic material should be added even to 
an acid soil. 
Mulch Is Valuable 
Blueberry soils should be constantly moist but never saturated. As 
all garden soils are not always in this condition it can be remedied by 
the use of a mulch such as is commonly used under rhododendrons. 
