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Blueberries are good for you and taste great
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - June 13, 2005

Fresh blueberries are finally here and now is the time to load up on this Mississippi favorite! Blueberries are great whether eaten fresh or in one of the countless recipes developed to delight the taste buds. Blueberries are readily found at local grocery stores, blueberry farms, farmer's markets or maybe even your neighbor's backyard (with permission, of course).

Blueberries have increased in popularity over the past few years for several reasons. Dr. John Braswell, Mississippi State University Extension Fruit and Nut Specialist, describes blueberry as the "celebrity" fruit. Some of the reasons for its well deserved "pop" status is that blueberries are low in calories, high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins C and E. Eating blueberries may help us fight cancer, diabetes, reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease and lower bad cholesterol levels.

Consumption of blueberries may also improve eyesight, sharpen memory and help prevent Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. These tasty berries have also been proven effective against urinary tract infections, reversing skin wrinkling and shows positive results in children with ADD.

The kind of blueberry we typically grow in Mississippi is called rabbiteye. Plant scientists developed the rabbiteye blueberry from our native species. This is why they perform so well in our climate. Some of the more common cultivars of rabbiteye include Climax, Premier, Brightwell, Tifblue and Powderblue.

Blueberries are quite easy to grow, require minimal maintenance and are virtually pest free. Six bushes will provide plenty of fruit for most families. The harvest period may be extended from May through July with careful cultivar selection. Blueberries thrive in soil that is moist, well drained and rich in organic matter with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, so no lime please.

Blueberry bushes are typically purchased as two-year old plants in nursery containers or as bare root plants. For the latter, take extra care to prevent the roots from drying out. Most are planted from November to February. Unlike other plants, blueberry bushes are set in the soil one or two inches deeper than they were grown in the nursery. Once planted, they benefit from two or three inches of pine needles or ground pine bark mulch.

To insure good fruit set, plant two or more cultivars that bloom simultaneously. For instance, Brightwell, Climax and Premier have similar bloom time and ripen early. Tifblue and Powderblue are considered mid to late season and will extend the harvest period. More complete cultural information is available from your local MSU-Extension Service Office or this Web site.

If you would like a free brochure of blueberry recipes that include such things as blueberry ice pie, sweetish hills blueberry muffins and old-style blueberry jam, contact Dr. John Braswell at 601-795-4525. Happy gardening!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.