Agri Leader
Growing blueberries here hard but possible
RODOLFO ROMAN
Published: January 23, 2013
South Florida resident Jessica Moreno can't go through her day without having her favorite breakfast: oatmeal, blueberries and banana.Published: January 23, 2013
"It's a must for me, but blueberries can cost you," she said.
A 6-ounce package of southern blueberries could run about $5 and probably last less than a week. Rightfully so, it would be ideal to grow it in a backyard to economize. Unfortunately, blueberries don't do well in Florida, but it can be done with patience, said horticulturist and owner of the Butterfly Ranch, Cindy David.
"The first year of planting you likely won't have enough fruit," she said in a phone interview.
The proper time to plant a blueberry plant is mid-December to mid-February, and it could possibly bloom around March, she added.
"Grow the bush and you might see fruits the following year," she said.
There are two types of blueberries grown in Florida: southern highbush and rabbiteye. The southern highbush ripen about four to six weeks earlier than the rabbiteye.
To plant it in your backyard, a gardener must first plant an actual blueberry plant, a native of North America. Root systems that aren't pot-bound, about two feet tall, are best to use.
According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, applying a quarter to a half cubic foot of acid sphagnum peat moss into the planting hole benefits blueberry plants.
"Plant it on the ground, add water, sunlight, keep it pruned and fertilized. It grows by three feet by four feet," she said.
Avoid over-fertilizing, as blueberries respond best to frequent light fertilization.
As for irrigation, apply about 40 inches of water annually; most will come from rain. Be cautious of insects and diseases, which could reduce growth or even kill the plant. One pest is the wing drosophila. It can lay its eggs in blueberries and result in larval infestation.
Blueberries are filled with healthy benefits. For example, they are high in vitamin C, are great in dietary fiber and have manganese and antioxidants.
Most of the blueberries grown commercially are in Central Florida counties, but it can't be compared to other places like in North Carolina, said David.
Blueberry production has increased statewide from about 1.5 million pounds in the early 1990s to more than 3.5 million pounds in 2003, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.