Patriot Short and stocky grower to 4-5’, but can reach 6’ if unpruned. Produces very large berries early, with later ripening berries decreasing to a medium size. Ripens intermittently for staggered harvest over 4-5 weeks. Fruit is formed in tight clusters, with firm berries with a longer storage life in the fridge than other varieties. Patriot is great for homeowners who want to protect and pick from the same bush for a longer period of time, producing as much as 10# of berries. Ripens early season Zones 3-7

Blue Gold is a late mid-season, sweet blueberry. Blue Gold has a short stature, with a tendency for growing into a nice, wide bush. Mature height is 48", with a classic bushy habit. Local yields are between 10-12# of berries on mature plants. Blue Gold has medium sized berries that are very sweet right after turning blue, and ripen from early thru mid July. USDA hardiness Zones 4a-7

Blue Ray is the leading northern highbush cultivar planted for U-pick markets in the Midwest. This is primarily due to its dependability, but also because of the flavor of the large, light-blue, sweet berries. A mature bush will yield between 10-12# of berries, and these will ripen from early to mid July. Blue Ray grows to be about 4-6 feet tall, and has a beautiful burgundy fall color.

USDA hardiness zones 4-8

Planting

At planting, dig a hole 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide and mix 1 cubic foot of peat moss with top soil until the hole is filled 4 inches from the top. Set the plant and cover the roots with the remaining soil mix. In heavy soils, an equal amount of peat can be mixed with an equal amount of soil. Set plants 5 feet apart with rows 10 feet apart. Apply 4 inches of pine straw mulch in a 2 feet wide band after planting, and maintain a 4 inch depth and 4 feet band over the life of the planting.

Fertilizing

At planting and every year after fruiting, use Organic Berry Fertilizer or Organic Berry Fertilizer spikes as directed.

Watering

Blueberry bushes have very shallow root systems and are very sensitive to water fluctuations. They need at least 1 to 2 inches of water per week. In dry seasons, supplemental watering is essential to obtain good yields of high quality products. However, do not apply water after early September unless soil is very dry.

Pruning

Blueberry plants normally do not need to be pruned for the first three years. Remove blossoms that appear in the year of planting and second year after planting to stimulate vigorous growth.

During the fourth year, the dormant plants should be pruned in mid-March. At this time, remove dead and weak branches and thin, terminal wood with small buds. Prune interior crossing branches to admit light to the center of the plant.

In subsequent years, thin out older branches to force new growth. Tall-growing branches can be headed back and thin branches removed. Flower buds of blueberry bush are produced on tips and down the second year old shoots. Blueberry bushes tend to produce smaller berries when they are over loaded with fruits. Hence, it is important not to have too many flower buds.

Mulching

Generous use of mulches like pine straw, sawdust, or peat moss will help control weeds, conserve moisture, and keep roots cool. Increased organic matter from decomposing mulch will help improve soil structure and nutrient uptake of blueberry bush. Replenish mulch as needed to keep the mulch depth at 2 to 4 inches.