Vaccinium Blue Crop - Blueberry

The Blue Crop Blueberry Bush is the most cultivated variety in the world, and probably one of the easiest to grow. It forms a medium-sized bush with an upright and spreading habit. It delivers on its promises, offering a plentiful and consistent yield every year. Flowering takes place in mid-May, and harvest occurs between mid-July and late August. The berries are medium-sized, tasty, slightly acidic, blue-black, and slightly flattened. The foliage takes on beautiful colours in autumn. This bush is resistant to cold, drought, and sclerotinia rot. It is therefore very easy to cultivate, requiring little maintenance. The firm fruits withstand transportation well.

Vaccinium (x) corymbosum 'Blue Crop' belongs to the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons. It is the result of cross-breeding between the European species Vaccinium myrtillus, which has tasty but small fruits, and the species Vaccinium corymbosum, which has larger growth but less flavoursome fruits. 'Blue Crop' is a very productive blueberry variety, forming a dense bush with an upright habit, reaching a height of 1.30m (4ft) and a spread of 80cm (32in). The deciduous leaves are 2 to 3cm (1in) long, lanceolate, elliptical, entire and toothed, medium green, becoming bright orange in autumn. Flowering occurs in early May, in the form of small white bell-shaped flowers with faded red edges, measuring 0.5 to 1cm in length, arranged in pendulous clusters measuring 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in length, at the tips of the stems. It is followed by dark blue-black berries covered in bloom, slightly flattened, measuring 1cm (0in) in diameter, which ripen in July-August. The harvest will be staggered according to the ripeness of the fruits. The blueberries are firm and sweet, with a pleasantly acidic flavour. The yield is excellent, around 6kg per plant. Blueberries are low in calories but high in nutritional value: they are very rich in vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and iron.

To bear fruit, the 'Blue Crop' Blueberry Bush needs the presence of another bush of the same variety or a different variety. Plant Blueberry Coville or Lateblue bushes near it to ensure a good harvest. You can combine the Blue Crop Blueberry in an ericaceous bed with other acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, and heathers. Blueberries can be consumed fresh, in juice, jam, jelly, or in desserts (pies, sorbets).