Finding delight, from planting to harvest.
（1） Plant in soil specialized for blueberries
（2） Ensure consistent watering throughout the flowering, harvesting, and growing seasons from April to September
（3） Ensure consistent fertilization from March to August
（4） Plant in a location with ample sunlight
（5） Use protective nets to protect from birds
Hello everyone!
My name is Naoki YAMASHITA, and Iʼm a producer of blueberry seedlings in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture.We specialize in producing robust seedlings that allow anyone to experience the delight of planting and raising their own blueberries.
Blueberries are an attractive and delightful fruit tree that can thrive in limited spaces, such as gardens & terraces, balconies and even pots, and can be harvested as soon as one to two years after planting.They are highly beneficial for eye health, being rich in anthocyanins, a powerful nutrient with antioxidant properties that also helps maintain clean, healthy skin.
We produce hardy, potted seedlings that make it easy for anyone to enjoy growing and harvesting their own blueberries.In particular, we focus on raising seedlings with strong, sturdy trunks resilient to minor impacts.
There are two main types of blueberries ‒ the highbush variety, suitable for colder regions, and the rabbit-eye variety, ideal for warmer climates.
The highbush variety produces larger berries and can be harvested earlier in the year, starting in mid-June, while rabbit-eye varieties are harvested later, starting in mid-July.
Rabbit-eye varieties, however, tend to be more resilient and require less care to grow than highbush varieties.
Moreover, efforts in selective breeding have led to new, easier-to-grow varieties, such as the southern highbush variety, which is suitable for raising in warmer climates, and the northern highbush, which thrives in cooler temperatures.
In Japan’s western and Kanto regions, we typically recommend southern highbush varieties such as Sharp Blue, Georgia Gem, O’Neal, or Gulf Coast.For the northern regions of Kanto and beyond, we recommend several hardy Northern Highbush varieties that produce large fruit with excellent flavour (such as Wyman’s, Blue Magician, and Blue Reca).All are sturdy trees that can start bearing fruit within the year.
We invite you to savour the flavour and delight of cultivating your very own homegrown blueberries.
Rabbit-eye type
Brightwell, Powder Blue, Austin, Nobilis, Baldwin, Premier, Blue Gem, Rahi, Ono,
Gloria, Tiff Blue, Mendate, Coastal, Utterd, Delight, Blue Mal, Alice Blue, Festival,
Climax, Becky Blue, Blue Shower, Witow, Pink Lemonade, etc
Southern Highbush Type
O’Neill, Sharp Blue, Gulf Coast, Cooper, Jewel, Legacy, Misty, Georgia Jim, Riveille, Piloxi, etc
Northern Highbush type
Blue Magician, Blue Reca, Brigitta, Elizabeth, Spartan, Blue Gold, Wemans, Chandra, Pru, Nui, Duke, Cape Fair, Blue Ray, etc
For the most delicious results, place in a sunny location. Avoid areas where water accumulates, as Blueberries do not thrive in waterlogged soil.
Blueberries thrive best in acidic, well-drained soil.
It is strongly recommended to use specialized soil for planting.
Use generous amounts of pH-unadjusted peat moss during planting for best results.
When potting, the process is straightforward. Use a pot roughly 5cm larger in diameter than the original and replant using soil specialized for blueberries.
Once planted, it can remain as-is until the following harvest season.
Finally, water generously once more. If transferring to a pot, make sure only to use specialized soil. Using a pot approximately 5cm larger than the original will allow growth until harvest season of the following year.
From April to October, be alert for dry soil!
Pay extra attention not to let the flowers wilt once they start to bloom.
Blueberries prefer well-draining soil, which tends to dry out quickly.
The plant will require extra water as fruit develops, so water generously to prevent drying.
In the height of summer, the frequency of watering can be reduced by covering the soil surface with straw or wood chips to minimize evaporation.
After the leaves have fallen in winter, check the soil and water generously if dry.
April to July: Apply a generous amount of commercially available, slow-release fertiliser (such as IB Fertilizer or similar) around the base of the plant once a month.
August to November: Apply a normal amount of commercially available, slow-release fertiliser around the base of the plant once every two months.
February: Apply a one-time, smaller amount of commercially available, slow-release fertiliser, slightly away from the base.
Blueberries are initially a deep purple colour and taste very sour if eaten too early.
They will taste sweeter if left to hang longer and are ready to eat when slightly soft when pinched with your fingertips.
To make jam with a refreshing flavour, mix while the fruits are still sour.
Blueberries do not ripen all at once but gradually over time. We invite you to find frequent occasions to pick them together with family and friends while reflecting on this delightful fruit.
Blueberries are generally resistant to disease and pests, though Aphids or Scale may be present on rare occasions.
It is advisable to apply any pesticide treatments before the berries start to grow in May.
The most common natural enemy to blueberry plants is the larvae of the Mimela splendens, which can infest soil around the base of the plant and feed on the roots.
If the soil is becoming gritty, dig a small hole and check for larvae.
Once a year after harvesting, applying a granular pesticide on the soil’s surface can help prevent infestations.
Different varieties of blueberries can cross-pollinate and bear good fruit when planted close to each other.
It can be challenging for blueberries to pollinate naturally in urban areas or high-rise buildings, but you can manually cross-pollinate by rubbing flowers of different varieties with a cotton swab or similar implement during the flowering period, which should help improve the fruit set.
With each passing year, your blueberry plant will continue to grow larger.
For potted plants, it is recommended to repot into a slightly larger container every 2-3 years, which will promote abundant fruit production as the plant matures.
For in-ground plants that required a smaller amount of soil during planting, be sure to add a layer of specialized soil around the base of the plant every year.
As the plant grows and becomes dense, branches closer to the centre may receive insufficient light resulting in less flavourful fruit.
To address this, prune thin branches near the centre of the plant, cutting back from the base.
If the plant produces excessive flowers or disproportionately large berries, it is recommended to ʻthinʼ the fruit by removing them to allow the other berries to grow to their ideal size and flavour.
Blueberry
| Common Name | Blueberry |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Vaccinium ssp. |
| Taxonomy | Azalea family, Rhododendron spp. |
| Flowering Season | April |
| Shipping Season | Year-round as seedlings/May-July as potted plants with berries. |