| Very few historical records exist on ancient blueberry | | | | plant occurrence, it is easy to predict the soil |
| culture in the Greek and Roman empires. Those | | | | requirements necessary to successfully grow |
| cultures did use parts of the blueberry plants and | | | | blueberries. The blueberry plants are found in the wild, |
| fruit to eat or to treat ailments. The size and flavor | | | | growing on very poor, sandy soil with roots that |
| of native blueberry plants was extremely variable, | | | | surround the underground layers of decayed organic |
| and the USDA, modern, extensive research and | | | | matter. The acidity or pH level is very low for wild |
| development of choice selections was judged on a | | | | blueberry plants and the bushes prosper in this acid |
| basis of taste, yield of plants, aroma, small berry | | | | environment. Fertilizer kills more blueberry plants than |
| seeds, and the lasting quality of the fresh berries | | | | any other single thing. Blueberry commercial |
| increased the popularity of this fruit in a period of | | | | production is highest in Michigan, followed by Maine, |
| fifty years as one of America's favorite agricultural | | | | New Jersey, Oregon, and Georgia. It is truly amazing |
| products.William Bartram, the early American botanist | | | | that the blueberry can be grown in the South into |
| and explorer, reported seeing various members of | | | | Florida and then northwards to Arctic North America. |
| the native blueberry plant relatives, Vaccinium | | | | Most blueberries are cross pollinated by insects such |
| varietas, as he and his father, John Bartram took an | | | | as bees and bumblebees. Most gardeners plant at |
| inventory of plants to establish on Georgia farms in | | | | least two different cultivars of blueberry plants for |
| his book, Travels, in 1773.Luther Burbank was | | | | the additional advantages of extending the ripening |
| perhaps America's most prolific hybridizer of fruits, | | | | season. Gardeners love planting a berry with no |
| and he imported many native species of blueberries, | | | | thorns to prick fingers at picking time, the occurrence |
| Vaccinium Spp., from other countries and reported in | | | | of tiny seeds that aid in digestion, and the enjoyment |
| his book, Small Fruits in 1921, that very little | | | | of seeing the kaleidoscope of rainbow colors during |
| improvement had been made to produce a | | | | the winter after the first freeze. Blueberry plants are |
| commercially, improved blueberry bush. In recent | | | | among the most cold tolerant of all the small fruits, |
| years the USDA has released excellent yielding | | | | and in the South, the plants often only lose the |
| blueberries that, when fully ripened, are sweetly | | | | leaves for a month, often blooming as early as |
| flavored, aromatically pleasing, and easy to harvest. | | | | January. Even if the flowers of blueberries freeze, a |
| Some cultivars of blueberry plants can be machine | | | | second wave of flowering will follow during later |
| harvested. Fresh blueberries are available in United | | | | warm-ups in the weather.Basically three types of |
| States markets, beginning in April and extending until | | | | blueberry are grown commercially in the United |
| October.Recent reports from health researchers | | | | States; the Northern Highbush blueberry, Vaccinium |
| have shown that blueberry fruit is higher in | | | | corymbosum L.; the Southern Rabbiteye blueberry, |
| antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable. These | | | | Vaccinium ashei; and the Lowbush blueberry, also |
| antioxidants block the presence of chemically charged | | | | called the Wild Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium |
| particles called, "free radicals," that are believed to be | | | | angustifolium.The Northern Highbush blueberry, |
| the threat that initiates disease problems. The | | | | Vaccinium corymbosum L., is grown in zones 4 to 7. |
| antioxidants are believed to be important in | | | | Much of the early production appearing at blueberry |
| preventing cancer, stroke, heart disease, and loss of | | | | markets came from native blueberry plants, but new |
| memory resulting from Alzheimer's disease. Chemically | | | | cultivars of Northern Highbush blueberry plants are |
| active anthocyanin pigments found in blueberries can | | | | very promising, such as: Bluejay blueberry, Bluecrop |
| improve failing eyesight and can prevent macular | | | | blueberry, Blueray blueberry, Jersey blueberry, and |
| disintegration resulting from aging.According to the | | | | Patriot blueberry.USDA blueberry releases for |
| New England Journal of Medicine, blueberries fight | | | | Southern Rabbiteye blueberry, Vaccinium ashei, have |
| urinary tract infections and help to prevent eye | | | | been numerous. These include the older cultivars: |
| macular degeneration, says Dr. Ronald Prior, director | | | | Southland, Woodard, Bluebelle, Blue Gem, and more |
| of the USDA. Early Indian culture in America taught | | | | recent blueberry releases are Tiftblue, Climax, Delite, |
| that eating blueberries was good for coughs, and the | | | | Brightblue, Brightwell, Bonita, Powderblue, and Austin |
| blueberry bush leaves were used as a tea and health | | | | blueberry.The Lowbush or Wild Blueberry, Vaccinium |
| tonic. The North American Blueberry Council says that | | | | angustifolium, is the most cold hardy type of |
| blueberry juice has higher concentrations of | | | | blueberry, and commercially the plants are dwarf and |
| antioxidants than any of the 40 juices tested. Other | | | | only grow 1 to 2 feet tall. Most are not improved |
| health benefits from blueberries are Vitamin A, | | | | varieties, but variable native bushes. One modern |
| Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, Niacin, and the | | | | Lowbush blueberry release is "Top Hat" blueberry, |
| minerals calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and | | | | and the state of Maine accounts for the largest |
| iron.Blueberries are loved by animals, birds, and many | | | | production of Lowbush blueberry bushes adaptable in |
| types of wildlife, such as deer, duck, and even bears. | | | | zones 3 to 6.In Florida and other various hot sections |
| The berries provide wildlife a source of food over a | | | | of the United States, many of these blueberry |
| very long period of feeding, when food is scarce at | | | | species have been interhybridized and complexly |
| off season periods. Birds sometimes can be a pest to | | | | mixed to produce a wide array of plants adapted for |
| the backyard blueberry gardener, but the bird's | | | | hot climates. These cultivars are Beckyblue blueberry, |
| appetite can be overcome by either the use of a | | | | Aliceblue blueberry, Sharpblue blueberry, Floridablue |
| screen netting to protect and cover the blueberry | | | | blueberry, Avonblue blueberry, Blue Ridge blueberry, |
| bushes, or a gardener can plant enough blueberry | | | | Cape Fear blueberry, Gulf Coast blueberry, O'Neal |
| bushes for his own growing needs and the birds as | | | | blueberry, and Georgia Gem blueberry. These |
| well.Blueberries are expected to rapidly become the | | | | blueberry plants are best grown in zones 7 to |
| most sought-after small fruit on the American | | | | 10.Blueberries have many valuable gourmet food uses |
| market. Fifty percent of blueberries are grown for | | | | as in blueberry pancakes, blueberry pies, blueberry |
| the fresh fruit market and Canada grows 25% of | | | | jam, blueberry juice, frozen and canned blueberries, |
| the world demand for blueberries. Growing blueberry | | | | and drying under vacuum, the blueberries can last for |
| plants is easy, but the culture differs considerably | | | | years to be rehydrated to eat in cereals and other |
| from growing other fruits and berries.If a blueberry | | | | things. These dried blueberries are especially promising |
| gardener understands the origin of wild blueberry | | | | for use in Army K ration canning in foreign countries. |