Vaccinium corymbosum Blue Gold - American Blueberry

The Blue Gold Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a mid-season variety, producing beautiful light blueberries of good taste quality. It is a variety that offers good yields. Cultivated Blueberry bushes can reach a height of 1.50m (5ft), growing in acidic soils. Plant ideally in autumn or any time of the year without frost, for a late July harvest.

The Blueberry belongs to the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons. There are two types:

- the wild blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), a small bush of about 30cm (12in), naturally growing in the undergrowth

- the bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), native to North America, cultivated in gardens. It produces larger and more numerous fruits and can reach a height of 1.50m (5ft).

The cultivated Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a very hardy bush, forming a dense bush with an erect habit, reaching a height of 1.50m (5ft), with a spread of 80cm (32in). The deciduous leaves are 2 to 3cm (1in) long, lanceolate, elliptical, entire and dentate, medium green, turning bright orange in autumn. Flowering occurs in early May, in the form of small white bell-shaped flowers with faded red edges, 0.5 to 1cm (0in) long, in pendulous clusters 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long, at the ends of the stems. It is followed by large bluish-purple berries, covered with bloom, slightly flattened, 1cm in diameter. They ripen in summer, with the first harvest appearing from the 2nd year of cultivation. On the same plant, the harvest will be staggered depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Blueberries are firm and sweet, with a pleasantly acidic flavour. Blueberries are low in calories but highly nutritious: they are very rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as calcium and iron. They can be consumed freshly picked, enjoyed as juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, or in pastries (pies, muffins etc.). Blueberries can be stored for about ten days after picking and can be frozen for longer preservation.

To ensure good pollination and fruiting, it is recommended to plant at least 2 to 3 Blueberry plants of the same variety or different varieties (including self-fertile ones). In the garden, the Blueberry will integrate perfectly into acidic soil beds, alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, and heathers.