Vaccinium corymbosum Hortblue Petite- American Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Hortblue Petite' is an American blueberry bush with large and tasty fruits. This variety is perpetual, and therefore produces fruit once in summer and again in autumn, after a beautiful white bell-shaped flowering. With its compact habit, it will enhance the edge of a vegetable garden or an edible garden. In autumn, the leaves take on warm red-orange hues. This bush requires moist to wet, well-drained and acidic soil to develop properly, in light sun or partial shade.

The American blueberry bush belongs, just like rhododendrons, heathers, and andromedas, to the large Ericaceae family. In the vast majority, these species prefer a rather moist, acidic soil. The presence of limestone in the soil causes them to quickly turn yellow and wither. Vaccinium corymbosum is an irregular and bushy shrub, reaching about 1.50 m (5ft) in height and width. In May-June, it produces numerous honey-scented white bell-shaped flowers, which will be followed a few weeks later by the famous dark blue, slightly powdery blueberries, gathered in abundant clusters. The fruits are less intensely flavoured than our European blueberries, but they are much larger, with a diameter of up to 1 cm (0in). These are the ones most often found for sale, as they are cultivated on a large scale. However, they are still rich in nutrients and antioxidants. The leaves are deciduous and lanceolate, and take on beautiful and vivid autumn colours ranging from scarlet red to yellow, passing through orange.

The 'Hortblue Petite' variety has a compact habit (about 1 m (3ft) in all directions) and is the first perpetual variety. If the conditions are good, the plant flowers first in spring, then in summer, allowing it to bear fruit in July-August, and then in October. In general, it takes 2 years before achieving optimal yield.

Plant the 'Hortblue Petite' blueberry bush in moist, even wet, well-drained, acidic soil (free of limestone, with a pH below 6). One can use ericaceous compost to correct soil that is too heavy, compact, and clayey, but do not expect good results in soil that is too far from the required conditions. Full sun should be avoided, light shade is better, sheltered from cold and dry winds. These bushes are extremely hardy and can withstand at least -20°C (-4°F). To ensure a good harvest, plant at least two or three plants of the same variety or different varieties close to each other. Then you will be able to prepare excellent pies, jams, jellies, custards...

The 'Hortblue Petite' Vaccinium will fit well in an edible garden, where you can pick the fruits directly from the plant during the right season - which will delight your visitors. It can also be grown in a pot, as long as you don't forget to water it. You can place the pot (which should be chosen large enough) in a metal basin or a large wooden container, to always keep water at the bottom. Use water low in limestone, such as rainwater! Finally, you can grow them with other acid-loving plants in a bed: rhododendrons, Pieris, Cornus canadensis...