Vaccinium corymbosum Jersey- American Blueberry

The blueberry bush (Vaccinium corymbosum) 'Jersey' is a productive and vigorous variety, producing large fruits of a fairly light blue colour, pleasantly scented when ripe with a hint of bitterness. It is a self-fertile variety with good cold resistance. The cultivated blueberry bush is a bush that can reach a height of 1.50m (5ft), growing in acidic soils. Ideally planted in autumn or any time of the year when not freezing for a harvest starting in mid-August.

The blueberry bush belongs to the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons. There are different types:

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

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

The cultivated blueberry bush (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a very hardy bush, forming a dense bush with an upright habit, reaching a height of 1.50m (5ft), with a spread of 80 cm (32in). The deciduous leaves are 2 to 3 cm (1in) long, lanceolate, elliptical, entire and toothed, medium green, turning bright orange in autumn. Flowering occurs in early May, in the form of small white bells with faded red edges, 0.5 to 1 cm (<1in) long, grouped in pendulous clusters 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long, at the ends of the stems. This is followed by large blue-purple berries, covered in bloom, slightly flattened, 1 cm (<1in) 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 fruits. Blueberries are firm and sweet, with a pleasantly acidic flavour. Blueberries are low in calories, but high in nutritional value: they are very rich in vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and iron. They can be eaten 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 bushes of the same variety or different varieties (including self-fertile varieties). In the garden, the blueberry bush will blend in beautifully with acid soil beds, along with rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, heathers.