Southern Living Plants Logo
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Like Us
    • Pinterest
    • #SLPlants
    • Youtube
    • Request Newsletter
Menu
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Like Us
    • Pinterest
    • #SLPlants
    • Youtube
    • Request Newsletter
Search
Close
Ripening blueberries on Southern Living blueberry shrub

Berry Important: Pollination, Chill Hours And Plant Food

  1. Home
  2. Berry Important: Pollination, Chill Hours And Plant Food
  • By Mary Beth Shaddix
  • August 6, 2019
Easy explanations to FAQs on growing blueberries

By Mary Beth Shaddix

Blueberries are one of the easiest, healthiest fruits to grow. You don’t need acres of land and a lot of know-how. We’ve taken the guesswork out of growing your own blueberries in the South. Here are a handful of fun facts to have you picking by summer:

The two varieties in our DownHome Harvest™ Southern Living Edibles Collection are the sweetest picks for Southerners. Bless Your Heart™ and Takes the Cake™ are both rabbiteye selections developed by the University of Georgia horticulturists who know our soil, seasons and climate. They are prized for ideal size (4-5’ h x 3-4’ w), flavor, and productivity.

Made For The South

The two varieties in our DownHome Harvest™ Southern Living Edibles Collection are the sweetest picks for Southerners. Bless Your Heart™ and Takes the Cake™ are both rabbiteye selections developed by the University of Georgia horticulturists who know our soil, seasons and climate. They are prized for ideal size (4-5’ h x 3-4’ w), flavor, and productivity.

What’s A Rabbiteye?

What’s a Rabbiteye?  Different from low-bush cultivars seen in Maine, or highbush varieties that perform well in Northern regions, rabbiteye blueberries are native in the Southeastern states and have been cultivated into cherished plants for the home gardener. Some say Vaccinium ashei gets its nickname from the pinkish look of the immature fruits, much like a rabbit’s eye.

Different from low-bush cultivars seen in Maine, or highbush varieties that perform well in Northern regions, rabbiteye blueberries are native in the Southeastern states and have been cultivated into cherished plants for the home gardener. Some say Vaccinium ashei gets its nickname from the pinkish look of the immature fruits, much like a rabbit’s eye.

It Takes Two To Tango

Plant several of both selections to yield more fruit. For cross-pollination, blueberries need to be planted with another variety that blooms at the same time. We’ve done the pairing for you. Bless Your Heart™ and Takes the Cake™ are two varieties which, when planted together, make more bountiful harvests.

Plant several of both selections to yield more fruit. For cross-pollination, blueberries need to be planted with another variety that blooms at the same time. We’ve done the pairing for you. Bless Your Heart™ and Takes the Cake™ are two varieties which, when planted together, make more bountiful harvests. To keep the picking party going well into summer, add later-blooming, late harvest varieties such as ‘Tifblue’ and ‘Powderblue.’

The Big Chill

As with many fruiting plants, the date a blueberry shrub will burst into spring bloom is triggered by how many hours of cold temperatures it experienced over winter.

As with many fruiting plants, the date a blueberry shrub will burst into spring bloom is triggered by how many hours of cold temperatures it experienced over winter. Chill hours are usually calculated as the amount of hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. For instance, our blueberry selections are chosen for a mid-range chill hour requirement of 500-550 hours, which correlate to good production throughout USDA Zones 7-9. This characteristic prevents Takes the Cake™ and Bless Your Heart™ from blooming too early, risking damage from a surprise spring freeze. Avoid Jack Frost and his disappointing habit to “nip it in the bud.”

The Bees Needs

What type of bees and insects pollinate these bell-shaped blooms? We know that pollination is critical for our successful harvests and hear a lot about helping the hardworking honeybee. But did you know there are hundreds of native bees and insect species that help create each juicy blueberry? The tiny flower is a difficult shape to pollinate, thus native species like the Southern blueberry bee are especially talented at vibrating to loosen pollen and get the job done. Better pollination equals bigger berries. Interestingly, some bee species take a shortcut. Carpenter bees slit a hole in the top of the flower to steal nectar, leaving an easy entrance for others to feed without the necessary distribution of interior pollen.

Acidic Soil

Healthy plants and future harvests begin beneath your feet. Soil texture, nutrients and pH are all critical to a plant’s vigor.

Healthy plants and future harvests begin beneath your feet. Soil texture, nutrients and pH are all critical to a plant’s vigor. For blueberries, acidic soil (between 4.0 – 5.5 pH) is ideal, much like our beloved Southern azaleas and pines. Simple pH tests are easily found in garden centers, or collect a soil sample for your state’s local Extension office to test. If needed, these lab results will recommend an application of finely ground sulfur to lower pH and create ideal acidity. Mulching under blueberries with pine straw is a common sight in the South – a smart tactic because the needles retain moisture, prevent weeds and add a slight acidity to topsoil. And it’s a prevalent – often free – resource. Another Southern resource in abundance, clay, is not ideal for planting. Blueberries perform best in soils with high levels of organic matter that drain well.

Plant Food

Since blueberries thrive in spaces where azaleas and rhododendrons grow, it’s easy to remember that fertilizers labeled for them would also work well for Takes the Cake™ and Bless Your Heart™ berry plants.

Since blueberries thrive in spaces where azaleas and rhododendrons grow, it’s easy to remember that fertilizers labeled for them would also work well for Takes the Cake™ and Bless Your Heart™ berry plants. Blueberries require fertilizers with an ammonium form of nitrogen such as urea, sulfur-coated urea, ammonium sulfate, or cottonseed meal. For optimum performance, apply three times a year: when spring growth emerges, after bloom, and again, after harvest. To learn more about rates and how to apply, read further details about fertilizing blueberries.

Mary Beth Shaddix

Mary Beth Shaddix is an author, consultant, speaker and nature-addict. Constantly wowed by the wonder of nature, she will grow any seed and smell every flower. She shares her enthusiasm for gardening with all who are curious to learn. Her garden adventures can be found in magazines and television shows such as Southern Living, Cooking Light, HGTVGardens.com, PBS and Garden & Gun. She and her husband enjoy growing at their wholesale nursery in central Alabama.
View More Articles

Related Articles

A Tasty Task: Fertilizing Blueberries and Blackberries

Tips and timetables for fertilizing blueberries and blackberries

Caring for Fruit Plants: What to Do and When

Year-round basics of blackberries, blueberries, figs and pineapple guava

Grow Your Own Fruit with Southern Living Blueberry Bushes

It's easier than ever to grow fresh fruit in your own backyard with improved blueberry varieties for Southern gardens.

Plants Featured In The article

Blueberry

Takes the Cake® DownHome Harvest® Blueberry

Vaccinium ashei ‘Vernon’ PP18291
Blueberry

For Heaven's Sake® DownHome Harvest® Blueberry

Vaccinium ashei ‘Ochlockonee’ PP17300
Blueberry

Bless Your Heart® DownHome Harvest® Blueberry

Vaccinium ashei ‘Alapaha’ PP16266

Join the Conversation!

Where To Buy
Southern Living Plants

{find a garden center near you}

Southern Living Plants Logo
Instagram
Facebook-f
Pinterest
Youtube

Plants

  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines
Menu
  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines

About Us

  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us

PRO Resources

  • Brand Resources
  • Marketing Support
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
Menu
  • Brand Resources
  • Marketing Support
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
©2021 Southern Living Plant Collection