Description
Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants are vigorous, somewhat sprawling, easy to grow, and produce firm, crisp berries that are very sweet. Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants can be grown in USDA Zones 7 to 10, and have a somewhat low chill requirement of 200 to 300 chill hours (annual hours below 45º Fahrenheit). These medium to large sized berries ripen from late April to early May. Mature Sweetcrisp Blueberry Bushes only reach about 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide, so they can be grown in both large and small gardens.
Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants are Southern Highbush Blueberries, and will cross-pollinate with other Highbush Blueberry plants such as Snowchaser, Sapphire, Jewel, and Emerald. These plants do best in rich, acidic soil and full sun. Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants can also be grown in containers. Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants are easy to grow, relatively small, produce very sweet, incredibly crisp berries, and have a low chill hour requirement. These attributes make them a great choice for the edible garden.
Sweetcrisp Blueberry Bush Care
Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants are best grown outside, in the ground, and within their suggested USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of 7 to 10. Plants growing in the northern reaches, and coldest areas of these zones should be over-wintered indoors for the harshest winter months. Propagate new plants by softwood cuttings in the late spring and summer, grow these plants in pots, then bring them indoors to a bright spot for the winter.
Sweetcrisp Blueberry Bushes can also be grown in containers. Choose large pots that are 18-inches in diameter, and at least 10-inches deep. These large pots will allow plenty of root growth and help the plants bloom and make berries. Use well draining potting soil rich in peat and be sure the pot has drainage holes. Always let the water drain fully, and do not allow the potted Sweetcrisp Blueberry pots to sit in water. Repot when pots are root bound and plant growth stalls.
Fruit & Harvesting
Sweetcrisp Blueberries have amazing crispness, sweet juice, and the berries scar well after picking. Berry scar ability is a key component in determining harvested fruit shelf life. Sweetcrisp Blueberries have what is considered an excellent scarring habit, so the picked berries should last as long or longer than other blueberry varieties. Harvest Sweetcrisp Blueberries in spring and early summer. Choose darker berries and store fruit refrigerated or frozen.
Sweetcrisp Blueberries are popular for eating fresh due to their crisp consistency and sweet taste. These berries are also great for freezing, using in baked goods, and blending into frozen drinks. Fresh blueberries can also be added to green salads, fruit salads, used as a dessert topping, or used in any blueberry recipe. Sweetcrisp Blueberries contain protein, vitamins C, D, and A, calcium, potassium, fiber, and iron, which makes them as healthful as they are delicious.
Advice
Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants grow shallow but wide-spreading roots. When planting new plants provide at least 10 feet of growing room between plants. Clear the ground out to 6 feet around each planting spot, and remove weeds and grass. Plant Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants in holes that are twice as wide and as deep as the new plant’s root ball. Backfill with a blend of rich soil, compost, and pine bark chips. Water new plants in well, and mulch with pine straw.
Wait two months before fertilizing new blueberry plants, and then fertilize 3 times per year with fruit or berry fertilizer. Follow the fertilizer manufacturer’s instructions for application given plant size and age. Water freshly applied fertilizer in well and do not fertilize in winter when the Sweetcrisp Blueberry Plants are dormant. Remove dead or damaged branches in late winter, and resume feeding when new spring growth appears.
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