Bilberry

A member of the Ericaceae family, the blueberry tree is easy to grow and yields vitamin-filled fruits called bilberries. Wintergreen, heather and arbutus are also part of this family. The blueberry is as well appreciated in jams as in pies. It also lends itself perfectly in sauce to accompany game. It has the particularity of containing a large quantity of antioxidants, just like currants and other red fruits. The plant can have a height of 80 to 150 cm. Several varieties of blueberries are available such as Vitaminos, Giant Patriot, Top Hat and Blue Crop.

Affectionate to sunny or partially sunny exposures, the blueberry must be grown in acidic soil. It is therefore necessary to use a heather soil for the plantation which should preferably take place in autumn. This way, the rooting will be optimal and the plant will be able to resume its development with greater ease. To benefit from an abundant blueberry harvest, it is advisable to provide fertilizer in the spring.

The blueberry is not too demanding in terms of maintenance. In spite of the hot summer weather, it will be satisfied with a reasonable amount of watering. Moreover, there is no need to plan too frequent pruning. Pruning can be done every three or four years. The branches will generally bear fruit for 3 to 4 years. Therefore, it is advisable to remove them once this period is reached.