Re: HELP :Blueberries
California has eight native species of Vaccinium, according to "Growing
California Native Plants." The one I'm familiar with is the California
huckleberry, which grows prolifically in some parts of the Oakland hills near my
home, in USDA zone 9. Very tasty, tiny blueberries. As Mark said, they'd need
supplemental water (here, they must get it from summer fog in the wild, as we
get no summer rain), but at least you wouldn't have to worry about providing
winter chill...we don't get that, either. The species is Vaccinium ovatum.
Kay Dreher
Berkeley, California
"M. & L. Doster" wrote:
>
> Yes, you can grow blueberries in a Mediterranean climate (I think).
>
> Currently in California growing blueberries in the San Joaquin Valley and on
> the Central Coast is being investigated. The blueberry plants seem to be
> doing OK.
>
> I planted a couple of Southern Highbush blueberry bushes last spring, and
> they are doing well.
>
> As has been mentioned, blueberries are not typical Mediterranean plants. For
> my blueberry bushes, I had to worry about the following:
>
> 1. Getting the right cultivar. The problem is getting a cultivar that
> matches your winter chilling (summer seems not to be a problem). Many areas
> with a Mediterranean climate do not get much winter chilling. Working off my
> memory, Northern Highbush blueberries need something like 800-1200 hours of
> winter chilling, whereas Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye blueberries need
> more like 100-600 hours (depending on cultivar). So, there are currently
> blueberry cultivars available that need very little chilling during the
> winter. In the southern United States, there is a breeding program (might be
> more than one program) trying to develop more low-chill cultivars.
>
> 2. Getting the soil right. Blueberries seem to need acidic soil. Anyway, I
> added lots of peat moss (besides compost, etc) to my soil (enough to make it
> 50% peat moss). That's something I had read somewhere.
>
> 3. Giving the plants enough water. Blueberry bushes really like water. Mine
> didn't have any trouble with the summer heat as long as they had plenty of
> water. So, I ended up giving them lots of water frequently (more than the
> other plants).
>
> My plants seem to be doing well and have shown good growth. There is a
> planting of blueberries nearby (that is older than mine) that seems to have
> no trouble producing lots of fruit.
>
> --Mark
> Mark Doster
> central San Joaquin Valley, California
> USDA zone 9
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Janet B <janetble@otenet.gr>
> To: Medit-plants <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Date: Monday, September 20, 1999 12:21 PM
> Subject: HELP :Bueberries
>
> Hi everyone
>
> In the sunday papers this weekend Blueberries, along with strawberries (see
> Nans posting) were said to be especially healthy. Mopping up free radicals,
> deferring old age etc. there must be lots of knowledge in the group on this
> plant and how best to grow and fruit it. In England we could buy it in the
> supermarket, here in Crete it is unheard of.
> Can we grow it in our mediterranean climate. Any advice please?
>
> regards
>
> Janet
> Richard & Janet Blenkinship
> Crete
>
> janetble@otenet.gr
