The humble blueberry has become known as a cancer combatant, an inflammation interceptor, a defender of cognitive function, since a body of research in the mid-90s identified the health benefits of the blueberry, identifying it as a superfood: a low-calorie food which offers maximum nutritional benefits in the form of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Blueberries are made up of almost 85% water, and an entire cup contains only 84 calories. They are high in fibre, vitamins C and K, and are believed to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables.
Aside from their nutritional value, blueberries are a tasty treat eaten raw, or cooked inside a pie or muffin, and more than that, they look good in the garden too, with white or pink-tinged flowers in spring, followed by dark, blue fruit, and stunning autumnal leaf colour!
Growing blueberries in Scotland can be a bit of a challenge due to the cooler climate, but one thing blueberries like is acidic soil, and we have that in abundance in Scotland.
Blueberries need full sun and well-drained soil to thrive. A south-facing slope or a sunny spot in your garden, with an acidic soil with a pH between 4 and 5.5, would be ideal.
Most varieties will reach heights of between 1.2-1.5m, and can even be grown in a pot on the patio - which means you can fill the pot with ericaceous soil, and move it around to find the sun. A single blueberry bush can produce as many as 6,000 blueberries per year given the right conditions.
Plant a blueberry bush, Vaccinium corymbosum, in the spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. It is best to buy bare-root plants or container-grown plants rather than trying to transplant wild blueberries.
Not all blueberry varieties are well-suited to Scotland's climate, so it is important to choose a variety that is known to be hardy in cooler regions. Some good options include 'Bluecrop', 'Earliblue', and 'Northblue'.
Although there are some types of blueberry bush which will produce fruit if you only grow one bush (these will be marked as self-fertile), bigger harvests will be achieved if you grow two or more different varieties.
There are even seasonal differences in blueberry cropping so choose an early, mid, and late season fruiting bush to prolong the length of fruit cropping.
Each plant will produce a small crop in the first year while they are establishing, and go on in subsequent years to crop more heavily and reliably.
A blueberry requires regular watering - remember to water more frequently if the blueberry is in a pot. Water blueberry plants where possible with rainwater, not tap water, as tap water will raise the soil pH level.
Mulch the plant to conserve moisture. A mulch of composted pine needles would be perfect, and an ideal way to reuse your Christmas tree.
The plant will also benefit from regular applications of a fertiliser high in nitrogen and low in phosphorus.
A blueberry bush should be pruned each year to remove any dead or diseased wood, and to promote new growth.
Blueberries are frost sensitive and in Scotland the cold period can be hard on them. Covering them with fleece or other frost protection cloth during this time can make a big difference to the survival of the plant.
With the right preparation and care, you can successfully grow blueberries in Scotland, and enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious, superfood fruits.