How To Grow Blueberry Plants In Florida

The two types of blueberry plants suitable for Florida weather are the low chill cultivars of the Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush. Florida is a tall state and encompasses 4 distinct heat zones so it's important to determine which zone you live in before selecting plants. Typically the Rabbiteye does better in the northern part of the state and the Southern Highbush is well adapted to the central area of Florida.

Blueberries require acid soil so the more organic matter that can be mixed into the soil the better. Where I live, in the central area, the soil is very sandy so it is always well drained but must be amended to incorporate lots of peat moss, cow manure, and other organic compost additives. The PH level of the planting bed should be in the 4 - 5.5 range. The plants also must be mulched heavily to control the soil temperature in the summer months.

The plants should be in a sunny area and should have 4-5 feet between plantings. They can grow up to 12 foot high so consider that when choosing a location. Most Florida blueberries require cross pollination with another variety for maximum fruit production. It helps to have bees to pollenate the plants but for a small home garden the process can be done with a q-tip until pollinating insects find the location.

Some of the Southern Highbush varieties are Emerald, Gulf Coast, Jewel, Millenia, Sharpblue, Star, and Windsor. The Rabbiteye plants to look for are Beckyblue, Bluegreen, Bonita, Brightwell, Chaucer, Climax, Powderblue, Tifblue, and Woodard. It's a good idea to mix several varieties of the same cultivar in your garden in order to ensure cross pollination. Fertilize and water regularly and you should have a bumper crop.

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Blueberry Crunch, Blueberry Pie, Blueberry Cake, Blueberry Cobbler, these are all so yummy. I have favorite recipies for them all. But the one I like the best is for Blueberry Cake (or buckle as it's sometimes called).

Cake Batter:
1 cup (130 grams) all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (56 grams) (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup (80 ml) milk
2 cups fresh blueberries

Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup (45 grams) all purpose flour
1/3 cup (65 grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup (56 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Butter, or spray with a nonstick vegetable spray, an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) square pan or an 8 inch (20 cm) round cake pan.
* For streusel topping: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or fork until it resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside while you make the cake batter.
* In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
* In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated. Add the flour mixture, alternately with the milk, and beat only until combined. Spread the batter onto the bottom of the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula.
* Evenly arrange the blueberries on top of the cake batter and then sprinkle with the streusel topping.
* Bake for about 40 - 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool slightly.
* Serve warm or at room temperature.

For more great recipies visit Diary of a Dishie written by my friend and colleague Sally K.

There are a few printed and bound garden guides that include Florida Blueberry information but I haven't found many. For the Most Part I find my blueberry information on-line. Amazon has a few books that address some specific Southern blueberry issues and there are many resources on the internet. For example the Florida Blueberry Association Growers site has some good information. And Pick Your Own has a list of places to pick blueberries in the northern part of the state. Garden Guides has a series of articles that gives great Florida blueberry planting information. There are several in the series if you search their website as well as articles for Northern Blueberries.

If you're looking to buy Florida blueberries from mail order nurseries there are quite a few to choose from. Just search Google for "Buy Florida Blueberry Plant" and there is a full page of lisitngs. Make sure to read the detailed descriptions to ensure the plant is suitable for your location, and how the seller ships the plant (bare root or in soil). This will make a difference in the planting time and procedure. I recommend also checking the seller's refund policy. You should be able to return the plant if it arrives in poor condition. Also I find that the garden centers near my home usually have blueberry plants in stock during late winter/early spring. I've been buying a few each year now and they are starting to bear enough fruit for my needs and to share with friends and relatives.

The best time to plant blueberries in Florida is December through February. First choose a sunny location with well drained soil. Test the soil before planting to ensure the PH is between 4.0 and 5.5. You can either perform this test yourself using a soil PH test kit or submit a sample to the University of Florida through your county extension service. Amend the soil with lots of organic matter including peat moss, pine bark, pine straw, compost, and sulfer to lower the PH. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball and make sure the roots soil are planted 4 inches deep. If you are planting bare root specimens soak the roots first and make a mound of soil in the bottom of the hole. Then spread the saturated roots out over the dirt mound. Spread mulch around the top of the soil surface. Then water often and lightly fertilize on a regular schedule.