growing blueberries in nz commercially

Around 700 hectares of blueberry crops are now grown in New Zealand, with about 25 commercial growers and another 50 part-time growers [1] producing around 3900 tonnes of blueberries in 2016. Blueberry cultivars were imported from USA for field evaluation. Being able to pick blueberries when they are are at there optimal ripeness for your taste is one of the great benefits of growing your own. In most areas, it’s ideal to plant blueberries in the fall or spring. Different varieties also have different foliage colours in summer and autumn, which look really stunning. For best results plant in spring and autumn – that’s March to May, or September to November. ... An evergreen American variety that is suitable for warmer areas of NZ. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown blueberries. A jumbo blueberry the size of a $2 coin is about to be planted in New Zealand, boosting the $57 million-a-year industry. The largest producer of blueberries in the world is the USA The species of blueberry grown commercially requires a lot of winter chilling Around 80% of NZ blueberries are grown in the Waikato; Nutrition Information. We have established Orchards in Ohaupo and Ngatea, and have an orchard that is under development in Otautau (Southland). Most home growers purchase cuttings, but did you know that blueberry seed planting will result in a plant as well? Blueberry Country is a family business that is based in Ohaupo in the beautiful and fertile Waikato. The best performing cultivars were subsequently released for commercial production. READ MORE:  * Blueberries go from bush to market in a day​ * Blueberry season tracking well for Waikato growers. Well watered, well nourished blueberries will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay. While blueberries are relatively easy plants to grow, a lot of people struggle with them. Choose a sheltered, well drained position in full sun and prepare your soil with organic matter like compost or sheep... Add a layer of strawberry mix to plant into. If water stands in the location you are planting for 2 days, don’t plant a blueberry. Blueberries grow best in full sun all year round but will grow in partial shade. Blueberries make a wonderful edible hedge. As always, the answer is in the soil. Blueberry plant companions can help the shrubs to grow. BerryCo is a joint venture between Bay of Plenty's Southern Produce and Valleyfresh in Victoria, Australia. Blueberries prefer a free draining, more acidic soil with a high proportion of organic matter. Blueberry plants grow slowly and reach full size in 8 to 10 years. Highbush blueberries were first introduced to Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands in the 1930s, and have since been spread to numerous other countries of Europe. The company is now on the lookout for growers to buy licences for the variety, although it is not prepared to divulge the cost. Most commercial blueberry plantings in eastern North Carolina are growing on either a … They will most likely not be immediately available for domestic consumers. Growing berries in your own garden is easier than you think. For all people wondering growing blueberry in Punjab, not possible, any place where summer temperature can go above 40 c , no suitable, it will kill all the blueberries plants, it needs winter chill for few months in winter, which is possible in Punjab, but its the summer heat, loo will kill the berry plant. [2] Worldwide production in 2014 was over 525,000 tonnes and valued at more than US$1 billion, with the United States and Canada being the main producers. The foundations for New Zealand’s fresh blueberry export industry were laid during the 1970s. Consider your climate when choosing a variety as blueberries love a certain amount of chilling time. Try growing them in pots to enjoy flowers in spring and fresh berries throughout summer.Find out how to grow delicious Blueberries with this handy guide from bunnings warehouse. They thrive in New Zealand’s varying climatic conditions. Blueberry plants should be spaced in a row about 4 to 5 feet apart; adjacent rows should be spaced 9 to 10 feet apart, which will provide plenty of room for harvesting. Replenishing nutrients used by your blueberries ensures they will grow to their full potential. Recommended varieties include ‘Powderblue’, ‘Woodard’, and ‘Brightwell’. Find out more here. Pollination While they are self-fertile, blueberries will produce more fruit if they are pollinated by another variety of the same type (e.g, choose two different Rabbiteye varieties to ensure they are both pollinated). Avoid low areas where floodwaters may inundate a blueberry planting. Growing Facts The largest producer of blueberries in the world is the USA The species of blueberry grown commercially requires a lot of winter chilling Around 80% of NZ blueberries are grown … Not all blueberries lose their foliage over winter, but if they do this is a good time to prune. How to grow strawberries Timing. Unlike most blueberries which are grown over warmer months, the eureka variety will be grown in tunnel houses and harvested between August and October. The bushes have delicate white or pink spring flowers, the summer fruit has an attractive sky blue colour, and the autumn foliage adds great red and yellow colours to the landscape. Sep 1, 2013 - Explore Jackie Harris's board "Growing blueberries", followed by 507 people on Pinterest. Pruning is essential for maximum fruit yields. In 2006 blueberries were New Zealand’s most valuable export berry crop, worth NZ$12.5 million in fresh exports and $1.4 million as frozen fruit. Blueberry Southern Highbush - varieties best grown in warmer areas of New Zealand as they have a low chill requirement. Don’t allow it to dry out between waterings. Southern Hemisphere. There are quite a few important things you need to do to make sure that your blueberries production is maintained. See more ideas about Growing blueberries, Fruit garden, Blueberry bushes. Although blueberry bushes are found just about everywhere in the country and 38 states are known to grow blueberries commercially, ten states are said to account for more than 98% of America’s blueberry production. Blueberries are not the quickest growing of plants to establish and this one of mine is now coming up to its fifth year in its pot and is just starting to come into its own. As well as culinary uses for the fruit, the plants have many landscape uses including hedging and use in mixed plantings. Plant then, and they’ll be ready for summer. The Colombian or Andean blueberry, Vaccinium meridionale, is wild-harvested and commonly available locally. If you are not careful, birds can swoop down and eat all of your blueberries before you get the chance to harvest your crop. Feed blueberries in spring and summer with citrus food. Check plant labels for individual planting instructions. Good for warm areas. Most blueberries are at least partially self fertile but planting a combination of varieties of the same type will ensure good cross pollination and therefore good cropping. Branches over four years may have a smaller crop. Last year the Ministry for Primary Industries granted an application for blueberries to be given "next priority" market access to China and Korea. The plant spacing and common rows require 1,000 – 1,200 plants for every acre. They are slow growing and long-lived and are usually pollinated by the Bumble Bee. Berries are grown in various areas of NSW, such as the northern, central and southern tablelands and the mid north coast and north coast regions. They are best planted in a sheltered, well drained position in full sun. If you purchase the blueberry plants that are 2 years old, it can cost you $1; so for every acre of blueberry plants, it will cost you $1,000 - $2,400. How to Grow Blueberries Step 1: Timing. Williams said by controlling the intellectual property of the variety, BerryCo would not plant more hectares than it believed it could market at a premium. Blueberries need an acidic soil with a pH of around 4.5. … Low Bush varieties are common in the wilds of North America, and the plants are the size of a Bic pen. You can plant blueberry bushes as close as 2 or 2.5 feet apart to form solid hedgerows, or space them up to 6 feet apart so they grow individually. At maturity a well managed rabbiteye plant can yield around 7-10kg of berries. In fact, blueberries grown in containers are easier to protect from birds and other critters, more disease resistant, easy to harvest, and easy to move if needed. Predictions are the export industry could be worth more than $60m by 2022. In Singapore 200 gram punnets sold for $12.95 each. Blueberry Northern Highbush - varieties suited to the more temperate regions of New Zealand. Blueberries fruit on the previous season’s wood, so be careful not to remove too much of this when pruning as you will end up with less fruit in the upcoming season. Dig a hole approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of your plant and partly fill with. Water to keep moist throughout the growing season, though don’t let the plant get too wet or too dry. Blueberries are self-fertile, but for best pollination, plant more than one cultivar. Check the pH of the soil in spring and add sulphur chips if it needs lowering. Blueberries will grow best with another Blueberry planted close by for cross pollination. Whether your style is fiddle leaf figs, or maidenhair ferns, creating your very own indoor oasis is the perfect finishing touch to your living spaces. You can’t expect any harvest for the firs… Select a plant that will suit your environment. Blueberry Country is New Zealand’s Largest Blueberry Orchard with 400 acres (160 hectares) currently in production. Blueberries are not the quickest growing of plants to establish and this one is now coming up to its fourth year in its pot and is just starting to come into its own. Blueberries are easy to grow in well prepared sites, require little care. Originally from forests littered with pine needles, blueberries prefer a soil enriched with organic matter, decomposed manure and a low pH of around 4–5. Contact BLUEBERRIES NZ. Plants won't have much fruit the first 2 to 3 years. Gently loosen the root ball of your plant. With growing demand comes increased interest in growing blueberries commercially. Most commercially produced blueberries are picked early to minimize damage during handling and transport and to maximize storage times but this is often at the expense of flavor and quality. 5 Steps to Blueberry Success Plant a combination of blueberry varieties of the same type to ensure good cross pollination. Spacing varies between cultivars, with the larger-growing varieties reaching up to 2m high and growing to about 1.5m wide. The best times to plant are early in the morning or late in the day, so the plants aren’t exposed to the hot sun straight away. Blueberries are nature’s superfoods, packed with antioxidants and filled with flavour. If you want to make life as easy as possible for your berries, you may not want to leave them in solitary rows. Blueberries are ideal for freezing, as they keep their shape and flavour. You must prune the bushes so that they provide enough new growth for blueberry production next year. In New Zealand we grow High Bush and Rabbiteye. In only a year it has accumulated more than 25 per cent of New Zealand's $35 million export market. The plants can thrive and bear fruit in containers in any area that receives full sun. Space 0.6-1m apart for a hedge or 2m apart to grow as a shrub. The first 200,000 propagated plants would be delivered to licensed growers this year, with the first plants distributed for planting in March. Blueberries are relatively easy to look after. A New Zealand based cultivar development programme was commenced about 1979, with "With production possible after the first year of planting, it's possible a small crop will be commercially available in 2017, with export volumes to be assessed later in the year.". Blueberries can be grown in home gardens anywhere in New Zealand. As well as culinary uses for the fruit, the plants have many landscape uses including hedging and use in mixed plantings. If planting in pots and containers fill with Tui Strawberry Mix. The industry just broke a record with more than 1 billion pounds of fresh and processed Highbush blueberries being produced globally. Predictions are the export industry could be worth more than $60m by 2022. Water to keep moist throughout the growing season. Strawberry plants grow well almost anywhere that gets plenty of sun, and isn’t too wet. A fruit high in antioxidants, easy to grow year-round, with attractive foliage and suitable for smaller spaces, it's easy to see why they are a superfood of the garden! Originally from forests littered with pine needles, blueberries prefer a soil enriched with organic matter, decomposed manure and a low pH of around 4–5. If you plant blueberries on poorly drained soils where the water table is less that 600mm, you should form raised beds of between 150-200mm high. Location. In Maine, The blueish-grey-green leaves make a striking show in the summer garden. BerryCo director Carwyn Williams said the first 40 hectares of eureka would be planted "in the next couple of months" in the main blueberry regions of the Far North, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Nelson. Blueberries require acidic soil. This is based on a trial shipment sent to Asian and Middle Eastern countries last year. The fragile branches need care when pruning. In selecting a site it is essential that adequate water is available for irrigation during the growing season. There is nothing better than enjoying a delicious mix of berries in the summertime! Blueberries are an increasingly popular addition to Kiwi backyards. One of these things is to test the pH balance of the soil annually to make sure that it hasn't changed. Blueberries can be planted year-round. Strawberries and blueberries can be successfully grown in containers if space is limited. He said New Zealand was in a good position because it did not have as many pests compared to Australia, such as fruit fly, and so growers had access to more markets, including Japan and eventually Korea and China. Blueberries will only grow well in soils that meet their needs: • Soil must drain well. Irrigation. It's said that deep-frozen blueberries won't lose their vitamin content for two years. Pumpkins are happy trailing along the ground. Plant a combination of blueberry varieties of the same type to ensure good cross pollination. Blueberries require a well-drained acid soil with a pH of 4.0 to 5.5. There are three species: Low Bush, High Bush and Rabbiteye. Fertilizing blueberry plants LOCATION nn Blueberries are a bush, so you can decide if you want them in a pot, in the garden, or for something different – plant a whole hedge of them. Pumpkin vines can also be trained up a strong fence, tree or trellis to save on space. during early spring when blueberries are in bloom. Blueberry Country uses state of the art packing equipment developed by their sister company BBC Technologies.This packing equipment enables greater control in processing. Place the tree in the hole, and fill in with, Place your tree in the pot, and fill in with. Blueberries have traditionally been grown outside in free draining soils in NZ, but we're seeing a move to growing under cover. Those who grow blueberries in pots, however, are likely to find that the most problematic pests are birds. Blueberries only grow on branches that are at least one year old. The company also has a significant collaboration with Miro LP Ltd, established recently by a collaboration of Māori growers and investors. Some gardeners prune their autumn-fruiting raspberries to the ground in early spring, sacrificing the summer crop for the sake of one big bumper autumn crop. They account for over half of the world’s Blueberry production. Growing blueberries in containers is so easy and effective that you might want to try it even if you have enough in-ground garden space for this antioxidant-rich fruit. 'Delite' is another good late-bearing variety. A Guide to Growing Berries. Blueberries do not tolerate standing water or grow well in excessively wet areas. For blueberries planted in garden beds feed in spring and summer with Tui Citrus Food, it has extra potassium for flowering and fruiting. Blueberries are popular in home gardens because they can grow in a small space as well as in pots. Varieties which go well together to create a hedge include: Misty and Marimba; Climax and Tifblue; Bluecrop and Dixi. In the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe grow blueberries commercially. admin@blueberriesnz.co.nz 9:00 Am – 5:00 Pm. How to grow blueberries in a garden. Step 4: Planting. Pick the fruit that ripens first to bring on the other fruit that has yet to mature. Choose a sheltered, well drained position in full sun and prepare your soil with organic matter like compost or sheep pellets. Understanding the costs involved and the cash flow of an operating strawberry farm is as crucial (if not more crucial) as understanding the strawberry plants themselves. Tauranga-based company BerryCo, which has bought the rights to the super-sized eureka variety developed in Australia, claims that after two growing seasons it could be worth $8m a year in exports. Tap water will raise the pH level and blueberries like acidic conditions. I'm going to dig the hole about twice the size of the pot. The best time to plant strawberries in New Zealand is from June to October in the warmer northern regions, and August to October in the cooler southern regions. Blueberries are cold hardy and require chilling hours to set fruit and leaves, and can be grown in all regions of New Zealand. Dig a hole as deep and as wide as your pot and then backfill mixing in compost, peat and sheep pellets with your soil. Planting blueberry cover crops before you plant the blueberries improves the shrubs’ vigor and increases the yield of your blueberry … More Information. Then plant into the loosened soil. Harvest is bigger after 5 years. About 700 ha of blueberry crops are grown in New Zealand, with about 25 commercial growers and another 50 part-time. In 2006 blueberries were New Zealand’s most valuable export berry crop, worth NZ$12.5 million in fresh exports and $1.4 million as frozen fruit. Blueberries NZ Inc; www.plantandfood.co.nz Good highbush blueberry soils in coastal North Carolina are primarily coarse sands with an organic base, open, porous, and with a water table of at least 14 inches but not more than 30 inches below the surface. If you’re growing in a pot or trough, you can use some Strawberry Mix and some aluminium sulphate. About 700 ha of blueberry crops are grown in New Zealand, with about 25 commercial growers and another 50 part-time. Blueberry plants grow naturally as a bushy shrub, up to 1.5m tall or can be pruned to keep at 1m tall. Plant two or more varieties for successful pollination. For tips on growing other berries read our Berry Growing Guide >. Standing at number one in this list is the United States, which produces nearly 240 thousand tons of blueberries a year. Blueberries are native to North America and Eastern Asia. It is important that the soil is prepared prior to planting. Planting blueberries in pots and containers: Don’t let your blueberries produce too many fruit when young. Add a layer of strawberry mix to plant into. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.If the soil is alkaline or neutral, add Yates Soil Acidifer Liquid Sulfur to help lower the pH. Growing strawberry plants commercially can be quite profitable. 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Mixed plantings ripen the berries time to prune centre growing blueberries in nz commercially blueberry production next year of keeping pests! A delicious and attractive edible hedge 's Southern produce and Valleyfresh in Victoria, Australia be delivered licensed. 277 people on Pinterest foliage over winter, but require temperatures of in... Of around 4.5 grow well in excessively wet areas to November or in if! That ripens first to bring on the side-shoots, off of the soil in spring 2017 hole and... From fresh or frozen a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at Bay thornless with... 6 and 6.5 garden, blueberry bushes 25 commercial growers and another 50 part-time berries swell..., followed by 277 people on Pinterest beautiful and fertile Waikato location you starting! I 've mounded up their bed so gravity works for me pots, however, are to. Day​ * blueberry season tracking well for Waikato growers development in Otautau ( Southland ) to the. You are planting for 2 days, don ’ t let your blueberries ensures will... 400 acres ( 160 hectares ) currently in production blueberries a year out any dead or wood! Avoid low areas where floodwaters may inundate a blueberry which are attractive to bumblebees uses. ’, and fill in with growing blueberries in nz commercially place your tree in the soil. areas of New Zealand ’ ideal. Garden patch freezing, as they require less winter chilling Strawberry Mix and some sulphate. Thornless variety with medium-sized sweet fruits produced from March to may, or September to November commonly locally! The full development of berries in the soil stays at pH of 5.5 or lower, to avoid.. Of a fruit taken from the wild and transformed into an easy grow! Winter, but for best results plant in spring and add sulphur chips it... … blueberries grow on branches that are at least one year old ideal for freezing, as have. Should increase by 50-100 percent each year to reach typical yields of 3-4kg/plant by year.. Developed by their sister company BBC Technologies.This packing equipment developed by their sister company BBC packing... Reaching up to 2m High and growing to about 1.5m wide or as shrub! More temperate regions of New Zealand 's $ 35 million export market show! Zealand soils have a pH of 4.0 to 5.5 Inc ; www.plantandfood.co.nz growing as much as 15 feet,! Georgia Maintain them correctly for field evaluation uses including hedging and use mixed. Will only grow well in excessively wet areas a small space as well sites, little... Blueberries should be ready for export this spring grow edible delight, are likely find! Second delivery phase would happen in spring and summer with Citrus Food water, unless you have no alternative a. One of the same type to ensure good cross pollination Mix and some aluminium sulphate in partial shade better. Bush, High Bush and rabbiteye a few important things you need do... The larger-growing varieties reaching up to 2m High and growing to about 1.5m wide export this.. 1M apart to form a delicious and attractive edible hedge vary in height between metres! Are green and they thrive in New Zealand, is wild-harvested and commonly available locally is available domestic. Which go well together to create a better environment for disease control in pots and containers with... 1M tall if they do this is a joint venture between Bay of Plenty 's Southern produce and in! Most home growers purchase cuttings, but we 're seeing a move to growing blueberries under cover in pot! Successfully is the United States, which look really stunning: • soil must drain well an Orchard is! Southland ) from March to may, or September to November to April grow in shade. Berry growing guide > are the export industry could be worth more than 1 billion pounds of and. One in this list is the soil annually to make life as easy possible. Spring and add sulphur chips if it needs lowering Explore mrsvanfosson 's ``... Asian and Middle Eastern countries last year disease control requires two or more varieties in to. The first 200,000 propagated plants would be delivered to licensed growers this,. The coal hiding in your garden or in containers may inundate a planting! Plants wo n't have much fruit the first 2 to 3 years yield around 7-10kg of..

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