Due to its shade intolerance, it should be grown on wooded or open areas with moist, acidic, well-aerated and organic rich soils. It is restricted to grow on open swamps and bogs, lakeshores and streamside, open woods and high-elevation balds.
Name
Blueberry
Scientific Name
Vaccinium Corymbosum
Native and History
North America also grown in the Southern Hemisphere in Australia, New Zealand, and South American countries. Blueberries were first cultivated in the United States by Elizabeth Coleman White in the Southern New Jersey village of Whitesbog
Common/English Name
American Blueberry, Blueberry, High-Bush Blueberry, Northern Highbush Blueberry, Swamp Blueberry
Name in Other Languages
(Scots) Blaeberry;
(Norwegian) Blåbær;
(Canada) Airelle En Corymbe (French);
(Czech) Borůvka Chocholičnatá;
(Eastonian) Kännasmustikas;
(Finnish) Pensasmustikka;
(French) Airelle D’amérique, Bleuet À Corymbes, Corymbelle, Myrtille D’amérique, Myrtille, Géante;
(Danish) Amerikansk Blåbær;
(Dutch) Trosveenbes;
(German) AmerikanischeBlaubeere, Amerikanische Blueberry, Kultur-Heidelbeere;
(Italian) Mirtillo Gigante Americano;
(Norwegian) Nordamerikansk Blåbær;
(Polish) Borówka Wysoka;
(Slovašcina) Ameriška Žlahtna Borovnica;
(Spanish) Arándano Americano;(Swedish) Amerikansk Blåbär, Amerikanska Blåbär
Edible Plant Parts and Uses
Fruit: Raw, boiled, stewed, baked, smoke-dried, sun-dried
and used like raisinsLeaves: As herbal tea
Plant Growth Habit
Slow-growing, deciduous, monoecious, erect shrub with several stems arising from the bole and growing to 1–3.5 m high
Growing Climate
Slow-growing, deciduous, monoecious, erect shrub with several stems arising from the bole and growing to 1–3.5 m high
Soil
Wet to dry, acid, rocky soils to organic peats
Plant Size
Low-growing plants reaches ten centimeters tall and large shrubs reaches four to five meters in height
Lifespan
Low-growing plants reaches ten centimeters tall and large shrubs reaches four to five meters in height
Root
A shallow root system so it should be planted in a hole at least twice as large as the existing root system and mulched with a 7-10 cm (3-4 inch) layer of organic mulch.
Bark
Shredded bark
Branchlets
Larger branches
Stem
Undersides of the stem may be white-pubescent.
Leaf
Deciduous or evergreen, ovate to elliptical, up to 8 cm (3 inch) long., and 1–8 cm (0.39–3.1 inch) long and 0.5–3.5 cm (0.20–1.4 inch) broad.
Buds
Red, ovoid and pointed
Flower
White, pale pink or red and sometime tinged greenish
Fruit shape & size
Small, bell shaped with a flared crown at the end, around 5-16 millimeters (0.2-0.6 inches) in diameter
Fruit weight
Above half a gram (1 cup of blueberries: 148 gm)
Fruit color
Pale greenish at first, then reddish-purple and finally dark purple when ripened.
Flesh color
Light green, creamy white, gradient white-purple depend upon varities
Available usually in mid-season (late spring to late summer, peaking in July and August).
Can be harvested 3-4 years after planting, but will only reach full production after more than 8 years
Major Nutritions
Nutrient:
Protein 1.1 g (2.20%),
Total fat 0.49 g (1.40%)
Carbohydrate 21.45 g (16.50%)
Total dietary fiber 3.6 g (9.47%)
Total sugar 14.74 gMinerals:
Manganese 0.497 (21.61%)
Copper 0.084 mg (9.33%)
Iron 0.41 mg (5.13%)
Phosphorus 18 mg (2.57%)
Potassium 114 mg (2.43%)
Zinc 0.24 mg (2.18%)
Magnesium 9 mg (2.14%)Vitamins:
Vitamin K 28.6 µg (23.83%)
Vitamin C 14.4 mg (16.00%)
Vitamin B6 0.077 mg (5.92%)
Vitamin E 0.84 mg (5.60%)
Vitamin B2 0.061 mg (4.69%)
Vitamin B1 0.055 m (4.58%)
Vitamin B3 0.619 mg (3.87%)
Vitamin B5 0.184mg (3.68%)
Vitamin B9 9 µg (2.25%)
Amino acids:
Valine 0.046 g (10.45%)
Isoleucine 0.034 g (1.93%)
Methionine and Cystine 0.03 g (1.79%)
Threonine 0.03 g (1.79%)
Leucine 0.065 g (1.76%)
Lysine 0.019 g (1.54%)
Phenylalanine and Tyrosine 0.051 g (1.53%)
Improves memory power and fight Alzheimer’s disease
Reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness
Reduce belly fat, diabetes risk
Inhibit cell development of fat cells
Treatment for traumatic stress
Counteract intestinal diseases
Improve cognition
Whole antioxidant support
Cardiovascular benefits
Blood sugar benefits
Eye health
Anti-cancer benefits
Calories in 1cup (148 g.)
84 Kcal.
It is said that
Native Americans used the plant and its fruit for medicines and food.
High bush blueberries are used as a disease resistance.
For generations, the berries and leaves are used to treat digestive orders, improve circulation, maintain eye health, and reduce inflammation.
For centuries, ancient Greeks and Romans used blueberries to cure diseases related to urinary tract.
Precautions
Blueberry fruit is probably safe when used in amounts commonly found in foods. But not enough known about the safety of the larger amounts used for medicine.
Stop using blueberry at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery because it affect blood glucose levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery.
Blueberry interact with the medications such as glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs).
Allergic to stone fruits should avoid blueberry.
How to Eat
Frozen blueberries could be added to your breakfast shake.
Cold breakfast cereals could be added fresh or dried blueberries.
A delicious elegant dessert could be made by a layer yogurt and blueberries in wine glasses and top with crystallized ginger.
It could be eaten fresh or dried them for winter use.
Jam could be made with blueberries, sugar, water, and fruit pectin.
Blueberry wine is made from the flesh and skin of the low bush berry, which is fermented and then matured.
Other Facts
Maine is the highest blueberry producer in the world.
The high amount of antioxidants in blueberries prevents the damage caused by cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Studies suggest that women who have a diet rich in anthocyanin which are found in blueberries reduce the chances of heart disease.
Studies show that blueberries assist the memory loss and increase circulation which eliminates the progression of degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.