Blueray High-bush Early-mid-season Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Blueray'

Blueray is a great choice for hotter climates where other high-bush blueberries may not be as easily grown. It is a great choice for the home garden in these marginal conditions. It is a consistent producer of large sized, powder blue colored berries. They are soft, but firm and resist cracking. Excellent, very sweet, aromatic, slightly tart flavored fruit. It has very ornamental rosy-pink blooms in the spring, glossy green foliage through the summer turning brilliant, burgundy red in the fall. Blueray starts to ripen in mid-July in Michigan and continues for about a month, similar to Bluecrop.

Pricing

Blueray Blueberry, Large 18-24" plant    -    $11.99

Height 4-5 Feet

Spread 4-6 Feet

USDA Hardiness Zone 4-7

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips Almost all blueberries are self-fertile, but experience has shown that you may get larger crops of bigger berries if cross-pollinated with other varieties. Make sure you have adequate cultured or wild bees for pollination. Blueberries do best on soils with high organic matter, adequate moisture all through the summer, and a pH in the range of 4.5 to 5.0. For once Grandpa recommends amending your soils with lots of well decomposed organic materials like weathered sawdust, wood chips, bark, or good peat additives. Make sure you try to bring the pH into the optimum range before planting. Most blueberries will tolerate soil with higher, but not flooded, water tables. If you are growing in a more "upland" site, with sandy soils, make sure to irrigate regularly to maintain a moist, but not soaked soil condition through the season. Prune bushes when dormant to open them up to better sunlight penetration when they grow up and get too thick. See Grandpa's Growing Tips for more on blueberry culture.

A Little History Blueray was introduced in 1954 from New Jersey.

Characteristics & Attributes

Bloom Character • Mid-season blooming • Self-fertile	Fruit Characteristics • Large fruit	Growth Rate/Habit • Average vigor • Spreading habit	Harvest Period • Early season • Mid-season
Other Attributes • Aromatic • Complex flavor	Site Requirements • Full Sun • Winter hardy	Skill Required • Easy to grow	Uses • Good for pies • Canning or freezing • High dessert quality • Cooking or baking • Good for drying