'Northland' Blueberry

Discover 'Northland' Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Northland'), an exceptional cultivar renowned for its excellent hardiness and high productivity! This dense plant produces many suckers and offers medium-sized blue fruits with a deliciously wild blueberry-like taste. A true four-season asset, it shines with its vibrant autumnal colouring (yellow-orange to reddish-purple) and interesting reddish branches in winter. A perfect choice for an abundant harvest and authentic taste pleasure!

Characteristics

• Foliage : The foliage is deciduous, composed of oval or elliptical leaves, medium green in season. In autumn, it offers a magnificent colour transformation, shifting from yellow-orange to vibrant reddish-purple, adding major visual interest.
• Bloom : Produces small bell-shaped flowers, generally white or pinkish, that appear in spring. Blooming is subtle but essential for fruiting.
• Light : Thrives in full sun for optimal fruiting and intense autumn colour. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is recommended.
• Habit : Its habit is dense and bushy, with a tendency to produce many suckers at the base. It forms a well-filled clump.
• Growth : Its growth is considered medium. It reaches a mature height of approximately 1.2 to 1.5 metres (4 to 5 feet) and a similar spread.
• Humidity : Requires moist but very well-drained soil. Blueberries do not like heavy, waterlogged soils, especially in winter.
• Soil : Requires very acidic soil (ideal pH between 4.5 and 5.5), rich in organic matter, and well-drained. Amending the soil with sphagnum peat moss or elemental sulfur may be necessary.
• Temperature : Its hardiness is excellent, Zone 3, which makes it perfectly suited to our cold winters. It can withstand temperatures down to -35°C to -40°C.
• Watering : Requires regular watering to keep the soil moist, especially during fruiting periods and in dry weather. Rainwater is preferable to chlorinated or hard water.
• Pollination : While 'Northland' blueberry is partially self-fertile, fruit production is significantly better when two to three different blueberry varieties (that bloom at the same time) are planted together for cross-pollination.

Uses

• Types of Use : Ideal in fruit mass plantings, as an informal or edible hedge, in flower bed borders, or in large containers (with appropriate acidic substrate). It's an excellent choice for woodland gardens, edible landscapes, and wildlife gardens, as it attracts birds and pollinators.
• Decorative Advantages : In addition to its delicious fruit, it offers beautiful spring blooms, attractive green foliage in summer, a magnificent autumn colouration, and reddish branches that add visual interest in winter, creating a four-season appeal.

Care

• Fertilization : Blueberries are sensitive to excessive fertilizer. Fertilize in early spring with an acidifying fertilizer specifically for blueberries or rhododendrons, avoiding nitrate-based fertilizers.
• Pruning : Pruning is essential to maintain vigour and productivity. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, weak, or very old wood (over 6 years old). Thin out the centre of the bush to improve air circulation and light penetration.
• Planting :
  • Distance : Space plants approximately 1.2 to 1.5 metres (4 to 5 feet) apart to allow for good development and air circulation.
  • Depth : Plant the root ball at the same level as the soil or slightly higher if drainage is an issue.
  • Period : Spring is the ideal time for planting, but fall is also possible in regions with milder winters.