More tolerable of soil conditions than others, it can be a good choice for those growing on less-than-ideal ground conditions. 6) V.‘Sunshine Blue’ Slightly smaller than ’Duke’, blueberry ‘Spartan’ will reach 1.5m in height and spread over time with an upright and bushy habit.

A semi-evergreen blueberry shrub, it displays bright pink flowers before fruiting and its foliage provides lovely autumnal interest as the leaves turn purple-red. 7) V.‘Pink Lemonade’ I grow a couple of these in my garden, including V.‘Sunshine Blue’ and V. ‘Top Hat’, and these produce a large crop on relatively small bushes. However, the bioactive compounds in blueberries appear to outweigh any negative impact of the sugar when it comes to managing blood sugar. As with other container-grown blueberries, it will benefit from a monthly liquid ericaceous feed throughout the growing period. 10) V. ‘Herbert’

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One cup (148 grams) holds 15 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to a small apple or medium-sized orange ( 3, 30, 31). For fruits to harvest later in the season, blueberry ‘Aurora’ produces large deep blue berries with a rich flavour from August into September. Producing good size berries with a sweet flavour, it is no wonder it is so commonly grown not only domestically, but commercially as well.

Research suggests that anthocyanins in blueberries have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. These anti-diabetes effects have been observed with both fresh and freeze-dried berries ( 32, 33, 34). A mature blueberry bush should comprise about one-third old stems, one-third middle-aged stems and one-third young stems. Well known for its excellent flavour and large berries, blueberry ‘Herbert’ is a large shrub that will need space. Growing to a height and spread of 1.5m with a bushy habit, ‘Pink Lemonade’ is a mid- to late-season blueberry with lovely autumnal leaves which turn a deep red before falling for the winter. 8) V. ‘Top Hat’ With its spreading habit and large fruits, blueberry ‘Berkeley’ is a later fruiting shrub which is ready for harvesting in late July.

Blueberry ‘Spartan’ is another popular variety which, unlike its name suggests, produces good crops. For the biggest fruits, blueberry ‘Chandler’ is certainly worth considering as it can produce delicious berries up to 2cm.

With white flowers in spring that produce flavoursome sky blue blueberries from July to August, it looks great coming into autumn as its foliage turns red. I like ‘Berkeley’ as its berries are very sweet,” shares Lorraine Summer, owner of Trehane Nursery, which specialises in blueberry plants. You’d be forgiven for thinking blueberries have no place in Britain’s repertoire of home-grown fruit, but you’d be wrong. Blueberries grown on this side of the Atlantic are among the best in the world. In recent years blueberries have been lauded for their nutritious qualities, because they're loaded with anthocyanins, which give the berries their blue colour and high levels of antioxidants. Cooked blueberries lend an intense flash of deep purple-blue to cakes, puddings, sauces, jams and relishes. Some of the best-known blueberry recipes come from the US and include blueberry pie, muffins, cheesecake and pancakes. Flowering later than others, but often ripening early, it can be an excellent choice for growing in areas where late frosts can present a problem.Providing intense autumnal foliage, blueberry ‘Aurora’ has great ornamental qualities before turning dormant for the colder months. References Perhaps one of the most readily available blueberries, ‘Duke’ is one of the larger cultivars that can grow to an eventual height of up to 2.5m. Native to North America, blueberry shrubs produce delicious fruits and beautiful autumnal foliage and can grow well here in the UK’s climate. 1 The history of blueberries: From Native American staple to domesticated superfood. (2019, January 19). University of Illinois. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-01-19-history-blueberries-native-american-staple-domesticated-superfood Reaching a size of 2.5m tall over time, it is a vigorous blueberry with an upright habit and produces fruit from late July to August. For a dwarf and compact blueberry that is ideal for containers or the patio, blueberry ‘Top Hat’ is perfect as it will only grow to 50cm tall and wide.