Blueberries are deciduous woody perennial crop plants that will live for 30 years or more. In colder climates, plants will loose their leaves and enter a winter dormant period. In mild winter climates, many low chill southern highbush- and rabbiteye-type blueberries will retain their leaves in an evergreen production system.
The southern highbush blueberries are erect or open-spreading plants to 2 m (6 ft) high. The root system is fibrous and very superficial with no dominant tap root.
Blueberry plants develop from a series of canes that emerge from the crown at the base of the plant from above ground or below ground branches. Management in the early years of a new planting is directed toward encouraging the development of a succession of new canes - each taller and thicker than the previous cane.
Selective, periodic pruning will encourage new cane development from more basal branches where larger, thicker canes emerge. The plant freely branches from existing canes with smaller branches concentrated on the upper parts of emerged canes or renewed canes from the crown or below ground.
Flowering and Fruit Development
Plants flower and fruit on older wood - from 4 -6-month-old canes in mild growing areas with long seasons or - from the previous season’s growth in colder areas. Developing buds on branches from older canes switch from a vegetative bud to a flower bud. Vegetative buds are small, narrow and flattened, while flower buds are round and more prominent. Plants flower first on the end of a flower cluster and develop downward. Flower clusters are typically 5-10 flowers per bud.
Normally, 65-75 days pass from pollination to harvest, but the timing varies with variety and is temperature-related and can extend days or weeks. Flowering and fruiting continues for 1-3 months depending upon variety and climate conditions.
Management practices in the first 1-5 years are directed toward establishing a large plant structure on which to set fruit. The ideal shape is an open, cup-shaped interior that improves light and air distribution. And fertilization, pruning and other cultural practices are directed at developing that form.
Refer articles; Blueberries - Fertilisation and Blueberries - Pruning.
