Our commitment is to educate South Africans about berry plants, their high nutritional values, and how to grow and care for their own berry plants whether they are an enthusiastic home grower or a large scale agricultural operation. At first blueberry growing might be seen as a bit technical, but these easy-to-grow guidelines below can be followed whether you are a home grower or a commercial farmer. Raised beds, 15cm-30cm high can be used if soil is marginally drained or if the water table is lower than 60cm. Two shipments of blueberries that Ross Berries sent from South Africa to the EU were confiscated at … SA is a lot warmer than the blueberry’s native USA home, but there are some berry breeds from the southern states that will be just as happy in your garden. Remove any dead wood leaving any bright coloured lateral branches. Find blueberry plants in South Africa! LEARN MORE. There are many varieties of blueberries out … Frost tolerant. Blueberry plants can also be container grown in pots or bags. Flash freeze the berries so you can enjoy them all year round, and check out our delicious Blueboost recipes for guilt-free blueberry sorbet for summer, and toasty blueberry, maple and cinnamon rolls for the colder months. Harvest fruit when ripe. The blueberry likes its soil to be very acidic, which means it won’t be happy in our natural SA dirt. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Ammonium Sulphate generally works well as the plant would use the nitrogen in the ammonium form and would also react with the soil to assist in lowering the ph level during long periods of time. The South African blueberry industry started in Mpumalanga’s Lydenburg district during the 1970’s, and by 1987 blueberry cultivation reached the Western Cape. Avoid using manures as they are normally too alkaline when decomposed, contains salts and rich in nitrate nitrogen which can damage the plants. Bird deterrents such as bird tape or electronic systems such as the “Bird Guard” also works well. OUR DIFFERENCE. If peat moss is used in the planting medium, make sure to first wet it well, otherwise it will act as a wick and draw the moisture from the plant roots. Compared to other fruit crops blueberries do not need much water but care must be taken to keep the moisture consistent, but not overwatered. Sow and Plant. As the mulch breaks down over long periods of time it should be replenished. Plus, if you live in an area without acidic soil, growing blueberries in containers allows you to tailor the soil pH specifically for them. Position. Blueberries are resilient to many of the common problems associated with other soft fruits. Plant the larger varieties along a fence or trellis where they can also be used as a hedge or screen. A thick layer (10-15cm) of organic materials such as pine bark mulch, pine needles or saw dust can be used as a mulch as a protection from extreme heat and cold temperatures. An integrated pest management programme can be incorporated for crop protection and there are many registered chemical and organic pesticides available in SA. In general, we classify our varieties into three groups; early season fruiting, mid-season fruiting and late season fruiting. Berries for Africa is a family owned business run by Leander Vosloo and his wife Margaret who are passionate in growing and supplying a wide range of berry plants. May need potassium added, particularly if the leaves start to brown at the edges. Our blueberries are sweet and juicy. The production is widely spread across South Africa, although one province dominates – the Western Cape producing two-thirds of South Africa’s blueberries. Irrigation is usually applied with drip irrigation, but micro sprinklers and overhead irrigation can also be successfully used. A bit (about 15%) of sandy soil can also be used if it has been tested to ensure that the ph level is less than 6.0. Notes. Nitrates and chlorides should be avoided in fertilizer blends for blueberry plants. Although there are many varieties that require a few “chill hours” during winter in the cooler parts, there are many newer varieties that are propagated and can even be planted in our milder, sub-tropical regions along our coast and will still produce a good quality and size crop. Even the Oranjezicht City Farm has added them to their extensive fruit collection – pop by the garden or market to have a taster and learn some tricks of the trade. You can’t plant them in normal compost & soil. Plant in mid autumn or early winter when it's not too cold for a little root growth to help them establish. This is due to the dormancy chilling requirements for the Northern It will also help to retain moisture and to lower the ph level as it breaks down over the years. We provide the most suitable varieties for our South African climate. When transplanting the plant, make sure to plant it at the same depth to ensure that the crown is not covered or the roots exposed. The poles can be positioned at an angle to form a triangle or vertically to create a rectangle. Proper planning is recommended before a blueberry orchard is started to ensure that the operation is optimised for profitability and success. The information on this website is intended for informational purposes only and as a guideline for anyone considering growing various types of berries as a gardener or commercial operation. In autumn their leaves turn a fiery shade of red, springtime brings blooming-white blossoms. Growing blueberries in containers is so easy and effective that you might want to try it even if you have enough in-ground garden space for this antioxidant-rich fruit. ... for acidic plants such as Protea, Blueberry and Azalea. When it’s a particularly hot day, give them a bit of a shady breather and a little more (acidic) water to replenish them. Welcome to the Blueberry Growing Regions of South Africa. Best planted in late autumn or early spring, blueberries are deciduous which means their leaves will shed seasonally – so don’t panic when that happens! After all, we do supply around 70% of SA’s blueberries to retailers in SA. In autumn their leaves turn a fiery shade of red, springtime brings blooming-white blossoms. The plant can then be directly planted into this mixture. The South African blueberry industry is small relative to other local fruit industries. If more specific details are required, please feel free to get in touch with the Berries For Africa team. If peat moss is used in the planting medium, make sure to first wet it well otherwise it will act as a wick and draw the moisture from the plant roots. Although it is not necessary, some of these self fertile varieties do bear even better quality and size fruit when they are cross-pollinated with another variety. They are ericaceous plants, meaning much like Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Camellias, they need to grow in very acidic soil with a ph between 4.2 and 5.5. In the kitchen. The fiber in blueberries helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease. Ideally, the soil should be sandy loam in texture with an organic percentage of 3% or more. Yes but cover if a severe frost is forecast. When transplanting the plant, make sure to plant it at the same depth to ensure that the crown is not covered or the roots exposed. The plants can thrive and bear fruit in containers in any area that receives full sun. A good potting medium is a mixture of pine bark mulch or acid compost mixed in with about 20-30% Canadian peat moss. And, we at Blueboost have all the best tips to get those blue bunches of goodness thriving amongst the rest of your greenery. Berries for Africa is a family owned business run by Leander Vosloo and his wife Margaret who are passionate in growing and supplying a wide range of berry plants. Acidic pH of 5 to 5.5 required. Avoid sites that are water logged, have poor drainage or have a permeable layer close to the surface. Blood meal, cottonseed meal and soya meal are very good sources of organic fertilizers. If you have all three (colder climates) you can pick blueberries for 6 – 8 months of the year. Whenever a cane starts growing out of the fenced area, wind it back inside. A thick layer (10-15cm) of pine bark mulch, pine needles or saw dust can be used as a mulch as a protection from extreme heat and cold temperatures. Younger, newly established plants require the most care to make sure that their roots do not dry out or get waterlogged. It will also help to suppress weeds, retain moisture and to lower the ph level as it breaks down over the years to provide a desirable environment for the shallow root system. We recommend to use at least a 23L pot/grow-bag as the plants do get fairly large. Class 1; Ideal for snacking . The first recorded batch of blueberries exported from South Africa was in 1992 which was valued at R9 780 and shipped to Zambia. Get a plant or cutting rather than trying to grow these little guys from seeds. 12L Cannabis Grow Bag Dimensions: 30 x 20 x 20 cm . Blueberries are by nature a highly demanding crop and the greenhouse was planned for an area with a hot and windy climate. Growing berries in South Africa has become popular as fruiting plants are more readily available, and are the easiest addition to growing your own food collection. Hot Blueboost tip: use flowers of sulphur powder to make soil more acidic – available at any Clicks or Dischem. Elemental sulphur can be used to lower the soil ph, but it takes time for the soil bacteria to break down and adjust the ph which can take 6 -12 months depending on the climate and soil conditions. Most of South Africa's blueberries are produced under shade nets in the Western Cape. Compared to other northern countries, blueberries are relatively new to South Africa. Leave 8-12 healthy, upright canes which are younger than 6 years old as they will produce the best quality fruit. Sphagnum peat moss can also be incorporated as this is a great natural product that will lower the soil ph level, helps with aeration and water retention. With smaller scale operations hand harvesting is normally used where the row spacing’s are narrower. During the summer months, when the plant is growing and fruiting, 20mm to 30mm of water is needed per week. This growth projection is based on the investments from existing and new growers in the industry. Application rates of 15g for smaller plants and 50g on larger plants are common practise, but make sure that the specific label instructions are followed. Don’t try to grow blueberries from seeds. 40L Blueberry Grow Bag Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 45cm Birds can be a localized issue and bird netting can be used if desired if a great percentage of the fruit is eaten. Well, actually they all like it hot. More than 2,700ha are under blueberry cultivation in the fruit-growing Western Cape belt, a 10-fold jump from five years ago. The amount of water needed per plant or plantation would depend on the soil type, rainfall and climate conditions. The news report tells how a South African blueberry grower, Ross Berries, has got itself into a sticky mess in Europe with an Australian company called United Exports. Just like us Saffas, blueberries love the sun, so let those rays shine on down. Potassium Sulphate or Mono-potassium Phosphate (MKP) are suitable sources or potassium. It is recommended to use fertilizers that provide nitrogen in the form of ammonia such as, Ammonium Sulphate (21%N), Mono Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) or Urea. Established in 1993, BerryWorld South Africa is a joint venture between Trevor McKenzie and BerryWorld. Blueberry plants can also be container grown in pots or bags. Blueberry plants are salt and nitrate sensitive. Grow Bag Sizes . South Africa's blueberry industry is still relatively small, but has been growing rapidly from R15.8m (value of production) in 2008 to R1.25bn in 2018, the agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo recently reported. Avoid placing too rich fertilizers such as manures or chemical fertilizers in the plating hole as they may burn the roots. The stars of the show, the berries themselves, will start popping up late spring, ripening in time to be a refreshing delight in summer. Please note the soil mixes and brand names used won’t be available in South Africa and four plants are a bit much per pot, I would suggest two plants at most per pot. Most blueberry farmers plant about 6000 plants per Ha, but some who use 25L to 28L pots or grow-bags plant up to 8500 plants per Ha for optimum production. If you are interested in buying berry plants please click the link below fill in our online enquiry form to so we can get back you regarding berry availability. Its export growth has been explosive over the last few years, having risen … Other than than minor pressures from insects such as bollworms, aphids, thrips, weevils, beetles, grasshoppers, locust and a few bird species, pests and diseases are not a serious problem. This amount is dramatically lowered during the winter season when the plants are in their dormant phase. The distances between the rows will depend on which equipment will be used for cultivation, harvesting and pruning. South African blueberries a niche product, but growing Compared to the country's bigger commodities such as citrus, South African blueberries make up … 27L Blueberry Grow Bag Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 30cm . Blue Delite Nursery, at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, specialises in a number of blueberry varietals, or if you’re in Joburg try the Lifestyle Home Garden to start your own proudly blue garden. In South Africa the blueberry industry is small relative to other domestic fruit industries such as citrus, apples, pears and table grapes, and 68% of our berries are grown in the Western Cape, with about 70% of the production being exported. After nurturing and caring for your beautiful berries, you’ll get the best reward – eating them. Composted and untreated pine bark can be worked into the soil to lower the ph level and to add organic matter. Can You Grow Blueberries in a Container? Blueberry plants require superior soil growing media with good drainage and internal aeration as well as good water holding capacity. Blueberries are self-fertile, but for best pollination, plant more than one cultivar. Blueberries are "one of the fastest-growing horticultural industries in South Africa", said Pieter Zietsman, manager of fruit breeding company Top Fruit. To maintain a low PH level you’ll also need to hydrate with acidic water. Just be aware that growing blueberry plants in pots (or anywhere else) requires some patience. Blueberry plants can be planted as close as 60cm apart which will form a thick hedge after a couple of years, but in general most fields are planted using a plant spacing of 0.9m to 1.2m between plants with spacing between rows of 1.8m to 2.8m which would result in a plant density of 3000 to 6200 plants per hectare. Either strictly use only rainwater, or in a pinch, add a dash of vinegar to tap water. Trailing the Western Cape is Limpopo, accounting for 15% of production, then North West (10%), Gauteng (8%), Eastern Cape (4%), Free State (2%) and Mpumalanga (1%). Harvesting. Once the growing area is full, remove any new growth that emerges outside of it. Warding off heart disease. Blueberry plantings are relatively expensive compared to short term crops because of the higher initial investment, but they will remain productive for an extended duration and can provide an abundance of crop for more than 30 years. Delicious, Nutritious and Wholesome Brain Food. If the correct soil conditions are met, blueberries are easy to grow, require little care, are resilient against pests and diseases and will provide you with an abundance of highly nutritional fruit for many decades. Ensure that the operation is optimised for profitability and success are normally too alkaline when decomposed, contains and. 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