Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with the Chandler blueberry live plant. This offering includes 3 vigorous starter plugs of the ‘Chandler’ blueberry, a premium Northern Highbush variety. Known scientifically as Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Chandler’, this plant is highly prized by home gardeners and commercial growers alike for its outstanding fruit quality and generous yields. The ‘Chandler’ blueberry stands out for producing some of the largest blueberries available, often reaching the size of a quarter, making them a delightful treat right off the bush or perfect for baking and preserves. These live plants are ready to establish themselves in your garden, promising years of abundant harvests of these sweet, juicy berries. Cultivating a large blueberry plant like ‘Chandler’ not only provides a bounty of fruit but also adds ornamental value to your landscape with its attractive white spring blossoms and vibrant fall foliage.

The ‘Chandler’ blueberry is a robust and upright shrub, making it a good choice for various garden settings, from dedicated fruit patches to mixed borders. Its adaptability and impressive fruit production make it a must-have for anyone looking to grow their own berries. With proper care, these Chandler blueberry live plant starter plugs will quickly mature into productive bushes, allowing you to enjoy fresh, home-grown blueberries. The prolonged fruiting period is a significant advantage, ensuring a steady supply of berries over several weeks during the summer.

Key Benefits

Investing in a Chandler blueberry live plant offers numerous advantages, from bountiful harvests to aesthetic appeal:

• Exceptionally Large Berries: The ‘Chandler’ variety is famous for producing some of the biggest blueberries you can grow, often described as quarter-sized. These substantial berries are perfect for eating fresh, baking, or freezing. Enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own impressive fruit.
• Extended Harvest Season: Unlike many blueberry varieties with a short harvest window, the ‘Chandler’ boasts a remarkably long harvest blueberry season, typically lasting up to six weeks from mid-July to mid-August. This extended period ensures a continuous supply of fresh fruit.
• Vigorous Growth & High Yields: This Northern Highbush blueberry is a vigorous grower, developing into a robust, upright shrub that is highly productive. Expect generous yields of delicious fruit once established, making it a rewarding addition to any edible garden.
• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond its fruit-bearing capabilities, the ‘Chandler’ blueberry is an attractive plant. It features delicate white, bell-shaped flowers in the spring, which are followed by the developing berries. In the fall, its foliage transforms into beautiful shades of red and orange, adding seasonal color to your landscape.
• Excellent Flavor Profile: The large berries are not just impressive in size; they also offer a superb, sweet, and tangy flavor that is characteristic of premium Northern Highbush blueberries. Freshness from your garden ensures the best taste experience.
• Disease Resistance: This robust variety generally exhibits good resistance to common blueberry diseases, contributing to its ease of care and reliable performance in the garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your Chandler blueberry live plant thrives and produces abundant fruit, understanding its specific care requirements is essential. Blueberries, including Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Chandler’, prefer acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. If your garden soil is not naturally acidic, you’ll need to amend it with peat moss, sulfur, or a specific acid-loving plant fertilizer. Good drainage is also crucial, so consider raised beds or containers if your native soil is heavy clay. Plant your starter plugs in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal berry production.

Watering is key, especially during dry spells and when the plant is establishing. Blueberries have shallow root systems and require consistent moisture, but they dislike soggy conditions. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Mulching with pine needles, wood chips, or shredded leaves can help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain soil acidity. Fertilize in early spring with a slow-release, acid-forming fertilizer formulated for blueberries or other acid-loving plants. Avoid fertilizers containing nitrates, which can be harmful to blueberries. Pruning should begin after the first few years to encourage new growth and fruit production. Remove dead or weak canes, and thin out older, less productive canes to allow light and air into the bush.

The Northern Highbush blueberry ‘Chandler’ is generally hardy in USDA Zones 5-8. While it is a self-fertile variety and will produce fruit with a single plant, planting another Northern Highbush blueberry nearby can significantly increase cross-pollination and lead to even larger yields. Protect young plants from birds with netting as the berries begin to ripen. Keeping the area around your large blueberry plant weed-free will reduce competition for nutrients and water, contributing to its overall health and productivity. Monitoring for pests and diseases is also important, though ‘Chandler’ is known for its general vigor and resilience.

Size & Details

This product includes 3 Chandler Blueberry Starter Plug live plants, each ready for transplanting into your garden or larger containers. These starter plugs are young, healthy plants with established root systems, providing a strong foundation for future growth. The ‘Chandler’ variety is known for its robust and upright growth habit, typically maturing to a height of 5-6 feet and a similar spread, creating a substantial and productive bush. With its long harvest blueberry season, you can anticipate enjoying fresh fruit for an extended period each summer, usually from mid-July to mid-August, lasting up to six weeks.

Each plug represents the beginning of a magnificent Vaccinium corymbosum Chandler plant that will grow to produce exceptionally large, flavorful berries. These plants are shipped bare root with no pot, carefully prepared to ensure their health during transit. Upon arrival, it is recommended to plant them promptly in their desired location or pot them up temporarily to allow them to acclimate. The vigorous nature of this large blueberry plant ensures it will establish quickly and begin to develop into a mature, fruit-bearing specimen within a few seasons, offering years of delicious harvests.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does a Chandler blueberry live plant get? A: A mature ‘Chandler’ blueberry bush typically reaches a height and spread of 5-6 feet. Its vigorous, upright growth habit makes it a substantial and productive plant in the garden.
• Q: What is a starter plug? A: A starter plug is a young plant that has been grown in a small, individual cell, allowing it to develop a strong, self-contained root system. This makes it easy to transplant with minimal shock and encourages rapid establishment.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Northern Highbush blueberry need? A: For optimal fruit production, ‘Chandler’ blueberries require full sun, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for berry development and flavor.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these blueberry starter plugs? A: The best time to plant blueberry starter plugs is typically in early spring or fall, when temperatures are moderate. This allows the plant to establish its root system before extreme heat or cold.
• Q: Do I need more than one ‘Chandler’ blueberry plant for fruit? A: While the ‘Chandler’ blueberry is self-fertile and will produce fruit with a single plant, planting another Northern Highbush blueberry variety nearby can significantly improve cross-pollination and result in larger, more consistent yields.
• Q: What kind of soil does Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Chandler’ prefer? A: This variety thrives in acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. It also requires well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Amending with peat moss or specific acidifiers may be necessary.
• Q: How long until my large blueberry plant produces fruit? A: While young plants may produce a small amount of fruit in their first year, it typically takes 2-3 years for a ‘Chandler’ blueberry bush to begin producing a significant harvest. Full production is usually seen by year 4-5.
• Q: Is this a long harvest blueberry variety? A: Yes, the ‘Chandler’ blueberry is renowned for its extended harvest season, which can last for up to six weeks, typically from mid-July to mid-August, providing a prolonged period of fresh berries.
• Q: How should I water my new blueberry plants? A: Blueberries need consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, as they have shallow roots. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged.
• Q: What USDA hardiness zones are suitable for the ‘Chandler’ blueberry? A: The ‘Chandler’ Chandler blueberry live plant is generally hardy and suitable for growing in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, making it adaptable to a wide range of climates.