Overview

Cultivate your own bountiful harvest with the Duke Blueberry live plant (Vaccinium corymbosum), a highly acclaimed northern highbush variety renowned for its exceptional reliability and delicious fruit. This particular plant is a favorite among gardeners for its dependability and the superior quality of its berries. The Duke variety is celebrated for its firm, mildly sweet fruit, consistent yields, and impressive cold hardiness, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of climates. Widely planted across North America, the Duke Blueberry is cherished by both commercial growers and home gardening enthusiasts who seek a rewarding and productive fruit-bearing shrub. When you receive your Duke Blueberry live plant, it will be potted in a 1 quart container, ready for planting, and will measure approximately 10-12 inches in height. This highbush blueberry is a robust and healthy specimen, carefully prepared for its journey to your garden. Its early ripening characteristic means you can enjoy fresh blueberries sooner than with many other varieties, perfect for eating fresh, baking, or freezing for later enjoyment.

Key Benefits

Choosing the Duke Blueberry for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, ensuring a delightful and productive experience. This remarkable variety stands out for several reasons, making it a top pick for fruit gardeners.

• Early Ripening: The Duke is one of the first varieties to produce fruit in the summer, allowing you to enjoy fresh blueberries sooner than most other types. This early ripening blueberry trait is highly valued by those eager for an early harvest.
• Heavy Yields: Expect consistent and generous production of medium to large-sized berries year after year. The reliable abundance makes it a highly productive addition to any fruit garden.
• Cold Hardy: Ideal for USDA Zones 4–7, this cold hardy blueberry variety can withstand colder temperatures, making it suitable for northern regions and ensuring its survival through winter.
• Mild, Sweet Flavor: The berries boast a delightful, mildly sweet flavor and a firm texture, making them excellent for fresh consumption, cooking, or long-term storage.
• Compact Growth: Maturing at a manageable height of 4-6 feet, the Duke Blueberry is versatile enough for in-ground planting, raised beds, or even container gardening on patios.
• Self-Fertile: While it will produce fruit on its own, planting another blueberry variety nearby can significantly improve cross-pollination and yield, leading to an even more abundant harvest from your Duke Blueberry live plant.
• Chemical-Free Growth: Your plant is grown without harsh chemicals, ensuring a healthier start and a more natural harvest for your family.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Duke Blueberry live plant is straightforward, and with the right conditions, it will thrive and reward you with delicious fruit. Blueberries require specific environmental factors to reach their full potential. First and foremost, ensure your plant receives full sun, meaning 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day. This amount of light is crucial for fruit production and overall plant health. When it comes to soil, blueberries are acid-loving plants. The ideal soil pH ranges from 4.5–5.5. The soil should also be well-drained and rich in organic matter. Amending your soil with peat moss, compost, or pine bark can help achieve the desired acidity and improve drainage. For new plantings, consider a raised bed if your native soil is heavy clay or too alkaline.

Consistent watering is essential, especially during dry spells and when the fruit is developing. Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged, as blueberries do not tolerate wet feet. Mulching with 2-3 inches of pine bark, wood chips, or pine needles will help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and contribute to soil acidity. When planting, space your highbush blueberry bushes 4-5 feet apart if growing in the ground to allow for adequate air circulation and growth. Fertilize your Duke Blueberry live plant in early spring with a fertilizer specifically formulated for acid-loving plants, following the product instructions carefully. Pruning should be done in late winter while the plant is dormant. This helps maintain shape, removes old or dead wood, and encourages new growth for better fruit production. Understanding these aspects of blueberry bush care will ensure a healthy, productive shrub.

Size & Details

Each purchase includes one healthy Duke Blueberry live plant, carefully selected and prepared for shipment. The plant arrives potted in a 1 quart nursery pot, providing a stable environment for its roots during transit and making it ready for immediate planting upon arrival. At the time of shipping, your Duke Blueberry bush will measure approximately 10–12 inches tall, an ideal size for establishing quickly in your garden or a larger container. This highbush blueberry variety is known for its moderate growth rate, eventually maturing to a compact size of 4–6 feet in height and spread, making it suitable for various garden layouts, including smaller spaces or patio containers. The Duke Blueberry typically begins to bear fruit within 1-2 years of planting, with increasing yields as it matures. Its robust root system and vigorous growth habit ensure a strong start and dependable performance in your landscape. This plant is grown chemical-free, ensuring you receive a natural and healthy specimen ready to produce delicious fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Duke Blueberry live plant typically matures to a compact size of 4-6 feet tall and wide, making it suitable for various garden spaces, including containers or garden beds.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Duke Blueberry is an outdoor plant, ideal for garden settings. It requires full sun and specific soil conditions that are best provided outdoors for optimal fruit production.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This highbush blueberry variety thrives in full sun, requiring a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce the best fruit yields and maintain plant health.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, with proper attention to its specific needs for acidic soil, consistent moisture, and adequate sunlight, the Duke Blueberry is considered a relatively easy plant to care for, even for beginners in blueberry bush care.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Duke Blueberry live plant will arrive healthy and securely packed in its 1 quart nursery pot, ready for planting. We ensure careful packaging to protect the plant during transit.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? A: Most Duke Blueberry bushes will begin to produce fruit within 1-2 years after planting, with yields increasing significantly in subsequent years as the plant establishes and matures. This early ripening blueberry offers a quick reward.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Duke Blueberry is a cold hardy blueberry, suitable for USDA Zones 4–7. If you are within these zones, it should successfully overwinter with proper care and mulching.
• Q: Does this variety require another blueberry plant for pollination? A: The Duke Blueberry is self-fertile, meaning it can produce fruit on its own. However, planting another blueberry variety nearby can significantly enhance cross-pollination and lead to even heavier yields.
• Q: What type of soil is best for this blueberry bush? A: This highbush blueberry requires acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. The soil should also be well-drained and rich in organic matter.
• Q: What is the best time to plant a Duke Blueberry bush? A: The best time to plant a Duke Blueberry bush is typically in early spring or fall, allowing the plant to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold.