THE reports of food shortages abated as spring arrived across Europe, but climate change, Brexit and the impact of war in Ukraine on energy prices mean the next scare story can't be too far off.
One off-season fruit among those recently impacted was blueberries, a food that was once rare in Irish shops but is now commonplace. Promoted as a 'superfood' alongside fish, nuts and legumes, blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, with soluble fibre that’s good for the digestive system.
They’re also rich in phytochemicals, an antioxidant that helps protect the body against a host of diseases. You can understand why they're in such demand, and why that demand can often outstrip supply.
"A perfect storm," is how one supplier characterised the recent scarcity. The South American season ended early, while growers in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain were lagging behind due to a colder than usual early spring. Poland, the other major source of European blueberries, has a much later season.
The prospect of replacing supermarket-bought blueberries with home-grown would represent a major challenge to any gardener, demanding not only extra acreage but much of it under cover.
Nevertheless, there's no reason why hobby gardeners shouldn't enjoy a reasonable harvest for a few weeks a year, in the same manner as strawberries or raspberries.
Blueberry (Vaccinium corybosum) can be reasonably expensive to buy, with quality plants costing anything from £15 upwards. It's very possible you'll also require a good sized container or pot to grow it in, unless you have acid soil. Similar to the Acer featured in last week's column, they are ericaceous plants, which means they like soil with a pH of between 4 and 5.5, similar to that which rhododendrons and camellias like.
As discussed here last week, it is possible to lower the pH level of soil by adding sulphur or such like but if your ground isn’t suitable, raising the plants in pots filled with (peat-free) ericaceous compost is much more practicable. As with all container gardening, regular watering is essential. In areas where the water is hard (more alkaline) it's recommended to avoid using tap water, as this will raise the pH level. Harvesting rainwater in a butt nearby is therefore worth considering if faced with such conditions. Planting at least two different varieties of blueberry is recommended to ensure cross-pollination. While a single bush will produce fruit, yields will be higher and the fruits bigger if more than one plant is grown.
Position the containers in full sun, though they will tolerate light shade, leaving around 1.5 metre between each plant. Pre-empt them becoming the neighbourhood blackbird's lunch by including a framework that'll support a net to protect your crop. It shouldn’t be necessary to prune young plants, but as it matures, ensure the bush’s centre is open to increase airflow and minimise the threat from pests and diseases. The shape you’re looking to achieve should look something like a wine glass. Recommended varieties are ‘Chandler’, known for large and plentiful fruit, and ‘Spartan’, which has a relatively long cropping period and carries an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
‘Duke’ has good yields and flavour, while the large-fruited ‘Nelson’ is one of a number of self-fertile varieties, the heavy-cropping, miniature-sized ‘Tophat’ being another.
