Blueberries have never been more popular. British shoppers consume a whopping 57,000 tonnes of them annually and over half of us have them lurking in our fridge ready to pimp up our porridge or be doled out to chubby-fisted toddlers.
Sales-wise, these juicy gems make more money than apples and pears combined, and outsell oranges three to one. With purchases up 40% in the past three years, it's estimated that if this trajectory continues, we'll be spending more than £1 billion(!) on blueberries annually.
Pound-for-pound, blueberries are one of the most expensive fruits on supermarket shelves – not to mention that many are grown in far-flung locations like South America, meaning the blue fruit isn't very green in terms of air miles. With this in mind, here's how you can turn a purchased punnet into bushes of your own in the garden, saving on your shop in the process...
More grow your own guides:
- 5 tomato growing secrets every gardener should know
- 5 vegetables to plant in March for an early summer harvest
Easy freeze-y
Gardening guru Simon Akeroyd, author of Grow Your Groceries, suggests popping a punnet of blueberries in your freezer for a few weeks to 'stratify' (for the uninitiated, that means stimulating natural conditions that the seeds must experience before germination can occur).
After a fortnight or so, defrost your blueberries and extract the tiny seeds (using a trusty kitchen knife should do the trick). Leave them on a flat surface, like a plate, to dry overnight.
Sow your seeds
The following day, fill a container (this is a great opportunity to recycle some plastic packaging) with soil.
According to the RHS, blueberries must be grown in acidic (ericaceous) soil or ericaceous potting compost, ideally with a pH of 4.5–5.5 (you can buy soil testing kits cheaply online). Sprinkle seeds over the surface and leave on a sunny windowsill. You should notice seedlings sprouting within 4-8 weeks.
Out into the garden
Initially, your seedlings will resemble blades of grass – once they have 2-3 sets of leaves, and are about 5cm high, the plants are ready to be re-potted into larger containers with the same acidic soil. This can happen between 6-12 months from first planting, so keep your eyes peeled for signs of growth. In the autumn, seedlings are ready to be planted in your garden - the RHS recommends choosing a sheltered spot, in sun or light shade.
It may take 2-3 years for your blueberry bushes to fully establish, but once they have, they can keep producing fruit for half a century.
