Bluecrop Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluecrop' | 1L Plant
IMPORTANT PICKUP INFORMATION
THIS ITEM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON APRIL 25, 2026, FROM 9:30 AM TO 12:30 PM AT GREENVALE VINEYARDS, PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND.
There is no delivery option for your seedling pre-order. You must pick up your plant yourself on the seedling sale date. Any seedlings not picked up will be considered a donation to ERICD's educational farm program.
What You'll Receive:
One (1) Bluecrop Blueberry in a 1-liter pot - a healthy, well-rooted plant ready to establish in your garden and produce delicious berries for decades to come.
The gold standard of blueberry cultivation! Introduced in 1952, Bluecrop has earned its reputation as the most reliable and widely-grown blueberry variety worldwide. This mid-season producer yields abundant crops of large, firm, light-blue berries with excellent flavor—consistently rated among the best-tasting varieties. Beyond fruit production, Bluecrop offers year-round ornamental value: delicate white bell-shaped flowers in spring, lush green summer foliage, and brilliant red-orange fall color. Exceptional disease resistance and cold hardiness make it perfect for New England gardens. The cross-pollination benefit of planting both our Blue Crop and Blue Ray Blueberry plants together also means MORE flowers = MORE pollinator support = MORE berries for birds AND you!
Outstanding Features:
Commercial Gold Standard: The most widely planted blueberry variety in the world, proven over 70+ years of cultivation. Consistently reliable yields year after year.
Superior Fruit Quality: Large, firm berries (0.6-0.7 inches) with excellent sweet flavor, attractive sky-blue color, and small picking scars. Perfect for fresh eating and baking.
Exceptional Disease Resistance: Outstanding resistance to mummy berry, stem canker, and other common blueberry diseases. More reliable than many other varieties.
Cold Hardy Champion: Thrives in zones 4-7, tolerating winter temperatures to -20°F. Perfect for harsh New England winters!
High Yields: Mature bushes produce 15-20 pounds of berries annually. Mid-season ripening (July) extends your harvest window when paired with early and late varieties.
Plant Specifications:
Mature Size: 4-6 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide (upright, spreading habit) Light: Full sun (8+ hours ideal, minimum 6 hours for good production) Soil pH: 4.5-4.8 (acidic) — CRITICAL for success!
Pollination: Self-fertile but produces larger berries and higher yields with cross-pollination. Plant with Blueray for best results!
Harvest: Mid-season (July in New England)
Hardiness: Zones 4-7 (perfect for Rhode Island and Massachusetts)
Growing Instructions:
FIRST YEAR CARE - CRITICAL: Remove ALL flower buds the first year by pinching them off in spring. This allows the plant to establish strong roots instead of fruiting. It's hard to do, but essential for long-term success! You'll be rewarded with much larger harvests in subsequent years.
Spacing: Plant 4-5 feet apart in rows, with 10-12 feet between rows for easy picking and good air circulation.
Soil Preparation:
Blueberries REQUIRE acidic soil (pH 4.5-4.8). New England soils are often naturally acidic, but test yours! If pH is too high, amend with elemental sulfur or use acidic mulches like pine needles. Improve drainage in heavy soils by planting on raised mounds.
Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and equally deep. Mix native soil with peat moss or compost. Plant at the same depth it grew in the pot. Water thoroughly. Apply 2-3 inches of acidic mulch (pine bark, pine needles) keeping it away from the stem.
Watering: Blueberries need consistent moisture, especially during fruit development and hot weather. Water deeply 1-2 times per week during dry spells. They have shallow roots—keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Fertilizing: Apply acidic fertilizer (for azaleas/rhododendrons) in early spring. Follow package directions—over-fertilizing causes more harm than under-fertilizing!
Cross-Pollination Benefits: While Bluecrop is self-fertile, planting with Blueray results in larger berries, ripening earlier, and yields up to 30% higher! The two varieties are excellent pollinators for each other.
Pruning: Minimal pruning needed for young plants. Starting in year 4-5, remove dead/damaged wood in late winter and thin oldest canes to maintain vigor.