North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Louisa Rogoff Thompson <louisathompson@erols.com>]

Jim,

I believe all blueberries require very acidic soil, but some of their close cousins, the huckleberries (Gaylussacia spp.) do not.  Around here, black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) grows along with blueberries in extremely acidic soil, but also grows in neutral soil if some other factor limits competition, and produces small but sweet berries.  This particular plant is a very low shrubby groundcover, about 6-12" tall and woody.  It's quite attractive, with silver-grey woody stems and exceptional fall foliage.   I believe it is found as far north as Newfoundland and Saskatchewan.  Also dangleberry, Gaylussacia frondosa, a much taller shrub (6-7'), has sweet, juicy fruit and grows as far north as southern New Hampshire.  I don't know if any true huckleberries (as opposed to Solanum spp.) are available from fruit nurseries.  If not, you could try native plant nurseries.

Louisa Thompson
Columbia, MD
Zone 7a

Message: 5
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 07:17:35 -0600
From: Jim Fruth <jfruth@uslink.net>
Subject: [NAFEX] Blueberry Question.........
To: <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: BE34AF8F.977%jfruth@uslink.net"><BE34AF8F.977%jfruth@uslink.net>
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    Has anyone ever invented a blueberry for the Northern grower that
doesn't require acidic soil?  My soil is sandy, calcareous and has a vast
buffering potential to where it is not only difficult to make acidic but it
won't stay that way.  If I'm to grow blueberries, the plants should desire a
pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.  Does such a blueberry exist?

Jim Fruth
Pequot Lakes, MN