Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ is a type of edible blueberry plant named for how pink its fruits are when they first appear. They are known for being very compact, and for producing fruit quickly. This makes them popular with gardeners in cooler climates where there is less time for the fruit to ripen and be harvested.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
The Pink Lemonade (Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’) is a unique blueberry bush hybrid called rabbiteye. There are four types of blueberry plants: northern highbush, southern highbush, rabbiteye, and lowbush. Northern highbush blueberries are hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 7 and bear large fruits. Southern highbush blueberries bear large fruits while hardy in Zones 7 through 10.
Lowbush blueberries, bearing smaller fruits, have more of a groundcover growth habit and are popular in colder zones. Rabbiteye varieties are more compact and can be grown in most zones except those with extreme temperatures.
Hardy in Zones 4 through 8 and sometimes 9, pink lemonade blueberry bushes produce well in cold climates and areas with mild winters. In spring, pinkish white, bell-shaped flowers attract butterflies and form pale green berries. While all “blueberries” are actually pale pink before they ripen, this variety matures a pinkish-red in mid-summer. The larger crop typically comes mid to late summer, followed by a smaller crop steadily through October.
Many gardeners and fruit lovers say the pink lemonade blueberries taste twice as sweet as regular blueberries, both of which are high in antioxidants. Glossy foliage turns golden yellow to bright orange to deep burgundy color in fall, giving way to reddish-brown twigs in winter. It grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Pink Lemonade blueberry will grow in semi-shade but does best with six hours or more of sun; otherwise, it will get leggy in the shade and won’t produce as much fruit.
Temperature and Humidity
Blueberry Pink Lemonade is a rabbiteye blueberry; this type is more compact. Rabbiteye blueberries also have lower cold requirements; Pink Lemonade, for example, only requires 300 hours of temperature below 45 degrees F, while other rabbiteyes need about 500-1,000 hours.
Watering
Water regularly, two to three times per week in the first season after planting. Then water at least once per week unless there is heavy rain. Water more often in extreme heat or drought. Keep in mind that plants grown in pots will require more frequent watering.
Soil
Pink lemonade blueberry bushes prefer well-drained, organically rich, acidic soil. with a ph of 4.5 to 5.5. Plant in a sheltered site and add four to six inches of good organic mulch to retain moisture and cool the roots. Pine needles, oak leaves, and cotton seed meal are all good choices to help acidify the soil. Avoid areas where water might collect after rain, or plant the shrub on a mound to encourage the good drainage needed by the plant’s shallow, fibrous roots. If the soil is not naturally acidic, mix one cubic foot of peat moss into the planting site.
If you plan to grow your shrub in a pot, choose a good size pot starting out to allow room for the roots. Use a high quality soiless mix and add sand and/or peat moss. You can also add compost right into the potting mix. You can bring the pots indoors or move them into a garage or outdoor building if cold temperatures become extreme. If left outdoors to overwinter add leaves and other organic mulch to the pot to protect the roots.
Fertilizing
Compost is the best thing for fertilizing blueberries. However, if plants need a fertilizer boost, use a minimal amount of product for acid-loving plants each spring.
Planting Instruction
Plant Pink Lemonade blueberry in the early spring; April or May is optimal whether nursery plants or bare root specimens. If you need to amend the soil, do so about 4 weeks before planting.
Dig a hole twice as deep and wide as the plant’s container or root ball. Make sure the hole is large enough to accommodate the roots and cover them with at least 3 to 4 inches of soil. Place your plant in the center and backfill the hole with soil, tamping down as you work to remove any air pockets. Water thoroughly and add a layer of organic mulch to keep the soil evenly moist.
Space about 24 to 36 inches apart if you are growing them as a hedge or up to 6 feet apart if you are growing individual plants.
Pruning
Pink Lemonade blueberry produces fruit on two- to three-year-old branches; anything older should be removed. To obtain the best harvest, regularly prune these blueberry plants to remove that older growth.
Propagation
To propagate Pink Lemonade blueberry, use semi-ripe cuttings taken in the summer or late-spring softwood cuttings. Using sharp shears, take a new shoot cutting (about 4 to 6 inches long) from a slightly woody stem. Cut at a 45-degree angle and remove all the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. Stick the cut end into a grow pot to be placed in a sheltered area that remains around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and receives some indirect sunlight. Keep the soil surrounding the cutting evenly moist and it should take root in about 3 to 6 months. In the spring, rooted cuttings can be transplanted to a larger pot or nursery bed to grow until they are big enough to be moved to a more permanent location.
Potting and Repotting
Use a pot with plenty of room for Pink Lemonade blueberry to grow. Choose a weatherproof container that has excellent drainage. For young plants, you can start small and repot later as necessary. If you are planting a mature blueberry plant (or a bare-root shrub) stick with a container that is at least 24 inches deep and 24 inches wide.
Add a soilless mix, compost, and include peat moss as well. Make a hole in the soil that is twice the size of the original pot and place the plant in the hole at the same depth. Water it well and place it in an area that has full sun exposure. Keep the soil evenly moist and protect the container in a sheltered location during winter winds. If it gets too cold outdoors, bring the pots inside if possible. If not, add mulch and leaves to protect the plant’s roots.
If you need to transplant your blueberry shrub, it’s best to do so in the fall (after the plant has gone dormant) to diminish transplant shock. Water the plant well and moisten the soil in the new pot before starting. Remove the plant from its old container and brush off the old soil from the roots. Holding the plant in place in the new container, fill in the new container with fresh soil and tamp it down to remove any air pockets.
Pests and Diseases
Fortunately, there are no serious pest or disease issues. Even so, keep an eye out for vine weevil, powdery mildews, and chlorosis (yellowing of leaves occurring in high pH soils, signaling manganese and iron deficiencies). Birds and chipmunks do love this fruit and rabbit and deer will damage tender stems and leaves. If animals become an issue, cover and stake netting over the shrub especially as the fruit starts to ripen.
III. Uses and Benefits
Pink Lemonade blueberry is perfect for mixed shrub borders in city gardens, cottage gardens, or coastal gardens. Can be grown as a hedge or in containers. Great fruiting shrub with Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Harvest pink lemonade blueberries when the fruit is dark pink and starts to somewhat soften.
