Vaccinium tenellum, the small black blueberry, is a plant species native to the southeastern United States from southeastern Mississippi to northern Florida to southern Virginia. It grows in forests and in shrubby areas at elevations up to 200 m.Â
I. Appearance and CharacteristicsÂ
Vaccinium tenellum, the small black blueberry, is a plant species native to the southeastern United States from southeastern Mississippi to northern Florida to southern Virginia. It grows in forests and in shrubby areas at elevations up to 200 m.
Vaccinium tenellum is a deciduous shrub up to 80 cm tall, often forming large colonies. Leaves are elliptic, up to 4 cm long. Flowers are white or pale pink, cylindrical, up to 10 mm long. Fruits are very dark blue, almost black, about 7 mm across.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The small black blueberry is a full sun plant. Insufficient sunlight affects its flowering and fruiting. When selecting a growing location, try to avoid placing your plants near large trees. The tree crown coverage not only affects light, but also reduces air circulation, making diseases much more likely.
Temperature
The small black blueberry has many cultivated species that have a wide adaptability to different temperatures. However, cold temperatures (T < 7 ℃) during dormancy are vital to helping them bloom the following year. The Lowbush Blueberry and the Northern High Blueberry usually need more than 800 to 1000 chill hours in an environment below 7 ℃. The Rabbiteye small black blueberry from the south also needs around 350 to 700 hours. It is important to pay attention to cold resistance and chill hours when selecting varieties.
The small black blueberry has a fibrous root system with shallow root distribution. Like other Ericaceae species, its roots with symbiotic fungi absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Therefore, the small black blueberry is neither drought-resistant nor flood-resistant, and requires careful adjustment of soil moisture.
Watering
Originating from moist, well-drained soils in its native habitat, small black blueberry thrives with consistent moisture and demonstrates a preference for environments that mimic the humidity of a forest understorey. This species exhibits a moderate drought tolerance but flourishes best when provided with regular hydration, ideally watering every week.Â
As an understory plant often found in woodland settings, small black blueberry is typically grown outdoors where it benefits from natural rainfall patterns and dappled light which contribute to its water needs. Its growth cycle is attuned to seasonal rain distribution, making it adept at maximizing water uptake during peak periods.
Soil
Because the wild blueberries mostly grows on the edges of forests, they are accustomed to the acidic soil formed by dead branches and fallen leaves.Loose, acid soil (pH 3.8-5.5) with a good drainage performance and plenty of humus is best, with the optimum pH value being 4.5. Sandy soil and sandy loam are also preferred.
Soil acidity can be adjusted to cater to the small black blueberry. If the pH of your soil is between 5.5 and 7.0, sphagnum peat can be applied at a 10 to 15 cm thickness into the 0 to 150 mm top-layer of soil, before being fully mixed in. Sphagnum peat not only improves soil acidity, but also significantly increases the content of humus. If the pH of your soil is higher than 7.0, a raised ridge bed can be built and filled with soil that has the correct acidity. Back-filling soil should be 20 to 30 cm higher than the ground plane, and all roots must be covered in the soil layer below 0 to 150 mm.
Fertilizing
For healthy growth and abundant fruiting of small black blueberry, incorporate a balanced fertilizer during spring and shift to high-nitrogen blends for vigorous foliage. Fertilize monthly using half the recommended strength to avoid overfertilization. During dormancy in winter, halt feeding. Use a slow-release formula or diluted liquid fertilizer, ensuring even soil distribution. Optimize dosage per label, factoring in small black blueberry’s size and age. Periodic soil testing helps tailor the fertilizer regimen for small black blueberry, ensuring optimal plant vigor and yield.
Planting Instructions
Planting requirements for the small black blueberry differ between varieties. Ideally, use bag seedlings that are two to three years old when planting a small black blueberry, with the diameter of the base of the main stem being more than 5 mm.
If garden centers provide bare-root seedlings, these can be stored in a damp and dark environment before planting to keep them in dormancy. The criterion of “dampness” is that the roots must be kept moist, but not fully saturated. Ideal planting time is usually late winter or early spring, before the plant starts sprouting new buds. Soak the roots of bare-root seedlings in water for 3 or 4 hours before planting.
Two or more plants of different species, with the same fluorescence, can be planted at the same time. Pollination between different plants can increase the fruit setting rate, as well as the single fruit weight. For species with a larger plant shape, the spacing should be appropriately increased.
If you are planting a small black blueberry into a pot, place this in a shaded and well-ventilated room for a week, before moving it outdoors and resuming with normal care. If on sloping land, avoid planting in locations where cold air stagnates, so that the plant is protected from frost during flowering. Adequate irrigation should also be carried out after planting. Maintain an organic mulch at a thickness of 5 to 10 cm throughout the year after planting.
A mulch such as broken wood sawdust, peat, pine needles and fallen leaves can help maintain soil acidity. As acidic organic matter degrades every year, the pH value of your soil needs annual monitoring, with adjustments as needed. Once the pH value of the soil is higher than 5.5, the small black blueberry roots cannot absorb iron, meaning that the edges of leaves will lose their green color and turn red.
Growth will be stunted, and the plant could even die. An acid peat soil mixture, while useful, takes effect slowly. If there are signs of an iron deficiency during the growing season, a chelated iron foliar fertilizer can be sprayed and a sulfur powder can be used to adjust the pH value of the soil.
Pruning
Pruning of young plants: After planting, for the first two or three years, the flower buds should be completely removed in the spring. This will promote growth, improve lifespan and boost future fruit yield. Pinch off any spindly shoots during the growing season to increase the number of sprouting lateral branches, so as to expand the tree crown.
Fruiting plant pruning: From the third year after planting, the small black blueberry should be pruned each year, before the sprouting of new buds in early spring. The annual branch bears fruits, and the stronger the branch is, the more fruits it bears. For mature plants, each cluster should retain 4 to 6 stems and 1 or 2 new branches each year, keeping the tree uniform and well-ventilated.
Because of the plant’s slow growth, pruning should be conservative. Excessive pruning will greatly affect the amount of fruits produced. Small black blueberry has both creeping and erect branches, and the erect should be retained as much as possible when pruning.
Propagation
Small black blueberry, with its distinctive sweet berries and adaptability, thrives with proper care. Propagation via cuttings is successful when selecting healthy, vigorous shoots. Ensure cuttings are taken from the growth of the current season for optimal rooting. Preparation involves making a clean cut below a node, dipping the end into a rooting hormone, and placing it in well-draining soil under high humidity conditions. Consistent moisture without waterlogging is key to encouraging root development and establishing strong new plants.
III. Harvesting and Storage
The small black blueberry fruiting period can last for several weeks. Fruit ripens when its surface turns bluish black. Due to inconsistent ripening of fruits, they should be harvested in batches. Harvest once every 2 or 3 days in full fruit period, and once every 3 or 4 days in both the initial and final fruit period, completing your harvest before the frost.
Gloves (finger sleeves) should be worn when picking fruits to avoid damaging them, which would affect their appearance and storage potential. When picking ripe fruits, gently hold the berries and tweak them clockwise to keep the peel intact. This will also help to prolong their storage period.
