Global production of blueberries has doubled in the last decade - why are these delicious berries so popular and how can we grow our own?
July 13, 2023
Global production of blueberries has doubled in the last decade - why are these delicious berries so popular and how can we grow our own?
It is officially blueberry season! These delectable berries have captured the taste buds of millions of people around the world, with the global production of blueberries doubling in the last decade. That equates to over one million metric tonnes of blueberries being grown every year! But lies behind this surge in demand? And how do we cultivate our own batch? In this blog post, we’ll explore the answer to these questions and give you our top tips for growing your own blueberry stash.
Why are blueberries so popular?
Superfood
One of the reasons blueberries have grown in popularity is their new status as a ‘superfood’. These tiny berries have been proven to provide 24% of your daily intake of Vitamin C, 36% of your daily intake of vitamin K and 25% of your daily intake of manganese which all help to promote muscle and bone growth. As well as this, blueberries are a powerful antioxidant proven to reduce stress, manage cholesterol and lower blood pressure - sign us up!
Online Trends
Another reason why blueberries have become so popular in recent years is the massive social buzz surrounding them. Blueberry recipes, fashion trends incorporating the fruit’s signature colour, and nutritive facts are becoming viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, in fact, online social conversations surrounding blueberries have risen by 20% this year alone. Some recent trends include, Blueberry Protein pancakes, Blueberry milk nail art, and ‘blueberry girls’ who wear blueberry clothing exclusively. Who knew these little berries could be so popular!
Versatility
Another reason why blueberries are so beloved by millions is because of their versatility. Blueberries can be used in a variety of recipes from cheesecakes to barbeque sauces, they are used to add a unique flavour and sweetness to both sweet and savoury dishes.
Want to grow your own? Here’s how!
Optimise your soil
Despite adding sweetness to the dishes, blueberry plants require very acidic soil to thrive. Before planting your blueberries, check your soil pH so that it is in the range of pH level 4 or 5. More acidity can be added using a sulphur powder or pellets.
Water Well
Blueberry plants require a lot of water to stay hydrated. An easy way to ensure your plant is always watered is using a water drip. This allows the plant to be watered regularly without being waterlogged.
Pruning your plant
Pruning is vital in keeping your blueberry plant healthy. Dead, diseased or damaged stems should be removed to allow your plant to focus its energy on growing its fruit.
Harvesting the fruits of your labour
Growing blueberries requires patience as it often can take at least a year for fruit to appear on the plant. The berries will begin to ripen in mid-to-late summer, changing from a green colour to a dusty blue once ready to be harvested. Blueberries often do not all ripen at the same time, so picking the berries should be done periodically throughout the blueberry season.
It’s clear that blueberries are super popular fruits that take time and patience to grow. Here at Prograss Bio, we know how time consuming and tedious caring for healthy plants can be. This is why we decided to create a range of products to make growing strong and durable grass easy, without the usual hassle required with maintaining high quality grass lawns. Visit our product page to find out more!
