Jersey Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Jersey’Jersey Blueberry is a long-established and highly productive northern highbush blueberry cultivar cherished by home gardeners and commercial growers alike for its consistent yields, reliable performance, and excellent berry quality. Originally developed to thrive in cool climates, Jersey remains one of the most dependable varieties for early- to mid-season blueberry harvests, offering flavorful, firm, medium-sized berries that are ideal for fresh eating, desserts, freezing, canning, and preserves.
In spring, Jersey produces abundant clusters of delicate white to pink-tinged bell-shaped flowers that attract bees and other beneficial pollinators, enhancing both fruit set and ecological diversity within the landscape. These blossoms give way to rich green foliage that bridges the gap to mid-summer fruiting. The berries typically start ripening in mid-summer, often a bit later than early varieties like Duke, making Jersey a great complement in a mixed blueberry patch for extending the harvest season.
Jersey’s berries are renowned for their classic blueberry character. They offer a pleasing balance of sweet and tangy that pleases both fresh-fruit lovers and cooks alike. The bushes themselves grow in a rounded upright form, usually reaching about 4–6 feet tall and wide at maturity, making them well-suited for edible borders, berry patches, hedges, or mixed perennial beds.
Adaptable and cold-hardy, Jersey performs reliably across USDA Hardiness Zones 4–7, making it an excellent choice throughout much of the northern United States and parts of the Mid-Atlantic where winters provide sufficient chill hours. Its solid disease resistance, dependable fruiting habit, and timely berry production make it a favorite cultivar for gardeners who want consistent harvests year after year.
Care Instructions:
Planting: Choose a site with full sun exposure (at least 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily) for best fruit production, foliage color, and overall vigor.
Soil: Plant in acidic, well-drained, fertile soil with a pH around 4.5–5.5. Blueberries require acidic conditions to thrive.
Watering: Water deeply and regularly during establishment and throughout dry periods. Maintain evenly moist soil without waterlogging.
Fertilizing: Apply an acid-forming, slow-release fertilizer designed for blueberries or other acid-loving plants in early spring before new growth begins.
Mulching: Spread a 2–3″ layer of organic mulch (pine bark, pine needles, etc.) around the base to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Keep mulch a few inches away from stems.
Pruning: Prune annually in late winter or early spring while dormant to remove dead wood, open the canopy, and encourage vigorous new fruiting canes.
Spacing: Space plants 4–6 ft apart to allow room for mature growth and good airflow.
Maintenance: Monitor soil pH and moisture levels, mulch annually, and prune as needed to maintain plant health and productivity.
Pollinator Required: No. This shrub is self-fertile and can set fruit without another cultivar, but planting another blueberry variety with overlapping bloom times (such as Bluecrop, Duke, or Patriot) can improve yields.
Whether planted in rows with companion cultivars or on its own in a sunny edible garden, Jersey Blueberry adds both ornamental and edible value to landscapes and delivers a satisfying mid-season yield.
