Vaccinium (corymbosum)

John M. Englert USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Bldg. 509, BARC - East, E. Beaver Dam Road Beltsville, Maryland 20705 (301) 504-8175 (301) 504-8741 (fax) john.englert@wdc.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mdpmc/

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Family Scientific Name:	Ericaceae
Family Common Name:	Heath Family
Scientific Name:	Vaccinium corymbosum L.
Common Name:	highbush blueberry
Species Code:	VACCOR
Ecotype:	Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, National Capital Parks-East Oxon Run Parkway
General Distribution:	V. corymbosum is found from Nova Scotia to Michigan, south to New Jersey, Pennsylvania,Ohio and Indiana.It is found in swamps, bogs and moist woods.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	2-gallon size
Time To Grow:	3 Years
Target Specifications:	Height: 24-36" for 2-gallon container plants<br> Root System: Fine fibrous roots grow in a defined clump. Roots may not fill deeper pots.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit was collected in late July and August.
Propagule Processing:	Ripe berries were chilled at 50F for a few days then macerated in a food blender. Pulp was passed through 1651 and 1191 mesh and seed was collected on 833 and 595 mesh. Seeds were air-dried at room temperature for 4 days and then stored. Storage: Cleaned seed is stored in sealed containers in a cooler at 40F and 30% relative humidity. Vaccinium seed remains viable under cool dry storage for around 12 years. (USDA, 1974) Seeds/Kg: Estimated at 2,100,000. Germination: Untested. In 1998, germination was about 300 seedlings per gram of seed sown. Purity: Undetermined.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	None indicated.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In March 2001, we propagated four ericaceous species from seed in an unused office with little to no natural light and had excellent results. Seeds are mixed with talc (1 part seed to 4 to 8 parts talc) and sifted (surface sown) on top of a 4:2:1 mix of screened horticultural peat, sand and perlite. Dolomitic lime (~40 grams per cubic foot of mix) can be added to prevent excessive drops in pH. Slow release fertilizer or micronutrients are not added because of possibile toxic reactions at low pH. The trays were placed in solid-bottomed carrying flatsand set on benches under fluorescent lights set about 4" to 8" above the trays. 24 hours of light were provided until germination was complete. Germination occurred within 2 weeks Trays were hand-misted or bottom-watered and covered with plastic domes to conserve humidity. Media must not be allowed to dry out or crust over; hover trays must not be allowed to stand in water. Room temperature was kept at about 68-72F. Seedling germination and growth were greatly improved over previous years in the greenhouse, with minimal mortality, no stunting and no leaf necrosis.
Establishment Phase:	Seedlings were kept under fluorescent lights set at 4-6" above vegetation and regulated by timers to 16 hours daylight. Seedlings were ready for bumpups to 2" pots in June. By August, many were ready for quarts. Around 500 ericaceous seedlings were successfully germinated in a very small space. At approximately 90 days post germination, seedlings with 2 leaves are pricked off in small clumps and spaced in new 4 x 4" trays or in 2" pots. Roots may extend to the bottom of the germination trays and have to be teased apart. Seedlings were fertilized approximately bi-weekly with 1/3 strength water-soluble acidic fertilizer.
Active Growth Phase:	2" pots are bumped up to quarts, and one-half, 1-gallon and 2-gallon containers when needed. It takes about 3.5 years to reach 2 gallon size. Transplant mix for 2" pots is 1:1 Sunshine #1 Mix and horticultural peat. Transplant mix for quarts and up: 1:1:1 mix of Sunshine #1, peat and fine pinebark with 180-day slow release Nutricote (18-6-8) at the lowest rates.
Hardening Phase:	Seedlings in 2" pots are moved from the germination bench to a cooler, shaded corner of the greenhouse out of direct sunlight. We use shade cloth, since the seedlings are coming from artificial lighting and are very tender. They can be burned by direct sunlight or high temperatures. <br> Quart sized plants are moved outside to a protected location under shade cloth when weather permits and are hand watered. Larger containers are moved to the container nursery shade house. Irrigation is reduced in the fall as plants go dormant.<br> 3 year old vaccinium container plants are experiencing leaf drop and stem dieback. Symptoms started when containers were moved to the outdoor shade house with overhead irrigation. Suggest drip irrigation or bottom watering and allowing media to dry between waterings.<br>
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Quart and half gallon containers are overwintered in a cold storage room at 40F. Larger container plants are overwintered outdoors under microfoam. Dead leaves and debris are removed from containers of dormant plants prior to storage. They are then watered, overlapped on their sides on weed barrier fabric and covered with a blanket of microfoam and white plastic. Rodenticide baits are placed at intervals under the blanket, which is then anchored with rope and rebar. Storage: December to March
Length of Storage:	4 months
References:	Brown, Russell G. and Melvin L. Brown. 1992. Woody Plants of Maryland. Port City Press, Baltimore, MD. Dirr, Michael A. and Charles W. Heuser, Jr. 1987. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Varsity Press, Inc., Athens GA. Gleason, Henry A. and Arthur Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. 2nd. Edition. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. USDA-NRCS National Plant Materials Center. Woody bed and container nursery plant records. Unpublished

Citation:

Davis, Kathy; King, Brandy; Kujawski, Jennifer. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Vaccinium corymbosum L. plants 2-gallon size; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.