Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries of the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae), native to North America.   The fruit is considered very healthy, rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, iron and a number of antioxidants and fatty acids.  Blueberries are often consumed fresh or processed and have a high demand in the USA and EU. Recently, the fruit was also introduced in China. The blueberry plants are deciduous shrubs that vary in size according to the species.

 

Lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) can reach up to 60 cm tall, while the highbush (V. corymbosum) cultivars can reach up to 4 meters tall. The plant's leaves are elliptical and arranged alternately along the stems. The plants produce clusters of small urn-shaped flowers that range in color from white to pale pink. The blueberry fruits are classified as true berries with many small seeds.  Blueberries are divided into four types: highbush, lowbush, hybrid half-high and rabbiteye species, which vary in their fruit color (from blue to purple), size, flavor, season and cold resistance.

 

The most commonly planted blueberry is the highbush species that fulfill the main breeding goals, e.g., better yields, wider climate adjustments, pest\disease resistance, etc. Blueberry plants cannot be planted everywhere and has special agronomic requirements, such as low pH and sensitivity to salinity (EC), limiting the areas available for growing. As this is the case, growing blueberries in substrate became the primary practice for this crop. Accurate growing and precise irrigation can contribute to better yields and high fruit quality, with an almost year-round supply.