{"product_id":"powder-blue-blueberry-vaccinium-virgatum-powder-blue","title":"Powder Blue Blueberry - Vaccinium virgatum 'Powder Blue'","description":"\u003cp\u003ePowder Blue Blueberry (\u003cem\u003eVaccinium virgatum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Powder Blue') is the tough rabbiteye for gardeners who want a big, late summer crop. It grows to 2m to 3m tall and 2m wide, flowers in spring and carries clusters of powder blue berries that ripen in time for Christmas. Red autumn colour and a hardy nature make it one of the more forgiving blueberries you can plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBerries for Christmas.\u003c\/strong\u003e A later fruiting season than most, so it extends the picking window when planted with earlier varieties.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTough and adaptable.\u003c\/strong\u003e Rabbiteyes handle climate variation better than highbush blueberries and need fewer cold hours, which makes Powder Blue a good choice for milder regions and the warmer states.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed autumn colour.\u003c\/strong\u003e The foliage turns red in autumn, and in cool climates the plant is deciduous.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrost hardy and heat tolerant.\u003c\/strong\u003e It takes frost and still fruits in heat and humidity, a useful combination for warmer states.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHedge or container.\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows into a fruity hedge in acid soil, or a neat container plant where the garden soil is alkaline.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA fruiting hedge.\u003c\/strong\u003e In acid soil, plant 1.5m apart in a row for a dense hedge of 2m or more that you can pick from. Leave a path along one side so the berries are easy to reach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContainers for alkaline gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e If your soil is not acid, grow one plant per 50cm pot in acidic potting mix made for azaleas and keep it watered through summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA pair for a heavier crop.\u003c\/strong\u003e Rabbiteyes fruit best alongside other varieties. Plant Powder Blue with Brightwell or Premier for the best harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Powder Blue Blueberry in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade. Powder Blue is frost hardy and fruits in humidity and heat, so it works across subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate climates, and it is an especially good berry for warmer states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining and acid. Dig well rotted composted manure through before planting. Without acid soil, grow it in a container instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch thickly after planting to protect the shallow roots. Keep the plant well watered through spring and summer, when the berries are filling, and do not let a potted plant dry out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Prune in mid winter to remove weak and crossing wood and open the bush to light. Treat unwanted garden pests with organic eco-oil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Powder Blue Blueberry as tube stock: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly and is a good way to start a whole hedge on a modest budget. Plant into prepared acid soil, or pot it up into acidic mix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupply of Powder Blue Blueberry tubes depends on our grower, who does not always have stock. When the page shows the tube as sold out, add your email with the notify button and we will tell you the day it is back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/blueberry-care-guide\"\u003eHow to grow blueberries in Australia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/edible-plants\"\u003eEdible plants and bush tucker\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/autumn-colour-plants\"\u003ePlants with autumn colour\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hedging-screening\"\u003eHedging and screening plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does Powder Blue fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a later variety, with berries ripening in time for Christmas. Planted with an earlier variety such as Brightwell, you stretch the picking season out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a rabbiteye blueberry?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA group of blueberries that tolerate climate variation better than highbush types and need fewer cold hours to set fruit. That is why they are the usual choice for milder climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Use a pot of around 50cm filled with acidic potting mix, keep it moist and feed lightly in spring. It is the right approach wherever the garden soil is alkaline.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790180581695,"sku":"VAC-VIR-POWDER-tube","price":18.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/powder-blue-blueberry-vaccinium-virgatum-powder-blue.jpg?v=1792195562","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/powder-blue-blueberry-vaccinium-virgatum-powder-blue","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}