The rough-cut name " huckleberry " is used for several species of fruiting bush within the genusesVacciniumandGaylusscia . Most huckleberry varieties grow well within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3 to 7 , although hardiness can vary between types , with the evergreen huckleberry ( Vaccinium ovatum ) growing good in zones 7 to 9 and the dwarf huckleberry ( Gaylusscia dumosa ) preferring zone 5 to 9 .
huckleberry are particular about their surroundings and will not perform well if planted under intriguing condition . However , by choosing the best possible growing site and supply the right care , you may better your chance of grow a harvest of their fragrant , flavorful fruit at base .
Understanding Huckleberries and Blueberries
Huckleberriesshare many trait in commonwith blueberry , because they both belong to to the same genus , Vaccinium . Their growing conditions and care needs are the same , but there are dispute between the two fruit varieties as well .
Huckleberries
- huckleberry develop individual yield .
Blueberries
- blueberry bush produce bunch of fruit .
Preparing to Plant Huckleberry Bushes
Huckleberries are notoriously difficult to grow because they begrudge being transplanted and are very picky about their growing consideration . A growing site with moist , tight - draining soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5 is adept for these acid - loving shrubs , and they will not bear fruit if planted in plastered , alkalic stain .
Huckleberries necessitate six hours of sun each daytime in early summertime , although they will determine fruit with as little as four hours of direct sun each day in warm climate .
springiness and recent autumn are the best times for plant huckleberry bushes , although spring is best for cold climate , and autumn is best for climate with a longsighted , hot summertime . flora 1- to 3 - twelvemonth - old shrubs that will produce fruit quicker than newly rooted saplings . huckleberry are self - fertile , but the bush will produce more and larger yield when implant in near proximity to other huckleberries with which they can crossbreed - pollinate .
Tip
industrial plant multiple huckleberry bush within 50 base of each other to provide efficacious cross - pollenation .
Planting Huckleberry Bushes
Careful soil preparation makes a difference when planting huckleberry . cook the planting website at least two weeks before planting huckleberry bush so that the grease has time to settle before constitute .
Huckleberries are shallow - root shrubs that must be planted slightly high in the dirt to keep the roots from drowning , so thrifty tending is need during the planting appendage .
Caring for Huckleberry Bushes
pee and fertilizer will both help huckleberry President George W. Bush turn well , but they must be applied at the right time and in the right amount to have the greatest force .
- Water and Mulch :* * Water in finicky is necessary for huckleberries to establish a healthy ascendent system , so it is a dear idea to circularize a 2- to 4 - inch - thick layer of pine bark or pine needle mulch over the planting surface area to obligate moisture in the dirt . Keep the mulch layer a couple of inch away from the stem of the bush . Provide 1 to 2 inches of piddle each week whenever the stain feels ironic in the top couple of inch .
- Fertilizer :* * Fertilizer go for too soon after planting can ache the source of a unseasoned huckleberry flora . look a yr before feeding your huckleberries , and fertilize them in springtime using 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer . Apply 1 oz. of fertilizer in a circle around the base of each crotch hair , taking care not to get the fertilizer onto the foliage . Increase the amount of fertilizer by 1 troy ounce each class until the shrub pass its full size .
habituate an acid - based fertilizer when feeding huckleberries .
Harvesting Huckleberries
Most huckleberry varieties areready for harvestin mid- to late summertime although it varies between mintage . scarlet huckleberry ( genus Vaccinium parvifolium ) , which grow in USDA hardiness zone 4 to 9 , are advanced earlier in the summertime and evergreen huckleberry are not ready for harvesting until after the first icing in autumn .
The fruit is ready for harvest when it take on a uniform color . cherry-red huckleberry ferment shiny red when ready for harvest and evergreen huckleberries are not ready for harvest until they are purplish - bootleg . good huckleberries are very finespun and must be reap carefully by hand .
laundry huckleberries will reduce their ledge life – unwashed , they will store in the icebox for up to two week or they can be stored in the freezer for months .
