Name: Blueray Blueberry | Early Season Northern Highbush Variety
SKU: Blueberry (Blueray)
Price: 29.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Blueberry (Blueray)

$29.99

Large, early-season blueberries on a vigorous northern bush that loads itself with heavy harvests before mid-season varieties hit their stride.

Northern Highbush blueberry
Large berries with classic sweet flavor
Early to mid-season ripening
Vigorous 5–6 ft mature bush
Self-fertile; heavier yields with another variety

SKU: Blueberry (Blueray) Categories: Blueberry, Berries

Description

Blueray is an early-ripening Northern Highbush blueberry that brings generous harvests of large, sweet berries just ahead of many mid-season varieties. If you’re looking to start your blueberry season strong with dependable production and classic flavor, Blueray delivers.

The berries are noticeably large with balanced sweetness and mild acidity — ideal for fresh eating, baking, and freezing. Blueray is known for setting extremely heavy crops, often loading its branches with fruit in early summer. With proper pruning, it rewards growers with consistent performance year after year.

Overview

Type: Northern Highbush
Fruit Size: Large
Flavor: Classic sweet blueberry with mild acidity
Texture: Moderately firm
Ripening Season: Early to mid-season
Productivity: Very heavy yielding
Growth Habit: Vigorous, upright spreading bush

Growing Details

Latin Name: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Blueray’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; requires acidic, well-drained soil (ideal pH 4.5–5.5)
Chill Requirement: Approximately 800–1000 hours
Hardiness: USDA Zone 4–8
Rootstock: Own-root (propagated from cuttings)
Bearing Age: Often fruits right away or within the first season; full production typically 3–5 years
Size at Maturity: 5–6 ft tall and wide
Bloom Time: Mid-spring
Ripening Time: Early to mid-season; typically early summer depending on region
Pollination: Self-fertile; yields improve with another Northern Highbush variety nearby

Additional Notes

Grower’s Insight: Blueray is known for extremely heavy fruit set. Annual pruning is important to maintain berry size and plant vigor, as mature bushes can overproduce if left unmanaged.
Regional Insight: Performs reliably in cooler northern climates including the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes region, and Northeast. In low-chill or very hot southern regions, productivity may decline.
Blueberries require acidic soil for long-term success. In neutral or alkaline soils, planting in amended beds or large containers with acidified mix can dramatically improve performance.
Explore more blueberry varieties in our collection: Blueberries

Planting & Care

At a Glance:
• Full to half-day sun
• Acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5)
• Consistent moisture, especially during fruiting
• Mulch heavily to protect shallow roots
• Prune annually to support heavy early crops

Planting & Care – Blueray Blueberry

Site Selection

Choose a site receiving at least 1/2 day to full sun. In hotter climates, light afternoon shade may help reduce stress.

Soil Requirements

Blueray requires acidic soil with an ideal pH between 4.5 and 5.5. If native soil is neutral or alkaline, amend heavily with peat moss, pine bark fines, or plant in raised beds or containers using an acidic planting mix.

Planting

Plant at the same depth as the nursery container. Space bushes approximately 4–5 feet apart. Apply 2–4 inches of pine bark or wood chip mulch after planting to conserve moisture and protect shallow roots.

Watering

Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Blueberries have shallow roots and are sensitive to drought stress, especially during flowering and fruit development.

Pruning

Prune annually during dormancy to remove older canes and thin crowded growth. Blueray’s heavy fruit set makes consistent pruning essential for maintaining large berry size and strong annual growth.

Harvest

Harvest begins early to mid-season. Allow berries to fully blue on the bush for peak sweetness before picking.