Blueberries. (Photo by Mark Claesgens)

BATON ROUGE, La. – Until recent years, blueberries weren’t looked at as a popular warm-season fruit compared to peaches, watermelons and others, said LSU AgCenter horticulturist Charlie Johnson.

But with an increased awareness of the healthful properties of the fruit, more interest in blueberries has led to more acreage in the state.

“It’s a matter of location when it comes to blueberry production,” Johnson said. “You have to have a low pH, well-drained soil.”

Water quality also is important in blueberry production, which keeps production in northwestern and southeastern regions of Louisiana, Johnson said.

“There’s a problem with high sodium levels in the central part of the state, and this is not good for blueberry production,” he said. “The blueberry is a plant that also does not like ‘wet feet,’ so good drainage is very important.”

With the proper conditions, it’s common for a blueberry plant to produce in excess of 20 years, Johnson said.

William Afton, LSU AgCenter agent in St. Tammany Parish, works with a number of blueberry growers, who use the crop to supplement their income.

“I would say the average size of an operation in my territory is about an acre,” Afton said.

These are normally “U-pick” operations, which do not require a lot of labor on the part of the grower, he said.

“From the end of May through the month of June is pretty much the window for blueberry production in the state,” Afton said. “By July the crop is drying up.”

Living in Louisiana makes it easy to receive the benefits that blueberries offer because they grow well here, said LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill.

The ideal planting time for blueberries in Louisiana is during the cool months from October through March. The plants are cold-tolerant and are not affected by Louisiana winter weather.

It is best to plant more than one variety. They cross-pollinate, which means more, larger fruit, Gill said.

Now is a good time to discover how important blueberries are in maintaining good health, said LSU AgCenter nutrition specialist Heli Roy.

“Foods with a lot of color like blueberries have high levels of anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that help keep us healthy,” Roy said.

Another reason blueberries are important is their ability to neutralize free radicals in the body.

“Free radicals are highly reactive compounds in our body, and we produce them all the time. When we breathe, oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is exhaled,” Roy said. “During the process, free radicals are produced. They are produced excessively when you smoke or drink or by radiation like from the sun.”

Johnny Morgan