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Blueberries are a popular fruit in Iowa, grown by many gardeners and horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have offered some tips to maximize their potential. Blueberries should be harvested when they’re uniformly blue in color, are sweet, and when they detach easily from the fruit stalk. They advise to not judge solely on color, as the berries are often blue for some time before being fully ripe. Once harvested, blueberries should be stored in a refrigerator.

In dry weather, the plants need to be watered and to help retain moisture apply two to four inches of mulch around the plants. The plants should come into full production by their fifth or sixth year with five to 10 pounds of fruit per highbush blueberry plant, or one to three pounds per half-high plant. It’s also advised to protect blueberries from birds by placing netting over the plants when the fruit begins to turn color.