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Having lived in the UK for ten years or more, I grew to
love blueberries. They were readily available in the supermarkets there. On
returning to South Africa I didn’t think I was going to find them available,
but I was wrong. I didn't think blueberries were grown in South Africa, but the
good news is they are grown near Keiskammahoek, in the foothills of the
mountains just inland from East London in the Eastern Cape... that's no so far
from where I now call home! They are also grown in the Cape mountains,
where they also grow grapes for wine, in the Midlands of Kwazulu Natal and even
in the Limpopo province. According to the ‘Farmers Weekly’, THE magazine for
farmers, there is a big move going to establish the growing of this fruit
wherever the suitable chilling environment required for these delicate berries
can be found. The best varieties to grow in our climate appear to be the
Souther Highbush Cultivars like Sharpblue, Misty, O’Neal and Georgiagem. The cultivars
currently under trial in South Africa include Earliblue, Duke, Spartan, Patriot, Bluecrop,
Elliot.
I wouldn't say that I eat these delectable little berries
every day, because that would be a stretch of the truth, but I would if I
could. I buy them when I see them fresh, otherwise I might look for the frozen
berries, which are more likely to be available in some of our supermarkets. If
I have any left from a batch of fresh berries I might freeze them myself; it’s
quite simple. I don’t wash them before freezing as this will add freezer burn
to the fruit; I simply spread them on trays and bag them once frozen. Fresh
berries can be recognized in the market by the silvery white sheen on firm
berries and usually keep in the fridge for a week or two and, when frozen, will
last up to about 9 months. It’s doubtful they would last that long in my
freezer anyway.
Blueberries are best used raw and don’t have to be pitted
or peeled. They are great for a snack as they have only 80 calories per cup! Blueberries
are high in antioxidants, a good source of fibre, high in Vitamin K and Vitamin
C and contain no fat. Vitamin C is good for gum health and your immune
system. Vitamin K aids in circulation. Blueberries improve overall bodily
function, may reduce the risk of infection, improve night vision, motor skills,
reverse short-term memory loss in the aged, help keep cholesterol in check,
improve glucose and insulin levels and reduce the risk of cancer and heart
disease.
Add blueberries to breakfast cereals, oats or mealie meal
porridge, smoothies and yoghurt. When used in cooked recipes, blueberries loose
some of the nutritional values, but are still very nutritious. They are
fabulous in muffins, jams, tea breads, cakes, pancakes, pies and sauces. Blueberries
are such a healthy little fruit, you can’t afford to not eat this delicious
little blue fruit.
In the wild, blueberries grow in acid, moorland soil. Growing
blueberries in the garden they need a moist, peaty, very acid soil and an open,
sunny position. If your soil is limey, grow the bushes in pots of acid compost.
The cultivated blueberry originates in America. There are four different
groups. Low bush blueberries are suited to cold districts; high bush require
some chill; southern high bush prefer warm districts; and Rabbit Eyes do well
in very warm areas. Before choosing a variety if you want to grow blueberries,
find out from an established grower which varieties would be suitable for
growing in your particular environment and climate.
References:
Other interesting articles on blueberries:
