Blueberry biscuits with lemon glaze
Interested in trying our FREE 7-day healthy diet plan? Cultivated blueberries are sweeter than those grown wild, however, they all share the same characteristic deep blue-purple colour, thin translucent skin and tiny seeds. What are the top 5 health benefits of blueberries? The phytochemicals in blueberries have been extensively blueberry biscuits with lemon glaze for their protective properties, which helps the body combat a long list of diseases.
Are blueberries safe for everyone to eat? Blueberries, along with fruits including apples, peaches, avocados and raspberries contain natural chemicals called salicylates. Some people are sensitive to these compounds and may experience an allergic reaction to them, including skin rash and swelling. If you are concerned about food allergies, please consult your GP or registered dietitian for guidance.
This article was reviewed on 15 February 2021 by Kerry Torrens. Association for Nutrition with a specialism in public health. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. Blueberries produce not only delicious fruits, but also attractive spring flowers and vivid foliage in autumn. The sweet, juicy fruits are rich in antioxidants and great for eating freshly picked or for adding to smoothies and desserts.
Watering Keep the compost or soil moist at all times, but not soaking wet, throughout the growing season. Water blueberry plants with rainwater, not tap water, unless you have no alternative in a drought. Tap water will raise the pH level and blueberries like acidic conditions. With blueberries growing in peat-free multi-purpose compost, you may need to add chelated iron regularly to avoid chlorosis. But if plants aren’t growing well, apply a fertiliser designed for ericaceous plants. Avoid overfeeding, as blueberries are sensitive to high fertiliser levels. Poor growth may be a result of high pH, excess nutrients and fluctuations in soil moisture.
5 or lower, to avoid problems. Check the pH of your soil in spring and add sulphur chips if it needs lowering. Avoid manure and mushroom compost, as they tend to be quite alkaline. Winter protection Not all blueberry cultivars are fully hardy, and even hardy plants can be damaged by a combination of low temperatures and wet conditions, especially if growing in a container. So move containerised plants into a shed or garage during prolonged cold spells, or wrap the pot in hessian or bubblewrap to protect the roots. Protect flowers from late frosts in spring with a double layer of horticultural fleece.
It’s best to choose a soil-based ericaceous compost instead. Propagation Evergreen species grow better from semi-ripe cuttings, taken in late June to early July. Deciduous species can be propagated from softwood cuttings taken in late spring or semi-ripe cuttings taken in late June to early July. Pruning Pruning is rarely needed in the first two years, just remove any crossing or misplaced branches. February or early March when fruit buds can easily be distinguished from leaf buds. Fat buds produce flowers and fruit, while smaller, flatter buds form shoots and leaves. A mature bush should contain about one-third old, one-third middle-aged and one-third young stems.
In Scotland and colder parts of northern England, fruit growth produced in the summer may fail to ripen, with stems dying back to leave hollow wood and dead tips. Apart from producing fruit they are ornamental, with bell-like flowers in spring. See our list of AGM fruit and veg. Although many blueberries are partly or fully self-pollinating, it is best to grow two or preferably three different cultivars, as cross-pollinated plants tend to produce more abundant crops.
