Choosing The Right Blueberry Variety To Grow

Several large, ripe blueberries shown on a mature blueberry plant with bright green leaves.

Ripe Blueberries On Plant

Photo by Nadia Prigoda-Lee

Northern Michigan: Home Of The Blueberry Bush

Blueberry plants like it here in Northern Michigan. They are a popular, easy to grow fruit that can be a wonderful addition to any backyard. Choosing the right blueberry variety to grow in your space is key to having a large fruit harvest at the end of the season. Check out our options below to learn more about the blueberry varieties we offer here at Bright Lane Gardens.

We have a few affiliate links down at the bottom of this post! I only put links in when I’ve tried and loved a product. We have been using these products on our blueberry bushes for years and I can’t say enough great things about them. Thanks for reading!

Our Top Selling Blueberry Varieties:

Elliot:

This late season berry is the last to ripen out of our berry options. Typically producing the first fruits in mid September, Elliot will fruit for 4+ weeks up until the first frost.  The fruit is medium size, firm light blue and has a great flavor. This bush is a vigorous grower and a high producer of fruit. Eliot is an excellent choice for Northern Michigan due to its winter hardiness and its resistance to many pests and diseases. 

Top Hat:

Top Hat was developed by the Michigan State Experiment Station of Michigan State University (Go Green)! This variety is perfect for container gardening. The plant stays very compact in size, typically maxing out around 2 feet wide and 2-3 feet tall. Top Hat produces firm and flavorful fruits that you’ll want to eat right off the bush! Top Hat is an early ripening variety, with fruit production typically starting in August. 

Blue Crop:

This variety ripens earlier in the season, usually by mid to late August. The Blue Crop fruit is large with small scar, has excellent color, firmness and flavor. Its foliage is somewhat sparse but production is great. This variety is a high producer with a lot of sweetness. Blue Crop is a popular choice for making jams, pies, and other preservation

Blueray:

Blueray was rated one of the top blueberries to grow in Michigan! This best seller produces very large fruit, similar to that which you would find at the grocery store. The berries are bright and firm, but often need to be eaten shortly after harvesting as the firmness is short-lived. The taste, however, cannot be beat! Blueray is a mid-season producer, with harvesting typically starting in late August. Whether you plan to eat the firm, fresh berries after picking, or use the softer berries for jams and pies, you won’t regret adding this plant to your backyard.

Blueberry Harvest Timeframe, by Variety

Blueberry Harvest Timeframe Graph

All Blueberries Need Good Soil

High quality soil with a lot of organic material is perfect for growing blueberries! There are a few things you’ll want to invest in if you want to plant blueberries that will grow for many years. We recommend the following:

  • Garden soil rich in organic matter (such as dried leaves, pine needles, or mulch)
  • Organic compost
  • Espoma Organic Peat Moss (See photo below, we use this peat moss on literally EVERYTHING!)
  • Espoma Berry Tone Fertilizer (We use this fertilizer on all of our berry plants, and have been very impressed by our yields!)
Light and fluffy Espoma organic peat moss in my hand, pictured in front of freshly potted blueberry plants.

Grow Your Own Blueberries!

Now that you’ve learned more about the different varieties of blueberries that grow well in Northern Michigan, it’s time to give it a try! While the thought of growing your own blueberries might sound complicated, I promise you it is easier than you may think. We’ve assembled an easy-to-follow blueberry growing guide that can be useful for beginners and experienced growers alike! 

Interested in growing more fruit? We sell several types of berry plants and fruit trees that are built to grow in Northern Michigan. From raspberries and blackberries, to strawberries and peach trees, we’ve got you covered for fruit. You can build your own produce section right in your backyard! Check out our sales selection starting Mothers’ Day Weekend each year!

Choosing The Right Blueberry Variety To Grow

Several large, ripe blueberries shown on a mature blueberry plant with bright green leaves.

Ripe Blueberries On Plant

Photo by Nadia Prigoda-Lee

Northern Michigan: Home Of The Blueberry Bush

Blueberry plants like it here in Northern Michigan. They are a popular, easy to grow fruit that can be a wonderful addition to any backyard. Choosing the right blueberry variety to grow in your space is key to having a large fruit harvest at the end of the season. Check out our options below to learn more about the blueberry varieties we offer here at Bright Lane Gardens.

Our Top Selling Blueberry Varieties:

Elliot:

This late season berry is the last to ripen out of our berry options. Typically producing the first fruits in mid September, Elliot will fruit for 4+ weeks up until the first frost.  The fruit is medium size, firm light blue and has a great flavor. This bush is a vigorous grower and a high producer of fruit. Eliot is an excellent choice for Northern Michigan due to its winter hardiness.

Top Hat:

Top Hat was developed by the Michigan State Experiment Station of Michigan State University (Go Green)! This variety is perfect for container gardening. The plant stays very compact in size, typically maxing out around 2 feet wide and 2-3 feet tall. Top Hat produces firm and flavorful fruits that you’ll want to eat right off the bush! Top Hat is an early ripening variety, with fruit production typically starting in August. 

Blue Crop:

This variety ripens earlier in the season, usually by mid to late August. The Blue Crop fruit is large with small scar, has excellent color, firmness and flavor. Its foliage is somewhat sparse but production is great. This variety is a high producer with a lot of sweetness. Blue Crop is a popular choice for making jams, pies, and other preservation

Blueray:

Blueray was rated one of the top blueberries to grow in Michigan! This best seller produces very large fruit, similar to that which you would find at the grocery store. The berries are bright and firm, but often need to be eaten shortly after harvesting as the firmness is short-lived. The taste, however, cannot be beat! Blueray is a mid-season producer, with harvesting typically starting in late August. Whether you plan to eat the firm, fresh berries after picking, or use the softer berries for jams and pies, you won’t regret adding this plant to your backyard.

Blueberry Harvest Timeframe, by Variety

Blueberry Harvest Timeframe Graph

Grow Your Own Blueberries!

Now that you’ve learned more about the different varieties of blueberries that grow well in Northern Michigan, it’s time to give it a try! While the thought of growing your own blueberries might sound complicated, I promise you it is easier than you may think. We’ve assembled an easy-to-follow blueberry growing guide that can be useful for beginners and experienced growers alike! 

Interested in growing more fruit? We sell several types of berry plants and fruit trees that are built to grow in Northern Michigan. From raspberries and blackberries, to strawberries and peach trees, we’ve got you covered for fruit. You can build your own produce section right in your backyard! Check out our sales selection starting Mothers’ Day Weekend each year!