How to Grow Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop'

Wikimedia Commons

Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop'

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluecrop'

shrub

'Bluecrop' is a premium highbush blueberry cultivar prized for its large, firm berries with excellent flavor and storage quality. This deciduous shrub grows 6-8 feet tall and produces abundant crops of medium-to-large berries in mid-season. It's one of the most commercially successful blueberry varieties and performs reliably in home gardens across temperate regions.

When should you plant Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' timeline →

Example Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop'
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop'
Late summer into fall

Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours preferred for best yields

💧

Water: Consistent moisture; 1-2 inches weekly during growing season. Keep soil moist but never waterlogged. More critical during flowering and fruit development. Mulch helps retain moisture and maintain cool root zone.

📏

Spacing: 48 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 1440-1620 (3-4 years to full production; first small crops in 2-3 years)

🌱

Planting depth: Plant with root ball at soil surface or slightly higher; mulch around base

Soil

Type: Well-draining, acidic sandy loam or peat-based soil

pH: 4.5-5.5

Amendments:

Sulfur (to lower pH if needed) Peat moss or composted pine bark Organic compost Aged pine needles Avoid lime or alkaline materials

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 4-8; hardy to zone 3b with winter protection

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

Get my Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' timeline →

Growth Stages

Establishment (Year 1)

12 months

Young plant focuses on root development. Leafy growth is moderate; few or no flowers appear.

Remove any flower buds the first year to encourage root establishment. Water regularly. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch. Prune to develop strong framework of 3-4 main shoots.

Vegetative Growth (Year 2)

12 months

Bush expands rapidly with multiple branches. Flowers may appear but should be pinched off for first 2 seasons.

Continue regular watering. Mulch maintenance is critical. Light pruning to shape. Remove flower buds if plant still establishing.

Flowering (Mid-Spring)

2-3 weeks

Delicate white to pale pink bell-shaped flowers appear in clusters along branches. Flowering begins in April-May depending on zone.

Ensure consistent moisture during flowering. Avoid frost damage (cover if late frost threatens). Do not fertilize heavily during flowering. Adequate pollination is important; ensure bee access.

Fruiting & Maturation (Early to Mid-Summer)

4-6 weeks

Berries develop from flowers, starting as small green orbs then turning blue (typically mid-June to July). Berries mature to deep blue with gray bloom. Size increases to 3/4-1 inch diameter.

Maintain consistent water supply; stress at this stage reduces berry size. Monitor for bird damage and insect pests. Do not harvest until fully blue and slightly soft—berries don't ripen after picking.

Harvest & Dormancy (Late Summer to Fall)

8-12 weeks

Berries reach peak flavor and fall easily into hand when ripe. After harvest, foliage turns red-burgundy in fall. Leaves drop in winter, plant becomes dormant.

Harvest every 3-4 days during peak season. Allow complete ripeness for best flavor. After harvest, reduce watering gradually. Prune dormant wood in late winter (February-March). Prepare plant for winter dormancy.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Other highbush blueberry varieties (for cross-pollination) Azaleas Rhododendrons Heathers Lingonberries Acidic-soil perennials

Avoid planting near:

Plants requiring alkaline soil Walnut trees (juglone toxicity) Brassicas in very close proximity Fennel

Common Pests

Use yellow sticky traps, sanitation (remove fallen fruit), bagging developing fruit, or organic insecticides containing spinosad in mid-summer
Remove infected berries, use pheromone traps, or apply spinosad at bloom to petal-fall stage
Hand-pick early morning, use Japanese beetle traps away from plants, or apply neem oil or spinosad if infestation is severe
Prune out infected twigs, remove mummified berries, ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply fungicides at bloom if needed
Ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply sulfur dust or neem oil in early stages
Use bird netting, scare tactics, or plant extra berries for wildlife sharing

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and baking

Culinary

'Bluecrop' berries are excellent fresh from the bush with superior flavor and firmness. They excel in pies, muffins, jams, and are ideal for freezing due to their size and texture. [source]

💊

Antioxidant superfood

Medicinal

Blueberries are among the highest-antioxidant fruits, containing anthocyanins and resveratrol linked to cognitive function, eye health, and cardiovascular benefits. [source]

🏠

Natural dye production

Household

Fresh and frozen blueberry juice can be used to create purple-blue natural dyes for fabrics and crafts. [source]

🦋

Pollinator and bird habitat

Wildlife

Blueberry flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while mature berries feed migratory birds and wildlife throughout summer. [source]

🍳

Juice and preserves

Culinary

High pectin content and firm berries make 'Bluecrop' ideal for juice production and jelly-making with excellent gel set. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Berries are ready 14-21 days after turning fully blue. Wait until berries are completely blue with a light gray bloom and fall gently into your hand with a slight tug. Harvest every 3-4 days during peak season (typically mid-June to July). Do NOT pick berries before they are fully ripe—blueberries do not continue ripening after harvest. Early morning harvesting yields the sweetest berries. Store harvested berries in shallow containers in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for long-term storage.

Fun Facts

🌱 'Bluecrop' was introduced in 1952 by the USDA and has become one of the most widely planted highbush blueberry varieties worldwide due to its reliability, productivity, and shipping quality.
🌱 Blueberry plants can live and produce for 50+ years, making them excellent perennial investments for home gardeners.
🌱 The grayish-white coating on ripe blueberries, called 'bloom,' is a natural waxy layer that protects the berry and indicates peak ripeness—it should rub off easily when harvested at the right time.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Full Sun Mulch Pollination

Shop Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Highbush Blueberry 'Bluecrop' timeline →