Description

Blueberry ‘Duke’ is a popular early-fruiting highbush blueberry known for its firm, light-blue berries with a pleasantly sweet flavour. It is an attractive deciduous fruit shrub, but in Malta it requires careful management of soil acidity, summer heat, and winter conditions to perform at its best.

💧 Watering

Keep the growing medium consistently moist but never waterlogged, particularly during flowering and fruit development. Blueberries have shallow, fine roots and do not tolerate prolonged drying.

During Malta’s hot, dry summers, container-grown plants should be checked frequently. Rainwater is preferable whenever available, as Malta’s hard, alkaline tap water can gradually increase the pH of the growing medium.

☀️ Light

Grow in full sun to partial shade. Plenty of light supports flowering, fruit production, and good berry flavour. In Malta, morning sun with protection from the strongest afternoon summer heat can help reduce heat stress, particularly for container-grown plants.

‘Duke’ is a Northern Highbush blueberry with a relatively significant winter chilling requirement. Malta’s mild winters may therefore result in inconsistent flowering or fruiting in particularly warm locations or years.

🍃 Foliage / Growth

‘Duke’ forms an upright, bushy deciduous shrub. White to pale-pink, bell-shaped flowers appear in spring and develop into clusters of light-blue berries that ripen relatively early in the blueberry season.

The foliage is green during the growing season and may develop attractive autumn colours before falling. Young plants need little pruning, while established shrubs benefit from the removal of older, less productive stems during dormancy.

‘Duke’ is self-fertile, but growing another compatible highbush blueberry nearby can improve cross-pollination and potentially increase berry size and overall yields.

🪴 Potting Mix

Blueberries require acidic soil, ideally around pH 4.5–5.5. Malta’s naturally calcareous soils are generally unsuitable without considerable modification.

For reliable results, grow ‘Duke’ in a large container filled with ericaceous compost formulated for blueberries and other acid-loving plants. Ensure good drainage and avoid lime, limestone, or other alkaline amendments.

🌿 Fertilizer

Use a fertilizer specifically formulated for blueberries, azaleas, camellias, or other acid-loving plants. Begin feeding as active growth starts and continue according to the fertilizer instructions during the growing season.

Avoid excessive feeding, as blueberry roots are sensitive to high fertilizer concentrations. Fertilizers and amendments containing lime should also be avoided.

🐕🐈 Pet Safety

Blueberries are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, and ripe blueberries are safe for dogs in small quantities. However, consuming excessive quantities of fruit or plant material may cause digestive upset.

🌬️ Air Purifying

Blueberry ‘Duke’ is primarily valued as an edible fruiting shrub rather than for specific air-purifying properties. Its spring flowers provide resources for bees and other pollinating insects, while its berries and seasonal foliage add both edible and ornamental interest to the garden.

*Pictures shown may vary from actual product due to the live nature of the items. Some items may be out of stock for various reasons, we will issue a refund or offer alternatives should that be the case.
The Price is per one individual plant.