Crop Year

Buds that developed in the fall of the sprout year, break in the spring of the crop year. There are two types of buds, leaf and flower buds. Generally leaf buds can be found at the bottom of stems and flower buds on the top 1/3 of the stem.

The bell shaped flower is pollinated primarily by insects. Wild bees are normally aided by managed honey bees and alfalfa leafcutter bees.

Wild blueberries are harvested in August. Pictured here are four common harvesting methods. Hand picking is the oldest form. The metal hand rake invented in 1883 is still one of the most common harvest implements, and today is used to harvest approximately 50% of blueberry fields. Most remaining fields are picked with the mechanical harvester. The metal push rake is used on level fields, but because of its limitations has never gained widespread popularity.

Following harvest, or in the spring of the sprout year, fields are pruned.