Blueberries in Spain are increasing their production more and more and are conquering the Cantabrian coastal area, due to the good adaptation and demand of the markets.
The province that grows the most Blueberries is Huelva, but areas with little risk of frost and a temperate climate see possibilities for cultivation. It is an alternative to create employment in rural areas with difficulties.
Market demand is encouraging farmers to innovate with Blueberry plantations.
Blueberry cultivation in Spain
The factors that favor the cultivation of blueberries are:
- The soil that must be light because the blueberry roots are thin and do not reach much depth, between 30 and 45 cm. Therefore, a clay soil is not recommended, but neither is it very compact that causes puddles.
- A number of cold hours a year between 400 and 1200 depending on the variety and that the north and south of Spain are guaranteed and in the south and Levante also if they are not very coastal areas. The cold hours guarantee the winter rest that must be less than 7ºC and thus it sprouts and blooms optimally.
- Moderate climate the rest of the year without reaching very high summer temperatures, which is why its cultivation predominates in coastal areas.
- A degree of humidity medium high.
- In the north it is better to plant late varieties or a mixture of several.
- Curiously, at the other extreme, large areas of Huelva, Andalusia and the Mediterranean coast, the early varieties adapt perfectly.
- Blueberries prefer acid soils , although they can adapt to alkaline soils with the help of fertilizers.
Huelva is by far the province that grows the most blueberries, especially where cold hours are guaranteed. Depending on the cold hours we must choose one variety or another.
Blueberry watering
- Caring for blueberries is especially delicate because it requires moisture and not puddles. For this reason the soil must have a sandy-loam component, clay soils are not suitable for it.
- It is very sensitive to drought because its roots are short.
- Especially in southern Spain, specifically in Huelva and throughout the Levante, a controlled drip irrigation is convenient.
The Advantages of Sensor / Probe Controlled Irrigation
- Los sensores Plantae-sonda de humedad, conductividad y temperatura.
Irrigation cycles, quantity, frequency and duration can be adjusted according to soil moisture to give the crop the water it needs within the Available Water Capacity (AWC).
The conductivity reading allows salinity levels to be kept below thresholds that are harmful to plants.
The surface temperature helps to take action against frost and other applications.
The subsoil temperature (up to 60cm deep) reflects the state of the root activity of the crop and improves the application of fertilizers and treatments.
- We measure the irrigation flow with a flow meter .
- The Meteo station indicates the accumulated cold hours and the ambient temperature in real time.
At all times we have the data of the subsoil and the ideal for the management of the crop.
Blueberry jam
Special to take freshly made or canned. Very useful for decorating cakes.
Ingredients:
- One kilo of blueberries.
- Half a kilo of sugar, better brown.
- The juice of a lemon.
- Half a glass of water.
Elaboration:
- We put the blueberries, always fresh, to cook with half a glass of water over low heat for half an hour.
- Add the sugar and lemon juice and cook for another hour over low heat.
- It is kept in airtight jars that we must fill as soon as we turn off the fire and better let it cool upside down.
To enjoy when we feel like it!
Sources:
English 
Spanish