‘Hannah’s Choice’ blueberry is a popular early-season cultivar known for its excellent flavor and productivity. This northern highbush variety offers an appealing option for home gardeners, producing high-quality fruit suitable for fresh eating and various culinary applications.
Key Characteristics
‘Hannah’s Choice’ is notable for its exceptionally sweet and aromatic berries. The fruit is medium to large, firm, and light to medium blue. It ripens very early in the season, providing one of the first blueberry harvests of summer.
The plant exhibits vigorous, upright growth, reaching 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. This cultivar is cold-hardy, thriving in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 or 5 through 9. Mature bushes can yield 8 to 15 pounds of fruit annually.
Planting and Site Selection
‘Hannah’s Choice’ blueberry requires a location with full sun for at least six to eight hours daily for maximum fruit production and plant health. Good air circulation is also beneficial to prevent moisture-related diseases.
Soil pH is critical; ‘Hannah’s Choice’ thrives in acidic conditions, ideally between 4.0 and 5.5. Most garden soils are less acidic, necessitating amendments. Incorporate organic materials like peat moss or pine bark to lower pH and improve drainage. Elemental sulfur or iron sulfate can also adjust soil acidity.
When planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, ensuring the top of the root system is level with the ground. Space multiple bushes 3 to 5 feet apart within a row.
Ongoing Care
Consistent moisture is important for ‘Hannah’s Choice’ blueberries, especially during dry spells and fruiting periods. The soil should remain evenly moist but not waterlogged, as standing water can lead to root issues. Applying a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch, such as pine bark or aged sawdust, helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertilize with products for acid-loving plants, typically in early spring and again after harvest. Prune in late winter or early spring while the plant is dormant. In the first year or two, remove any dead, broken, or diseased branches.
For mature bushes, maintain a balance of one to six-year-old canes, as the most productive berries develop on two to four-year-old wood. Remove older, less productive canes at the base, along with weak, twiggy growth or crossing branches. This improves air circulation and sunlight penetration, contributing to better fruit quality and plant vigor.
Harvesting and Enjoying
Harvest ‘Hannah’s Choice’ blueberries when they have fully developed their light to medium blue color and detach easily from the bush with a gentle tug. Waiting a few days after they turn blue allows them to reach peak sweetness and aroma.
A mature ‘Hannah’s Choice’ bush can yield 8 to 15 pounds of fruit per season. These berries have a firm texture and high sugar content, making them suitable for many uses. They are excellent for fresh eating, and also freeze well for smoothies, baked goods, or preserves.