The ‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberry offers gardeners a distinctive and attractive fruit-bearing plant. This unique variety stands out with its blush-colored fruit, providing both an edible harvest and ornamental appeal in a home landscape. It presents an opportunity for those seeking to cultivate something truly different in their gardens.
Unique Characteristics
‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberries display creamy white to flamingo and blush pink hues, deepening in color as they mature. These berries offer a sweet, mild blueberry flavor with a crisp, firm texture. The plant is a northern highbush variety, growing into a compact, vase-shaped bush, reaching a mature height and spread of 4 to 5 feet.
Beyond its unique fruit, the ‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberry contributes ornamental value to any garden space. In spring, it produces clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers, followed by its distinctive berries. The medium green foliage transitions to shades of crimson or deep red in the fall, providing seasonal interest. The pink coloration is a natural genetic trait of this cultivar.
Planting and Site Selection
To establish ‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberry plants, select a site that receives full sun exposure for optimal fruit production. Full sunlight promotes the best yields, though partial shade with at least half a day of sun is tolerated. These plants thrive in acidic, well-draining soil with a pH range between 4.5 and 5.5.
Before planting, test your soil’s pH to ensure an acidic environment. If the soil is neutral or basic, incorporate granulated sulfur two months prior to planting to lower the pH. Peat moss, pine bark, or pine needles can also be mixed into the soil to enhance acidity and drainage. When planting, dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system and space multiple bushes 4 to 5 feet apart.
Cultivation and Care
Consistent moisture is crucial for ‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberry plants, especially during fruiting, as their root systems are sensitive to soil moisture levels. Maintain a moist, but not soggy, soil environment, aiming for about one inch of water per week during the growing season. During peak ripening, in July, increase water to up to four inches per week for fruit development. Watering during daylight hours is recommended.
Regular fertilization with an acid-loving formula supports vigorous growth and fruit production. In the year of planting, apply 1/8 cup of a 7-7-7 fertilizer or 1/4 cup of a 4-3-3 mixture per plant, three to four weeks after planting, with a repeat application four to six weeks later. For the second year, increase to 1/4 cup of 7-7-7 or 1/2 cup of 6-4-4 in spring, followed by a second application. Annually thereafter, gradually increase the fertilizer amount by 1/8 to 1/4 cup, applying it around the plant’s drip line, lightly scratching it into the soil, and then watering thoroughly.
Pruning maintains plant health and promotes fruit yield, best performed in late winter or early spring while the plant is dormant. For the first two years, remove any flower buds to allow the plant to establish a strong root system. Beginning in the third year, an annual pruning regime involves removing about 20% of the older canes. Eliminate diseased, damaged, or crossing branches, along with those too thin to support fruit or appearing whitish-gray, indicating older wood.
Harvesting Pink Popcorn Blueberries
Harvesting ‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberries involves recognizing indicators of ripeness, as their color does not change to blue like traditional blueberries. The berries are ready for picking when they have developed a deep, uniform pink coloration. A soft texture and easy detachment from the stem are also signs of ripeness.
The harvesting season for ‘Pink Popcorn’ blueberries spans from early to mid-summer, beginning in July. To enhance flavor, reduce irrigation one week before harvest. When picking, gently cup the clusters of berries and lightly roll them off the stems to avoid damaging the fruit or the plant.