Kitchen Garden Highlight: Blueberries

I LOVE blueberries! There are my absolute favorite fruit! I eat a handful of them almost everyday. I look forward to planting my own bush later this year.

Blueberries are a nutrient-rich fruit with flovors that can range from mildly sweet to tart and tangy. Their colors can also range from shades of blue to very dark purple.

Blueberries belong to the same family as cranberries, huckleberries, bilberries, and lingonberries. They are a deciduous shrub that grow from 3-5 feet high and wide. They require acidic soil, so it’s best to grow them in containers here in California where it will be easier to control the soil pH (4.5-5.5). They can take full sun, but the leaf edges may burn in the hot CA summer sun. Make sure to keep the roots moist as they have lots of fine surface roots.

All varieties of blueberries contain flavinoids and anti-inflammitory phytonutrients which are shown to promote a healthy body.

Here are some of my favorite ways to add blueberries to my meals:

• Add to oatmeal, yogurt, or smoothies.

• Use in salads.

• Eat raw as a snack.

• Bake into muffins and cakes.

• Use in compotes.

A FEW QUICK STORAGE TIPS:

Before storing your blueberries, remove any crushed berries to prevent the others from spoiling. Do not wash your berries until right before eating as washing will remove the bloom that protects the berris’ skin.

Store the blueberries in a covered container in the refrigerator.