Blueberries need acidic soils, and plenty of mulch and organic matter. Prune out one old, tall, unproductive cane each year when bushes mature, and leave one or two young canes to grow in its place. Most backyard blueberries do not require pesticide applications. One or two timely fungicide applications should eliminate the problem. Also, remove old mulch beneath the bushes and replace with new mulch in late winter, as this reduces the overwintering fungal spores.
Blue color is currently the most often used indicator of maturity.
Berries turn from green to pink, and then gradually to a complete blue color, at which time they are ripe. Ripe berries will remain attached for several days or weeks, and sugars continue to accumulate. B. Harvest method. Berries are picked over several times by hand for fresh sales, and mostly machine harvested for processing. Since berries ripen over a period of weeks, more than one pass with the harvester may be necessary.