U.S. #5488
Issue Date: July 17, 2020
First Day City: Charleston, WV
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 200,000,000
Blueberries are native to North America and are known for their brightly colored and sweet berries that are filled with health benefits. There are two main types of blueberries grown in North America today: highbush and lowbush. The most common of these is the highbush.
To grow blueberries in your own backyard, you need to remember a few things about these plants… Blueberries prefer acidic, well-draining soil that is kept moist, but not so much that the roots are sitting in water. In order to produce a good crop of berries, the bushes must be planted in a location where they receive full sun at least three-quarters of the day. Highbush blueberries require pruning every year in the late winter to early spring in order to encourage new growth and berry production. Lowbush blueberries should be cut back all the way to the ground once every three years for the same reason.
When all of this is done properly, your blueberry bushes will continue to grow stronger every year. In most cases, a single bush will produce berries for up to 40 or 50 years after planting. Imagine all the delicious ways you can use the berries in that time. Whether it be in jams or jellies, muffins, pies, or so much more. But nothing beats freshly picked blueberries still warm from the summer sun.