Northern Highbush
Bluejay is a Northern Highbush blueberry developed by Michigan State University for serious berry growers in zones 4 through 8. This frost-hardy cultivar produces firm, delicious berries on long stems that stay put for extended picking seasons, beginning in the second or third year with yields reaching 10 to 20 pounds per mature bush. Its mid-season bloom and reliable production make it equally at home in a backyard garden or a small-scale operation, thriving in full sun and the acidic, well-drained soil that blueberries demand.
Full Sun
High
4-8
84in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Bluejay earned its reputation for dependability and vigor, developed by breeders who understood what northern gardeners needed. The fruit hangs on notably long stems, a practical advantage that means you can pick over an extended window rather than racing against a narrow ripening window. Bell-shaped white flowers in spring give way to consistent harvests by year two or three, and the firm berries hold their shape beautifully whether you're freezing them whole, baking them into pies, or reducing them down for jam.
Bluejay excels as a fresh eating berry, but its firm texture and consistent ripening make it particularly valuable for freezing, baking into muffins and pies, and making preserves or jam. The extended picking season and long-stemmed fruit also suit it well to commercial pick-your-own operations and farmers market sales.
Transplant container-grown Bluejay in early spring or fall. Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart in prepared beds amended to pH 4.5 to 5.5. Harden off nursery stock by gradually exposing it to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting.
Bluejay berries ripen in mid-season and are ready to harvest when they turn deep blue and feel slightly soft to the touch but still hold their firmness. Pick fruit in the early morning when berries are coolest, gently rolling them from the stem into your palm; the long stems allow berries to remain on the bush for several weeks, so you can harvest selectively over time. Fully ripe berries separate easily from the stem and will not stain your fingers.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Bluejay emerged from the breeding program at Michigan State University, where horticulturists developed it specifically to deliver reliable production across the cold-hardy zones where many commercial blueberry varieties struggle. The variety represents decades of selection work aimed at combining cold tolerance with the fruit quality and productivity that home and small commercial growers expect.”