Do Blueberries Have Seeds?
Many people wonder if blueberries have seeds and if the blueberries are the seeds of blueberry plants.
While blueberries do have seeds, very small and tiny seeds, the blueberry fruits are obviously not the seeds of the blueberry plants. Read more ...
Published: September 6, 2022.
Are Blueberry Seeds Edible?
Yes, the blueberry seeds are edible. After all, everybody who has consumed blueberries has already eaten blueberry seeds.
So, one less worry to think about ...
How to Extract the Blueberry Seeds?
Blueberry seeds are very small, and they are heavier than water, allowing people to extract the seeds using several methods. These methods include:
The Mashing Method
Place the blueberries in the bowl and mash them carefully using a fork or potato masher.
Note: when we say "carefully," it means that You should be very careful about potential blueberry droplets leaving the bowl and making stains. Seeds, on the other hand, are very resilient and can't be harmed using a fork or potato masher.
Add some water to the bowl and gently swirl the water with blueberries to separate seeds from the fleshy parts.
Let everything settle for a few minutes - seeds will settle to the bottom, while other parts will settle on the surface.
Now, gently remove all the blueberry pieces from the surface and let the seeds settle for a few more minutes.
After that, pour out the rest of the water, leaving the seeds on the bottom of the bowl - if needed, strain the water through a very fine cloth in order to catch the seeds.
The Blender Method
Put the blueberries in the blender, add cold water and blend on low speed for 10-15 seconds or until all the blueberries are fully shredded.
Now, let everything settle for a few minutes, after which carefully remove all the fleshy pulp from the water.
Add more water, shake it gently and let everything settle again, after which remove all the remaining pulp again.
Repeat this process several times more until only the seeds are left in the blender.
Now, strain the water with the seeds through a very fine cloth.
Scarifying the Seeds
Blueberries are very cold tolerant plants, and for their seeds to germinate properly, they must be scarified - place the seeds in a paper towel and put them in the freezer for 2-3 months (yes, 2-3 months).
Such cold breaks the seed's rest period and improves germination significantly.
Note: while wild blueberries can be grown from seeds with great results, the hybrid bush seeds germinate more unreliably. Thus, if You wish to grow a certain blueberry variety in your garden, order a certified blueberry plant and enjoy the berries much sooner. However, if You really wish to grow a certain hybrid blueberry, but You don't know its name or it can't be ordered/found, try growing it from its cuttings.
How to Grow Blueberries from Seeds?
The actual method of growing blueberries from the seeds is simple, but it requires time.
Take a flat pot with enough drain holes and fill it with a very fine, moist sphagnum peat moss. Sow the seeds uniformly and add a thin layer of the same sphagnum peat moss - press gently and a little bit of water.
Note: Blueberries will germinate and grow well if the soil is wet but not waterlogged - hence the need to have enough water drainage holes.
Place the pot in an area with a temperature between 60-70°F (15-21°C), place the newspaper on it, and wait 1-2 months for the seeds to germinate.
When the small blueberries start to emerge, remove the newspaper and place the pot near the window or under the grow light.
Keep the soil moist and let the plants grow until they are 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) tall.
Now, very carefully transplant the individual seedlings into the pots filled with a good growing medium or mix of peat, sand, and soil.
Note: the easiest method of transplanting is using the spoon - just carefully grab the seedling with enough soil (and roots) and place it into the new pot.
Place the newly replanted seedling in a sunny location, add some water (but not too much), and after a week or two, add some liquid fertilizer in a very low dose (usually half or one-third of the standard amount).
After the danger of frost is gone, plant young blueberries in their permanent location, and very soon, You will enjoy your own blueberries.
Hint: If You don't need many blueberries, sow the seeds in several pots and let only one plant per pot, the strongest one, grow in the pot. Replant the blueberry plant onto the permanent position after the danger of frost is gone - this simplifies the growing process.
For more about caring for the new blueberry plants, feel free to check our How To Grow Blueberries article.