A Bilberry is a round flat topped berry that grows in the wild and is seldom cultivated. Plants grow on high moorland and go by a variety of names including wimberry.
- Bilberries are difficult to cultivate and blueberries would be a much easier and are widely available at garden centres.
- Bilberries require a free draining and ericaceous compost (slightly acidic) and grow very well in containers.
- If you plant two different varieties of bilberry, you will get a better yield through cross-pollination.
- Plant in autumn and space at least 5 feet (152cm) apart in a position of full sun or light shade.
- Mulch with more ericaceous compost or pine needles and water with rain water (tap water contains lime and will reduce the acidity of the soil).
- Water in a high potash feed during the growing season and mulch in spring.
- Harvest when fruits are a deep blue. Prune dead canes in winter after 2 years.
- Bilberries contain even higher concentrations of antioxidants and anthocyanins as Bilberries!
- Raw bilberries/blueberries are very acidic but a healthy superfood!
- Cooked berries in pies and preserves!
Make a short crust pastry, like a pie dish, put in bilberries with sugar, put a pastry lid on and cook till brown in a fairly hot oven.
Polish Blueberry Soup (Zupa Borowowky)
- Place 3 cups bilberries in pan with 6 cups water & heat for 10 minutes until berries begin to pop! Blitz with hand blender.
- Dissolve 2 tbsp cornflower in ½ cup milk and heat – sweeten to taste.
- Mix in blended blueberry and gently heat until thickens.
- Soup can be served warm or cold – garnished with sour cream & mint.