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Green-Seeds.com
Fruits
& Others
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Blueberries for the Home Garden
 There are three main
types of cultivated blueberries that can be grown in the southeastern United
States. These include the rabbiteye, northern highbush, and southern highbush.
This discussion focuses on the rabbiteye and southern highbush types.
Rabbiteye blueberries
are native to northern Florida, southern and eastern Georgia to the South
Carolina line, and southeastern Alabama. Closely related forms also occur
in southeastern South Carolina, along the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi,
and Louisiana, and east Texas northward to central Arkansas. In general,
the rabbiteye is the most adaptable, productive, and pest-tolerant of the
three types. Except for higher mountain elevation, rabbiteye cultivars are
adapted from the Virginia/North Carolina border through the Piedmont southward
to north central Florida and westward to central Arkansas.
The blueberry breeding
programs at the University of Florida, and more recently the North Carolina
State University/USDA, University of Georgia/USDA, and the USDA program
at Poplarville, Mississippi, have also developed lower chilling highbush
type blueberry cultivars adapted to the southeastern United States. These
are referred to as southern highbush blueberries. Southern highbush blueberries
are hybrids derived from crosses between northern highbush blueberries with
native southern species, mainly Darrow's evergreen blueberry. Southern highbush
cultivars, in addition to lower chilling requirements, also have greater
tolerance to high summer temperatures, somewhat greater drought tolerance,
and develop superior fruit quality under southern growing conditions.
Soil and Site
Select an acid sandy
or sandy loam soil of pH 4.3-5.5, rich in humus and good fertility, well-drained,
but able to hold moisture. Moisture appears to be the most limiting factor
for success. The plant cannot tolerate waterlogged soils nor will it grow
well in dry sandy soils of low humus content. The soils where it grows naturally
are mostly of the Norfolk or related series, with much fine sand and a clay
subsoil at 1-4 feet.
Better growth and yield
will be obtained on rather dry sites by mulching to a depth of 4-6 inches
with straw, pine needles, or old sawdust. On the heavier upland soils of
the Piedmont, the plants appear to withstand less acid conditions (pH 5.7-6.3)
and grow better when mulched. Avoid a frost-pocket site where possible.
Cultivars
Rabbiteye blueberries
generally require cross-pollination for maximum fruit set, so it is necessary
to plant a minimum of two cultivars per field. Growers in areas of the upper
south and mountains should only grow the higher chilling cultivars and growers
in areas such as north central Florida should grow the lowest chilling cultivars.
Early season rabbiteye cultivars ripen with late-season highbush cultivars
because of the longer time from bloom to ripening.
Baldwin (late season)
is vigorous and upright with fruit of medium size and average quality. The
ripening season may extend into August and September and is an excellent
choice for pick-your-own operations where late-season fruit is desired.
It is not recommended for mechanical harvesting for fresh fruit markets.
Requires 450-500 chilling hours.
Bluebelle (midseason)
plants are moderately vigorous with upright growth. Berries are large, round,
light blue and have good flavor. Fruit ripening begins in midseason and
extends over a relatively long period. Under favorable conditions, the berries
size well throughout the season and production is high; thus it is an excellent
pick-your-own variety. Berries tend to tear when harvested, so it is not
recommended for shipping. The ripe fruit float on a wet processing line
instead of sinking like other cultivars so they are not recommended for
processing. This cultivar has not been a consistent producer in the northern
portion of the rabbiteye production area. Requires 450-500 chilling hours.
Bonita (early season)
is a new fresh fruit shipping cultivar from Florida with large, good quality
fruit. The bushes are vigorous; its fruit ripens about three days after
Climax. It blooms early so it is best planted with Woodard or Beckyblue.
It is recommended for trial in lower south Georgia, north Florida, and similar
areas. Requires about 300 chilling hours.
Brightwell (early season
in south Georgia, midseason in North Carolina) plants are vigorous and upright.
The berries are medium to large, have small, dry stem scars, average flavor,
and excellent firmness. Brightwell ripens over a relatively short period
beginning after Climax and about the same season as Woodard. It is an excellent
variety for mechanical harvesting for the fresh market. Requires 350-400
chilling hours.
Briteblue (midseason)
is moderately vigorous and grows upright and open. Berries are light blue,
large, very firm, and of good flavor when fully ripe. The ripening season
is generally before Tifblue. Berries are easily handpicked because they
uniformly ripen within clusters. Mature berries have long retention time
on the plant and are an excellent choice for pick-your-own operations. It
is not recommended north of the Georgia production area. Requires 400-650
chilling hours.
Centurion (late season)
is a vigorous, very narrow, upright plant with limited suckering. It blooms
late and the flowers are self-fertile. Ripening season begins in late July
and extends through August to September (October in lower mountains). The
fruit is medium in size, medium to dark blue, of excellent quality with
aromatic flavor. Fruit occasionally cracks following heavy rains. It is
recommended mainly for pick-your-own operations where high-quality, late-season
fruit is desired. Rapidly growing young plants are sometimes poorly anchored
and may fall over during windy periods. Requires 550-650 chilling hours.
Climax (early season)
plants grow upright and open, and they are moderate in vigor. Berries are
medium to large, medium blue in color, have a small scar, and have an excellent
aromatic flavor. Fruit ripening begins 3-5 days before Woodard. It has concentrated
ripening with few shriveled or overripe fruit. This cultivar is excellent
for mechanical harvesting. Requires 450-500 chilling hours.
Powderblue (mid-to-late
season) plants are sturdy, disease-resistant, and very productive. They
are also consistently productive. The fruit is very light blue, firm, medium
in size, and of a very good quality. It is similar enough in Tifblue in
appearance, quality, season, and mechanical harvesting characteristics that
the two can be harvested together and used as pollinators for each other.
The fruit splits less in wet weather than Tifblue. Requires 550-600 chilling
hours.
Premier (early season)
is vigorous, productive, and self-fertile. The canes on young plants are
limber and may have difficulty supporting a heavy fruit load. It has excellent
color, size, and flavor. It is recommended for trial in north Florida and
northward. Requires 550 chilling hours.
Tifblue (mid-to-late
season) plants make vigorous, upright growth. This has been a good commercial
cultivar from the standpoint of appearance, productivity, and shipping qualities.
However, most years the fruit ripens too late to receive high fresh market
prices. The medium to large, light blue berries are very firm with an excellent
picking scar and good flavor. They are well adapted for mechanical harvesting
for the processed market but marginally adapted for mechanically harvesting
for the fresh market. Berries of this cultivar, like Woodard, are very tart
until fully ripe. Berries have a long retention time on the plant after
they are ripe. Requires 550-650 chilling hours.
Woodard (early season)
is short-statured for a rabbiteye blueberry and produces many stems. The
plant sprouts over an area of 3-4 feet in 6-10 years. Berries are light
blue and large for their season. The quality of the berries is good when
they are fully ripe, but they are very tart until then. Woodard ripens 7-10
days before Tifblue. It does not do well in the mountains of the Southeast
and is a poor choice for fresh market shipping because it is too soft. Requires
350-400 chilling hours.
Southern highbush blueberries
are, as a rule, self-fertile. However, larger and earlier ripening berries
result if several cultivars are interplanted for cross-pollination.
Blue Ridge (midseason)
is vigorous, upright, and productive. Fruit size runs large to very large.
It is very light blue, with excellent firmness and high acid flavor, but
a poor picking scar. It is susceptible to stem canker, but appears tolerant
to stem blight. It is recommended for trial in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont,
and lower mountains in the southeast, but only for pick-your-own plantings
because of the poor picking scar. It is important to start with stem canker-free
nursery plants. Requires 500-600 chilling hours.
Cape Fear (early-midseason)
is vigorous, very productive, and precocious with a semi-upright plant habit.
The fruit it large to very large and light blue, with excellent firmness
and picking scar, and average flavor. It is susceptible to stem canker,
but field tolerant to stem blight. It is recommended for trial in the Coastal
Plain, Piedmont, and lower mountains in the southeast. It is self-fertile
but will benefit in earliness and improved fruit size from cross-pollination.
It is important to start with stem canker-free nursery plants. Requires
500-600 chilling hours.
Cooper (midseason) is
vigorous and moderately productive with a semi-upright plant habit. The
fruit is medium to large in size with good firmness, picking scar, and flavor.
It is recommended for limited trials in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of
the southeast. Requires 400-500 chilling hours.
Georgia Gem (midseason)
is fairly vigorous, upright growing, and productive. The fruit is medium
in size with good color, firmness, picking scar, and flavor. It is recommended
for well-drained sites in the Coastal Plan and also in the Piedmont if frost
protection can be provided. Low chilling but blooms after Climax. Requires
350 chilling hours.
Gulf Coast (midseason)
is vigorous and moderately productive with a semi-upright plan habit. The
fruit is medium to large in size with good firmness, picking scar, and flavor.
It is recommended for limited trials in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of
the southeast. Requires 400-500 chilling hours.
O'Neal (very early)
is vigorous and productive with a semi-upright plant habit. The fruit is
very large, medium blue, and of excellent firmness, picking scar, and flavor.
It blooms over an extended period in southeastern North Carolina. O'Neal
is tolerant to some races of stem canker. It is recommended for trial in
the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of the southeast. Requires 400-500 chilling
hours.
Sharpblue (early) is
subject to early blooming and bird damage in Florida. To obtain good growth,
the fruit must be shipped when the plants are young. It also must be grown
on well-drained soil to prevent root rot. The fruit has a wet scar when
picked but, with careful management, can be shipped. It was developed for
Florida, but also is recommended for limited trial in lower south Georgia.
Requires 300 chilling hours.
Fertilizing, Mulching and Cultivating
First Year: After the
first flush of growth, apply 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 per plant in a 6-12 inch
band around the plant. Repeat every 4-6 weeks until August. Must have four
inches of rain or irrigation between applications.
Second Year: Apply 1/2
cup of 10-10-10 per plant at bloom, then every 4 weeks through July if three
inches of rain occur.
Third Year and Bearing
Plants: Use 1/2 cup of 10-10-10 per plant before bloom and an additional
1/4 cup per plant after 4-6 weeks. If growth is poor, apply 1/3 cup per
plant of ammonium nitrate after harvest.
Cultivation: The blueberry
is shallow-rooted and cannot tolerate deep cultivation.
Pruning
The blueberry can mature
tremendous crops with very little pruning. Small bushy wood and dead or
diseased branches should be cut out. Fat, round fruit buds are produced
on one-year-old wood. No other pruning should be necessary during the first
year of establishment.
During the next 2-5
years, pruning consists of removing the lower twiggy growth, dead or damaged
shoots, and weak growth. Pruning can be done in the dormant season with
young plants and immediately after harvest with older plants. Cut back tall
shoots by 1/3 to 1/2. As the plant gets older, new stems can be obtained
by pruning back large old stems to a new shoot or shoots near the base of
the old stems. Tall, erect-growing cultivars may need cutting back to facilitate
harvesting. When plants become too tall, selectively remove about 1/3 of
the older canes. Make these selective cuts to open up the center of the
plant for better light penetration. Light pruning in the summer may be desirable
to maintain plant size and good fruit yields the following year.
Southern highbush blueberries
can also be grown around the home among acid-loving plants, such as hydrangeas,
camellias, and gardenias, but require a bit more attention than rabbiteyes.
Southern highbush should be pruned annually to improve light penetration
and to keep the plant productive. During the first year focus on developing
a strong stem. In subsequent years, allow the main canes to grow and remove
canes more than 4 years old at the crown. Weak shoots should be cut back
to strong laterals on young canes. This kind of pruning regimen ensures
the production of new vigorous canes from the crown of the plant.
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Green - Seeds Co., Ltd.
81/10B Ho Van Hue Street, Phu Nhuan District, Ward 9, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 (8) 847 6901 - Fax: +84 (8) 844 1392 - Email: info@green-seeds.com
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