The ushbc has adopted a diversity outreach plan to attempt to achieve a diverse representation on the council. Many cultivars have been selected for variation in fruit traits and plant growth habit. Because floridas southern highbush blueberries ripen earlier than. For colder areas that are north of gainesville, rabbiteye blueberries are recommended. Blueberry plants grow duke, blueray, bluejay blueberries. Our varieties typically ripen in july or august slightly later than their southern highbush counterparts and produce abundant crops of firm, flavorful, aromatic blueberries. The betterperforming highbush types are blueray, herbert, coville, bluecrop, berkeley and jersey. Blueberry cultivars for the pacific northwest t here are five main types of blueberries grown in the united states. To get the best fruit set and largest fruit, varieties that bloom at the same time should be blueberry production for the home garden table 1.
Highbush blueberry is a native, upright, 612 feet tall, crownforming shrub. To obtain efficient pollination, more than one variety should be planted. Other members in this plant family include lowblush blueberry, cranberry, huckleberry, rhododendrons. Highbush and lowbush species are the most common species grown for commercial production so the rest of this summary will focus on these species. Highbush blueberry production penn state extension. Highbush blueberry vaccinium corymbosum is a woody perennial shrub that is a member of the heath, or ericaceae, family. Plant at least two different varieties of blueberries for cross pollination to increase yield. Blueberries can be eaten fresh or used to make jelly, jam, pies, pastries, or juice. It is native to eastern canada and the eastern and southern united states, from ontario east to nova scotia and south as far as florida and eastern texas. Pounds of sulfur per 100 square feet to lower soil ph one unit. Meadowlark us plant patent 21,553 figure 5 was released in 2009 by the university of florida. The maximum cold hardiness for most michigan varieties is about 18 f.
They are handsome landscape plants that have bright red foliage in the fall. They are more tolerant of heat and mild winters than the above and do well in warmer and drier areas. Time of maturity, color, keeping qualities, taste, hardiness, and even the shape of the bush. Some tend to grow best in southern climates like the west coast, the southeast, and the southern hemisphere, and some fare better in northern environments northern u. Rabbiteye blueberries are divided into pollination groups a, b, c and d. Blueberries are a very popular fruit in the united states because of their unique flavor, small soft edible seeds, and easy use in preparation figure 1. Most fresh market blueberries are from highbush plants and. Highbush blueberry information learn about growing.
Bushes bloom in late winter, and flowers are frequently damaged by frost. The blueberry bush makes a wonderful choice for the home gardener as a flavorful food crop or as an ornamental landscape shrub. Southern highbush blueberry cultivars from the university of florida 4 farthing is best adapted for planting in northcentral and central florida. Highbush blueberry plant care begins with proper site selection and soil amendment. Like southern highbush blueberries, these selections of the southeast native vaccinium ashei are adapted to hot, humid summers and mild winters. Blueberry two types of blueberries are grown in florida southern highbush and rabbiteye. Early blueberry production was limited to the eastern united states and upper mid. It was first grown as a commercial crop of the early 1900s when elizabeth white and frederick coville of whitesbog, new jersey began identifying superior wild plants and developing improved cultivars. Southern highbush blueberries will grow in the pacific northwest but have low yields. The best lowbush and highbush blueberry varieties that are often grown most frequently in gardens include.
Highbush blueberries will produce a small crop, approximately 2,000 pints per acre, in the third year. Fruit is firm, large, 60 berries per cup and attractive, and is suitable for either fresh market or upick. Depending on the climate and ripening season, certain highbush blueberry varieties will grow better than others. Plants grow in an upright form, and depending upon variety, may range from 3 feet to over of 6 feet in height. Fruit production will increase until the plants are about five years old, with average yields of 6,000 pints per acre possible under optimum conditions.
Southern highbush blueberry cultivars from the university of. Southern highbush blueberry varieties production of southern highbush blueberries in the southeastern united states for the early fresh market is relatively new and acreage is limited. This publication focuses on northern highbush blueberry production. Mix and match fruit plants save 20% when you buy any combination of 3 or more fruit plants. Early season southern highbush will ripen 2 to 3 weeks before early rabbiteyes, and midseason varieties will ripen 8 to 12 days before early rabbiteyes. Some blueberry varieties require cross pollination, others dont. Blueberries dont appeal to honeybees, because the flowers have long corollas, and nectaries are deep in the flower, where honeybees tongues cant reach. Because southern highbush blueberry cultivars vary in adaptation, vigor, and longevity. Highbush blueberries belong to the same family of plants. There are several important considerations in deciding which particular varieties are best suited to the gardeners goals. Annual growth cycle of northern highbush blueberry. The highbush blueberry and its management provides detailed information that growers can apply directly to their work. Blueberry variety selection sf fspring frost hardiness is based on floral developmental stage.
Ushbc programs are open to all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, genetic information, parental status and marital or family status. The northern highbush is most common type grown worldwide and in the pacific northwest. Southern highbush blueberry cultivars from the university. Southern region small fruit consortium crops blueberries. Northern highbush plants can suffer winter injury to flower buds when temperatures drop below 20f.
Jul 11, 2019 southern highbush blueberry varieties production of southern highbush blueberries in the southeastern united states for the early fresh market is relatively new and acreage is limited. However, growing blueberry plants in gardens and on farms is a relatively recent occurrence, since breeding and propagation of blueberry plants did not begin until early in the 20th century. Vaccinium corymbosum, the northern highbush blueberry, is a north american species of blueberry which has become a food crop of significant economic importance. There are several important considerations in deciding which particular varieties are best suited to the gardeners goals, planting site, and climate. Most small blueberry operations harvest their fruit by hand. Highbush blueberry small fruit horticulture research. Varieties some of the betterperforming rabbiteye varieties are tifblue, garden blue, climax, southland, bluebelle and brightblue. Earlier maturing varieties bloom earlier than later maturing varieties and are consequently more prone tf tijto frost injury. Pdf the highbush blueberry and its management download.
Pdf the highbush blueberry and its management download full. Many southern highbush are self fertile, however, the planting of multiple varieties is still recommended for improved fruit set. New southern highbush blueberry varieties from the university of georgia pdf suggestions for organic blueberry production in georgia pdf marketing. The market and potential demand for blueberries pdf pest information. Plants are vigorous with upright growth that tolerates late spring frost and warm summers. Highbush blueberry information learn about growing highbush. Extension and advisory team the varieties included in the following list are recommended varieties.
The author addresses various aspects of blueberry management, including how to select new cultivars, pruning techniques, soil preparation and management, harvesting, pest control, and marketing. In 1976, the university of florida blueberry breeding program released three new southern highbush blueberry varieties which were bred. See factsheet sp284a, small fruit varieties for home gardens, for a more detailed description of these varieties. Highbush blueberries planted on an unfavorable site usually perform poorly, regardless of other cultural or management practices. Plus all of our northern highbush plants are selfpollinating, which is ideal for those with limited growing space. Blueberries are longlived perennials, so taking care at the beginning will pay off for years. How to grow blueberries southern blueberry varieties. To be safe, plant at least two varieties that flower at the same time, unless wild blueberries are nearby. Note that halfhigh blueberries grow only 3 to 4 feet tall so ideally, most of the fruiting area is protected below the snow line in regions with significant snowfall.
Highbush blueberries the plant northern highbush blueberry. Grow blueberry plants and enjoy the luscious fruits of this native american shrub that have been cherished since colonial times. They bear fruit with well documented health benefits. Highbush blueberries belong to the same family of plants as cranberries, rhododendrons, and azaleas. If the temperatures are below freezing, then the plant can acclimate to the cold and its cold hardiness increases. Growing blueberries in missouri since only a few soils in missouri have these characteristics, modifications are usually necessary to grow blueberries. One unique feature of plants within this botanical family is that they require acidic soil conditions with ph ranges between 4 to 5 units. Both highbush and lowbush varieties are native to north america. At temperatures below 18 f, we begin to see flower. Blueberry nursery plants come in a variety of types bare root, container grown, tissue culture and sizes rooted cuttings, tissue culture plugs, and 23 year old plants. Extension bulletin e1456, major revision, january 2001. Scouting your fields for blueberry red ringspot virus pdf bacterial leaf scorch of blueberry pdf photos of blueberry.
In choosing a site for blueberry planting, air flow, water drainage. It is vigorous, with an upright growth habit, a very narrow crown figure. Northern highbush cultivars blueray, jersey and patriot. It is low in calories and sodium, contains no cholesterol, and is a source of fiber. Southern highbush cultivars cape fear, gulf coast, oneal and blue ridge. Extension bulletin e1456, major revision, january 2001 blueberry varieties for michigan jim hancock and eric hanson, department of hortioulturo michigan state university dave trinka, mbg marketing, grand junction, site selection the traditional range for highbush blueberry production is south of a line extending from muskegon to the lower end. These highbush varieties could not be grown in florida because they had a high chilling requirement. Because southern highbush varieties flower early, they are best adapted to areas south of gainesville with some varieties growing further north. This is the first report regarding the physical and chemical characteristics of the cultivated highbush blueberry and bilberry harvested in the same. Cultivation, protection, breeding and biotechnology article pdf available january 2007 with 3,441 reads how we measure reads.
Highbush blueberries the plant northern highbush blueberry, vaccinium corymbosum, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern north america, from nova scotia and ontario south to alabama, and west to wisconsin. With eighteen varieties of the highbush blueberry now available, potential growers should have an adequate list from which to select. Highbush blueberry is native to northeastern north america and forms the basis of the blueberry growing industry. The most important thing to remember when growing highbush blueberries or any plant in the heather family is that the soil needs to be quite acidic, in the range of. Rabbiteye within each species, there are many cultivars or varieties. Recommended highbush blueberry varieties for nova scotia introduction duke is at present the most popular variety for new plantings because of its heavy production, high quality and even sized fruit.
By 1983, a small blueberry shipping industry was established in florida. Twigs are yellowgreen reddish in winter and covered with small wartlike dots. Southern highbush blueberries are hybrids of the northern highbush blueberry v. In 1976 and 1977, the university of florida blueberry breeding program released three southern highbush blueberry varieties sharpblue, flordablue, and avonblue that were bred specifically for floridas mild climate and showed promise for producing earlyripening, highquality fruit. Southern highbush blueberries have a much lower chilling requirement 200 to 300 hours than northern highbush blueberries more than 800 hours. Blueberry cultivars are chosen based on production area. Blueberries are a member of the ericaceae or heath family. Recommended highbush blueberry varieties for nova scotia. Because southern highbush blueberry cultivars vary in adaptation, vigor, and. The varieties we grow in michigan could easily handle cold temperatures down to zero degrees fahrenheit. Size of the individual fruit is not allimportant when judging the qualifications of a new blueberry.
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