Blueberry Varieties
Two types of blueberries are grown in Florida; southern highbush and
rabbiteye. The earliest ripening southern highbush varieties ripen
about 4 to 6 weeks earlier than the earliest rabbiteye varieties grown
at the same location. Because they ripen earlier, southern highbush
normally bring much higher prices than rabbiteye berries.
Rabbiteye blueberries grow best in regions of Florida where winters are
as cold or colder than those in Ocala. Depending on the variety,
southern highbush blueberries may be adapted from Sebring, Fla., up the
Florida peninsula, into southeastern Georgia. Cross
pollination between, or among, varieties is needed for maximum
production for both types of blueberries. Therefore, multiple varieties
are needed of either southern highbush or rabbiteye. Rabbiteyes are
needed to pollinate other rabbiteyes and southern highbush are needed
to pollinate other southern highbush.
Southern Highbush Varieties. Southern highbush
blueberries were developed by crossing northern highbush varieties from
Michigan and New Jersey with wild blueberries native in Florida and
other southeastern states. The first three southern highbush varieties
were released from the University of Florida in the mid 1970s. Since
then, many newer and improved southern highbush varieties have been
released.
Southern highbush blueberries grown in peninsular Florida are the
earliest blueberries to ripen in North America. These are the varieties
that are currently grown for commercial shipping in Florida. Southern
highbush blueberries are generally considered more difficult to grow
than rabbiteyes. Very early flowering makes southern highbush
blueberries quite susceptible to late winter/early spring freezes. Moreover, compared to rabbiteye varieties, southern highbush
blueberries are less forgiving in soil requirements, more susceptible
to excessive soil moisture and drought, and generally more susceptible
to a number of diseases and blueberry stem blight than are most rabbiteye varieties.
Because of their early ripening season, southern highbush blueberries
are particularly attractive to birds.
Rabbiteye varieties. On suitable blueberry soils in north
and north central Florida, rabbiteye blueberries are more vigorous,
longer lived, and easier to care for than most southern highbush
varieties. They are more drought tolerant than southern highbush
blueberries and can grow satisfactorily in soils which are lower in
organic matter. Currently, commercial rabbiteye blueberry production is
not recommended for areas with winter temperatures milder than in Ocala
because of the possibility of inadequate chilling. On the other hand,
severe crop losses to spring freezes are not uncommon in north Florida,
especially for early-season rabbiteyes which bloom before mid- to
late-season rabbiteyes. For home gardeners and u-pick growers, late
flowering varieties such as Powderblue and Brightwell usually produce
good crops without freeze protection at most locations in northern
Florida.
Rabbiteye fruit is generally firmer than southern highbush and, in many
cases, they are capable of being mechanically harvested for the fresh
market. However, berries of highbush and rabbiteye are enough alike
that most consumers do not distinguish between the two. Rabbiteye
blueberries grown in Florida can be divided into early-, mid-, and
late-season varieties. Home gardeners will find that mid- and late-eason
varieties are more reliable in fruiting.
Early-season Rabbiteye Varieties
During the early to mid 1980s, more than 500 acres of Aliceblue,
Beckyblue, Climax, and Bonita were planted in north-central Florida for
the fresh fruit shipping market. At that time, these were the
earliest-ripening rabbiteye varieties grown in North America. They
ripened about two weeks before Climax and Premier grown in Alma,
Georgia, and slightly before, or about the same time as, Croatan the
principal highbush variety being grown in North Carolina. Yields of
early-season rabbiteyes grown in Florida have often been
disappointingly low. Various factors including spring freezes,
insufficient bee populations to obtain complete pollination, blueberry
gall midge and thrips damage to flowers, and leaf diseases that result
in early fall defoliation may be involved.
Recent observations by growers and researchers suggests that the low
yields of these rabbiteye varieties may have been largely the result of
thrips and gall midge damage to developing flowers and fruit. Efforts
to control these pests more thoroughly in rabbiteye plantings have
resulted in favorable yield responses. However, even the early-ripening
rabbiteye varieties do not ripen early enough in the season to be the
best choice for fresh fruit shipping. They are better suited for
extending the early end of the harvest season for local sales and
u-pick operations. Commercial shipping operations in Florida should
grow southern highbush varieties that are discussed later. Descriptions
of the more common early-season rabbiteye varieties are as follows.
Austin - A new variety released by the University of Georgia
that ripens a few days after Climax. Its yields have been good compared
to other early-ripening rabbiteyes in northern Florida.
Beckyblue - A 1977 release from the University of Florida which
can be mechanically harvested for the fresh market. Fruit have good
color, size, and firmness and a dry picking scar. Problems with early
defoliation due to leaf diseases can reduce flower bud initiation.
Older plants have benefitted from rejuvenation pruning to maintain
adequate flower bud initiation. A low chilling requirement of 300 - 400
chill hours often results in very early flowering and susceptibility to
spring freezes.
Bonita - A 1985 release from the University of Florida which can
be mechanically harvested for the fresh market. Fruit ripen about three
days after Climax and have good size, color, and firmness with a dry
picking scar. Plants are moderately vigorous and develop a dense bush
with many canes. It generally has the same problems as Beckyblue with
leaf diseases, early defoliation, and poor flower bud initiation. It
requries 350 - 400 chill hours.
Climax - a 1976 release from the University of Georgia which has
concentrated ripening and can be machine harvested for the fresh
market. Fruit are medium in size and have a small scar and good flavor.
Climax flowers more heavily and reliably than Beckyblue or Bonita. It
is highly susceptible to the blueberry gall midge. It requires 450 -
500 chill hours.
Premier - a release from North Carolina State University which
is vigorous and productive with excellent fruit color, size, and
flavor. Canes on young plants may not support heavy crop loads. It is
highly susceptible to blueberry gall midge and should not be planted
without a spray program to control this insect. Its chilling
requirement is estimated at 550 chill hours.
Mid- and Late-season Rabbiteye Varieties
The mid- and late-season rabbiteye varieties have generally been more
productive in north peninsular Florida than the early-season
rabbiteyes. Mid- and late-season varieties ripen in northern Florida
after the North Carolina crop is on the market. In Florida, these
varieties are commonly grown on u-pick farms. Trials at the University
of Florida Research and Education Center in Monticello showed that mid-
to late-season rabbiteye varieties are well adapted to northwest
Florida while early-season rabbiteyes and southern highbush varieties
are routinely frozen-out without freeze protection from overhead
irrigation. The more commonly grown mid- to late-season rabbiteye
blueberry varieties for Florida are discussed below.
Brightwell is a 1983 University of Georgia release which is
vigorous, upright, and an excellent producer. Fruit are medium in size
with a small dry scar and good flavor and may be mechanically harvested
for the fresh market. It probably is the best rabbiteye variety
currently available. The fruit ripen after Climax; about the same time
as Woodard. It has been highly productive as far south as Gainesville.
Its chilling requirement is estimated at 350-400 chill hours.
Chaucer is a high yielding variety released by the University of
Florida which is vigorous and spreading. Fruit are medium in size and
have a wet picking scar. A possible choice for u-pick purposes but not
recommended for machine harvest or for commercial shipping. Its
chilling requirement is estimated at 350 - 400 chill hours.
Powderblue is similar to Tifblue in season, appearance and
harvesting characteristics so that the two can be harvested together.
Powderblue usually cracks less and hangs on the bush better than
Tifblue. Powderblue is considered a very reliable producer in northern
Florida. Its chilling requirement is estimated at 350-400 chill hours.
Tifblue is an older variety released from the University of
Georgia that has been widely planted in southeastern Georgia and to a
lesser extent in northern Florida. Plants are vigorous, upright, and
productive. It has serious problems with fruit cracking during wet
weather. Powderblue appears to be replacing Tifblue this season.
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