Product Details:
Ships Barerooted. Large bush growing in a 3 gallon pot 18-24 inches in height,
NOTICE: Southern Blueberries are not self-fertile. Plant more than one variety for cross-pollination.
Southern highbush cultivars. Southern highbush blueberries grown in peninsular Florida are the earliest blueberries to ripen in North America. These cultivars are generally considered more difficult to grow than rabbiteye types. Very early flowering makes southern highbush cultivars quite susceptible to late winter/early spring freezes and therefore not suited for extreme north, and northwest Florida. Moreover, southern highbush blueberries are less forgiving of soil requirements, and are generally more susceptible to some diseases such as Phytophthora root rot and stem blight than are rabbiteye blueberries. Nevertheless, if you want to grow blueberries in central or south Florida, southern highbush are preferred to rabbiteyes.
Vaccinium virgatum 'Emerald' was released as a patented variety by the University of Florida in 1999, and is currently one of the more widely planted varieties in north-central Florida. Emerald combines a vigorous, upright bush, with high yield potential, early ripening, and large, high-quality berries.
Vaccinium virgatum 'Jewel' has a chilling requirement of about 100-150 hours so it blooms extremely early in the spring. Fruit size is medium-large. Flavor is good, but slightly tart. The berry is medium blue in color. Cross pollination is required. Released by Florida in 1998, it is best suited for Florida conditions.
Vaccinium virgatum 'Springwide' is a new low-chill southern highbush blueberry variety released by the University of Florida and intended for early-season production of fresh markets. Springwide is expected to be best adapted in central Florida and in other very low-chill areas where early-season blueberries are produced. Springwide got its name bcause it ripens early in the spring and has a somewhat spreading bush habit.
Planting: Blueberries thrive in conditions that suit Rhododendrons and Azaleas. They prefer moist, well-drained acidic soil in full sun to light shade. Plants can be grown in containers or raised beds in areas with alkaline soils.
Pruning: Blueberries are best pruned in late winter while the plants are dormant. Since the buds for next year’s fruit production are formed in summer and fall, however, be careful not to remove more than 1/3 of the previous season’s growth. Prune to remove any dead or weak branches.
Harvesting: Blueberries ripen over a two to five week period and should be left on the plants a few days after they first appear to be ripe to allow for better flavor. Pick berries into a shallow container to prevent fruit being crushed under their own weight.