Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Blueberries

nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Hal Love" <lovehd@comcast.net>
  • To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Blueberries
  • Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:42:50 -0600

David,

I find it hard to understand why northern highbush would not do well for
you. Generally, the reasons for failure are 1) really hot, dry summers, 2)
insufficient winter chill, 3) heavy, poorly drained soil, or 4) pH too
high. You don't seem to qualify for any of these.

You may want to try southern highbush. There are a number of newer southern
highbush, that usually do very well in areas were rabbiteyes do well. The
ones released from Maryland, North Carolina, and Arkansas should thrive in
your climate. Avoid the varieties bred for growing in Florida, these have
really low chill requirements, and break bud and flower way too early. Some
I have grown and would highly recommend are, O'neal, Sierra, and Ozark Blue.
If you want to stick to rabbiteyes, you may want to consider two of the
newer releases from North Carolina, Yadkin and Montgomery. These are
reported to have the best tasting berries of any rabbiteyes released to
date. Yadkin is also self-fertile and highly resistant to spring frost
injury as well. However, I have not tried either of these yet.

Hal
zn 6 TN


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Consolvo" <fruitopia@nexet.net>
To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 7:52 PM
Subject: [NAFEX] Blueberries


> Shifting the recent blueberry thread, I have a few observations:
>
> Rabbiteye-type blueberries have done best for me, producing reliably every
> year large quantities of berries from July to September. There is no
> disease, and even the birds are not a problem! My varieties are:
>
> CHOICE - the latest ripening, the best tasting, and the largest berries of
> my three. A lighter blue color than most blueberries. Ripens over a two
> month period or longer!
>
> CLIMAX - the earliest ripening, decent all-round
>
> WOODARD - smaller and not as tasty as the other two
>
>
> HOWEVER, I wish I could grow the Northern highbush types!! Many people in
> my area are able to grow them, but they do not thrive on my land. The one
> plant I have which has survived, as well as those of neighbors, produce
> larger and much more flavorful berries than the Rabbiteyes! Plus they
ripen
> two to three weeks earlier. They produce bountifully, but all the berries
> ripen very quickly, so harvest time is short.
>
> Conditions here are a sandy loam soil in humid central Virginia at 1,200
> feet. pH is normally about in upper 5's. I add lots of pine needles as a
> mulch every year, and a tad of fertilizer occassionally. I thought pine
> needles would lower the pH, although I remember the thread which debated
if
> that's true.
>
> David Consolvo
> Hungrytown, Virginia





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page