Bottoms Nursery Blueberries

Blueberries

Rabbiteye Blueberries - (Vaccinium ashei)

ALAPAHA (Picture) (U.S. Plant Patent 16,266): Part of the Georgia River Series, Alapaha is a 2001 release of the University of Georgia . It flowers after Climax however fruit ripens about the same time as Climax. Plants have very vigorous upright growth with narrow crowns. The fruit is medium in size with excellent color, firmness, and yields; it also has a dry stem scar. It is recommended to be planted with cultivars that bloom at a similar time such as Austin and Premier for pollination. Alapaha's chilling requirement is 450 to 550 hours.

ALICEBLUE: Fruit ripens very early. With a chilling requirement of less than 400 hours it is recommended to be planted in warmer climates (zones 7 and higher). Plants have vigorous and upright growth. Fruit has good color and size with a moderately dry stem scar. Climax is a suggested pollinator for Aliceblue.

AUSTIN (Picture): Fruit ripens with and sometimes just after Climax. Plants have good upright growth and flower approximately one week after Climax. The fruit is medium to large in size with a good flavor and stem scar. Austin is recommended for home and commercial use. Suggested pollinators are Alapaha, Climax, Brightwell, and Premier. Chilling requirement is 500 to 550 hours.

BALDWIN : It is a late variety ripening approximately from early July to early August. Plants are moderately vigorous with upright growing habits. Fruit are large, and very dark blue with a good stem scar. Recommended for pick your own and home use. Suggested pollinators are Brightwell, Powderblue and Ochlockonee. Chilling requirement is 600 hours.

BONITA: Fruits early and has low chill hour requirement and should be planted in warm climates (zones 7 and higher). Plants are vigorous but more spreading in nature than other varieties. Bonita needs to be planted in a well drained soil due to occasional root problems. Fruit size is large, firm, has good color, a dry stem scar and is great for fresh market. A suggested pollinator is Climax.

BRIGHTWELL (Picture): Fruit ripens in early to mid June through mid July. Plants have very vigorous and upright growing characteristics. Brightwell is one of the most reliable varieties for fruiting as well as having a harvest period of approximately 35 days making it an excellent choice for all planting applications. Berries have a medium size, excellent flavor, and a dry stem scar. Suggested pollinators are Alapaha, Austin, Powderblue, and Premier. Chilling requirements are 500 to 550 hours.

CHAUCER: Fruits ripens early and has low chill hour requirement and should be planted in warm climates (zones 7 and higher). Plants have vigorous spreading growth habits. Fruit is medium in size with a wet stem scar. With a low chilling requirement it is recommended to plant Chaucer in warmer climates. Chaucer is recommended to be planted for pick your own purposes.

CLIMAX (Picture) : Early fruiting variety that requires 450 to 500 chilling hours maturing normally in the middle of June. Plants have upright growth habits with more of an open spreading crown than other varieties. Climax has been used for years in commercial, pick your own, and home settings. Berries are firm with excellent flavor, good color, and a very small stem scar. Suggested pollinators are Austin and Premier.

DELITE: Late ripening normally in mid to late July. Plants have upright growth habits with average vigor. It has a higher chill requirement of 500 hours with medium size fruit, good flavor, and a dry stem scar. Recommended for home and pick your own use.

OCHLOCKONEE (Picture) (Plant Patent Pending): Part of the Georgia River Series Ochlockonee is a 2002 release of the University of Georgia . Fruit ripens late June through mid August producing excellent yields. It has good berry color, firmness and a dry picking scar. Plant growth habit is very vigorous and upright. Suggested pollinators are Brightwell and Powderblue. Chilling requirement is 600 to 650 hours.

POWDERBLUE (Picture): Ripens mid season. Berries are very light blue in color, medium in size with good firmness and flavor. Plants have an upright, spreading growth habit and are an excellent choice for using in ornamental settings. Powderblue also is a good choice for commercial plantings. Suggested pollinators are Brightwell, Tifblue, and Ochlockonee. Chilling requirement is 550 to 600 hours.

PREMIER (Picture): Ripen early to mid season but usually earlier than other mid season varieties. Fruit are larger in size with excellent color, great flavor and a dry stem scar. Plant growth habit is upright and vigorous. Recommended for all applications but is especially recommended for hand picking. Suggested pollinators are Austin and Brightwell. Chilling requirement is 450 to 500 hours.

TIFBLUE (Picture) : Ripens mid to late season. Fruit are medium size with good flavor and an average stem scar. Plants have a good upright growth habit. Tifblue is one of the oldest cultivars that is still being planted, released in 1955 by the University of Georgia . Tifblue is recommended for home use. Suggested pollinators are Brightwell, Powderblue, and Ochlockonee. Chilling requirement is 600 to 650 hours.

SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES - (Vaccinium hybrids)

BILOXI : Ripens very early. Biloxi has a very low chill requirement of 200 to 300 hours, and should be planted in the southern areas of the southeast. Fruit are medium in size with good color, good firmness, and a distinct flavor. Plants have upright and spreading growth habits. Suggested pollinator is Misty or Star.

COOPER: Early ripening. Plants have vigorous upright growth habits. Fruit is medium in size, have good flavor, firmness, and a dry stem scar. Cooper's chilling requirement is 400 to 500 hours. Suggested pollinator is Georgiagem.

GEORGIAGEM: Early ripening. Plants have upright growth habits with average vigor. Fruit are small to medium in size but have good color, good flavor, and a dry stem scar. Chilling requirement is 350 to 400 hours. Suggested pollinator is Cooper or Jubilee.

JUBILEE: Early to mid season ripening. The fruit are small to medium in size, and have good color, flavor and picking scar. Plant growth habit is upright and vigorous with dark green foliage making it an excellent choice for ornamental plantings. Chilling requirement is approximately 500 hours. Suggested pollinator is Georgiagem.

MISTY: Early ripening. Fruit has good flavor and is large in size. Plant growth habit is moderately vigorous and upright. Misty's chilling requirement is 200 to 300 hours. Suggested pollinator is Biloxi .

O'NEAL: Very early ripening. Fruit are large with good flavor, firmness, and stem scar. Plants are moderately vigorous and semi-upright. Chilling requirements are 450 to 500 hours. Suggested pollinator is Star.

PEARL RIVER : Ripens mid season. Fruit is medium in size with excellent flavor and a small stem scar. Pearl River fruit also has a very dark color. Plant growth habit is vigorous and upright. Chilling requirement is about 500 hours. Suggested pollinator is Jubilee.

STAR (US Plant Patent 10,675): Ripens very early. Fruit are very large with good firmness and flavor. Plant growth habit is fairly vigorous, upright and spreading. Suggested pollinator is O'neal. Chilling requirement is 400 to 500 hours.