"Vaccinium corymbosum"

 

Farthing

Leaves tend to be healthy and relatively free of leaf spot diseases. The berries are large and firm, and they have a good picking scar but tend to be dark in color because of low surface wax content. ‘Farthing’ produces numerous flower buds, and dormant pruning may be required to prevent over-fruiting. Southern Highbush are early cultivars best suited for the lighter freezes central to south Florida.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a-9b
Chill Hours: 300
Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous with leaves turning red before falling off
Plant Type: Perennial
Pollinator: Cross pollination with another TYPE 1 Southern Highbush variety
Blooming Season: February-April
Ripening Season: Late April-Mid May
Years to Bear Fruit/Edible Qualities: Will fruit first year, expect 5lbs for a 3 year old plant
Full Size: Shrubs growing 6'-20'
Cold Tolerance: This variety is best suited for mild winter temperatures specific to the regions of central Florida
Light Requirements: Full Sun for more fruits
Drought Tolerance/Watering: Fruiting season requires heavy watering, minimal irrigation is needed during droughts or winter.
Soil & Site Requirements: Acidic & well drained soil is required if planting in the ground. We recommend using our blueberry soil blend of composted pine mulch; mixing into the soil & layering it on top as mulch. Consider planting into raised beds. Prune plants when transplanting, leaving main stem long and twiggy growth cut back. Plants will fruit in pots, requiring transplanting to a large pot over time.
Links: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg360


Emerald

Emerald combines a vigorous, spreading bush with high yield potential, early ripening, and large, high-quality berries. Southern Highbush are early cultivars best suited for the lighter freezes central to south Florida.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a-9b
Chill Hours: 250
Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous with leaves turning red before falling off
Plant Type: Perennial
Pollinator: Cross pollination with another TYPE 1 Southern Highbush variety
Blooming Season: February-April
Ripening Season: Late April-Mid May
Years to Bear Fruit/Edible Qualities: Will fruit first year, expect 5lbs for a 3 year old plant
Full Size: Shrubs growing 6'-20'
Cold Tolerance: This variety is best suited for mild winter temperatures specific to the regions of central Florida
Light Requirements: Full Sun for more fruits
Drought Tolerance/Watering: Fruiting season requires heavy watering, minimal irrigation is needed during droughts or winter.
Soil & Site Requirements: Acidic & well drained soil is required if planting in the ground. We recommend using our blueberry soil blend of composted pine mulch; mixing into the soil & layering it on top as mulch. Consider planting into raised beds. Prune plants when transplanting, leaving main stem long and twiggy growth cut back. Plants will fruit in pots, requiring transplanting to a large pot over time.
Links: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg359


Springhigh

Springhigh is a vigorous, upright cultivar that has exceptionally good survival in the field. Springhigh appears to be adapted to north-central and central Florida and ripens about 5–10 days earlier than the standard mid-season cultivars. The berries are very large and have good to excellent flavor. Berries of ‘Springhigh’ have less waxy bloom on their surfaces, making them darker than most other cultivars. Southern Highbush are early cultivars best suited for the lighter freezes central to south Florida.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a-9b
Chill Hours: 300
Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous with leaves turning red before falling off
Plant Type: Perennial
Pollinator: Cross pollination with another TYPE 1 Southern Highbush variety
Blooming Season: February-April
Ripening Season: Late April-Mid May
Years to Bear Fruit/Edible Qualities: Will fruit first year, expect 5lbs for a 3 year old plant
Full Size: Shrubs growing 6'-20'
Cold Tolerance: This variety is best suited for mild winter temperatures specific to the regions of central Florida
Light Requirements: Full Sun for more fruits
Drought Tolerance/Watering: Fruiting season requires heavy watering, minimal irrigation is needed during droughts or winter.
Soil & Site Requirements: Acidic & well drained soil is required if planting in the ground. We recommend using our blueberry soil blend of composted pine mulch; mixing into the soil & layering it on top as mulch. Consider planting into raised beds. Prune plants when transplanting, leaving main stem long and twiggy growth cut back. Plants will fruit in pots, requiring transplanting to a large pot over time.
Links: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg362


Sweetcrisp

The berry is sweet with a crisp crunch at the first bite. It is very firm and has exceptional postharvest life. The berries are smaller than those of ‘Emerald’, ‘Star’, and ‘Windsor’. Southern Highbush are early cultivars best suited for the lighter freezes central to south Florida.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a-9b
Chill Hours: 250
Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous with leaves turning red before falling off
Plant Type: Perennial
Pollinator: Cross pollination with another TYPE 1 Southern Highbush variety
Blooming Season: February-April
Ripening Season: Late April-Mid May
Years to Bear Fruit/Edible Qualities: Will fruit first year, expect 5lbs for a 3 year old plant
Full Size: Shrubs growing 6'-20'
Cold Tolerance: This variety is best suited for mild winter temperatures specific to the regions of central Florida
Light Requirements: Full Sun for more fruits
Drought Tolerance/Watering: Fruiting season requires heavy watering, minimal irrigation is needed during droughts or winter.
Soil & Site Requirements: Acidic & well drained soil is required if planting in the ground. We recommend using our blueberry soil blend of composted pine mulch; mixing into the soil & layering it on top as mulch. Consider planting into raised beds. Prune plants when transplanting, leaving main stem long and twiggy growth cut back. Plants will fruit in pots, requiring transplanting to a large pot over time.
Links: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg363


WINDSOR

Windsor is vigorous, with stout stems and a semi-spreading growth habit. ‘Windsor’ appears to be best adapted to north-central Florida but has been grown successfully as far south as Hardee County. Southern Highbush are early cultivars best suited for the lighter freezes central to south Florida.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a-9b
Chill Hours: 400
Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous with leaves turning red before falling off
Plant Type: Perennial
Pollinator: Cross pollination with another TYPE 1 Southern Highbush variety
Blooming Season: February-April
Ripening Season: Late April-Mid May
Years to Bear Fruit/Edible Qualities: Will fruit first year, expect 5lbs for a 3 year old plant
Full Size: Shrubs growing 6'-20'
Cold Tolerance: This variety is best suited for mild winter temperatures specific to the regions of central & north central Florida
Light Requirements: Full Sun for more fruits
Drought Tolerance/Watering: Fruiting season requires heavy watering, minimal irrigation is needed during droughts or winter.
Soil & Site Requirements: Acidic & well drained soil is required if planting in the ground. We recommend using our blueberry soil blend of composted pine mulch; mixing into the soil & layering it on top as mulch. Consider planting into raised beds. Prune plants when transplanting, leaving main stem long and twiggy growth cut back. Plants will fruit in pots, requiring transplanting to a large pot over time.
Links: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg364