Galaxy Blueberry - Wholesale

Description

GALAXY BLUEBERRY

Vaccinium corymbosum

Inventor: Danny Hartmann - PP34132

Low Chill Highbush cultivar. Chilling requirements are very low 100 hours. Flowering occurs without the use of dormant
enhancing chemicals. The plants do remain dormant in cooler zones unlike other southern highbush types. We are currently testing the variety in zone 5. The mature height of the plants is 4.5 to 5 feet and upright with a width of 3 feet. Plants are high in vigor with acceptable growth in most soil types. Ripening time is very early with competing with other early ripening cultivars. Colibri will ripen within days after the Galaxy, a great attributed compliment to a harvest season. The yields are high, 8 pounds (3.6 kilo) per plant.

Fruits are borne on the terminals of the fruiting stems with concentrated ripening with 40% of the fruits ripening in the first harvest. The fruits are of fine quality with small dry scars. The berries have a long shelf life and can be stored for 8 weeks at 35 F (1.6 C). The fruits are extra sweet with pleasant aromas. The brix is 12.5 when the fruits are ready for harvest for the fresh commercial markets. If fruits are allowed to ripen for the U-Pick, farm markets or home gardens, the brix will be considerably higher. Galaxy is the best flavored blueberry in the markets. Fruits are considered large, 2.0 to 2.5 grams per fruit. The light blue fruits are attractive post-harvest presenting eye appeal in the markets. Harvesting is accomplished by hand for most growers due to the early ripening of the fruits.

Mechanical harvesting is acceptable due to the plant stature, structure, and firm berry quality. Marketing of the fruits is primarily for fresh marketing due to the fine quality and flavor of the berries. Plants have exhibited resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi.