Description
BILOXI BLUEBERRY
Vaccinium corymbosum
Origin: Hybridized by Agricultural Research Service for the USDA - 1998
Southern high-bush type cultivar. The background of parents were Fla. 4-B, which is the species, V. darrowi, and Sharpblue. Chilling requirements are very low to nothing, which enables growers in tropical climates to grow the blueberry fruit. Standard height at maturity 5 feet. Width at maturity 3 feet. Ripening time in the southeastern United States will vary upon location. Zone 10 ripens fruit in late April as the plants progress to the north in zone 8 ripening will begin in the later part of May.
Flowering is early due to the varieties low to no chilling requirements. It is recommended to protect the plants from spring frosts during flowering, if the area planted is susceptible to frost. Yields are consistently medium to high, up to 12 pounds per plant on a mature bush.
Quality of the fruit is better than most cultivars and could be rated at 8.5 of a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best. The stem scar is small and does not tear. The berries release from the stems. The plants can be mechanically or hand harvested. When mechanically harvested, up to 50% of the fruits can be used for domestic fresh markets.
The plants grow successfully in a wide range of soils. As with any other blueberry good drainage is beneficial for optimum growth. The plants show good resistance to root diseases and leaf spot. The plants show excellent vigor compared to may of the other low chilling blueberry cultivars. Hardiness Zones 11-8.
Care Info
- Plant Type:Highbush blueberry-height varying between 4 to 12 feet. Deciduous fruiting shrub.
- pH Requirements:4.0 - 5.5
- Soil Type:Well drained sand or sandy loam
- Light Requirements:Full to filtered sun
- Plant Rows Spacing:3 - 5 feet
- Plant Aisle Spacing:5 - 10 feet
- Mulching:Beneficial, but not necessary
- USDA Zones:4 - 10
- Scientific Name:Vaccinium corymbosum
