Aurora Blueberries

Origin:  Michigan ppaf

1. Highbush type cultivar.
2. Height of plants appears to be 4-5 feet tall at maturity and spreading more than upright.
3. There are three distinct harvest with Aurora. The first and second harvests of ripe berries ripen with Elliott. The last berries can be harvested up to a week after the last harvest of Elliott still with fine quality.
4. Plants of four years of age have yielded acceptable yields. By the appearance of these yields we can state that the mature plants will produce consistent high tonnage of quality fruits when the plants are mature.
5. Fruit size is medium, approximately 75 berries per cup.
6. Berry quality is firm with a tiny dry picking scar. The fruit is suitable for long term storage in controlled atmosphere. Fruits of the second and third harvest will be deep blue to black, without the light blue color. The flavor of the first ripe fruit is mostly acid with only a hint of sweetness. The second and future harvests, the acidity decreases only slightly with slight sweetness.
7. The plants are hand harvested to obtain the best quality for fresh market. The berry cluster is loose and stems of the fruit release easily, so mechanical harvesting could be accomplished. The plants appear to be slightly more spreading than upright so attention to pruning for mechanical harvest is recommended.
8. Marketing of the fruits will be for fresh because of the fine quality of the fruits.
9. The plants seem to adapt to most soil textures and conditions. These plants are of high vigor without the leaf and roof diseases.
10. Aurora is an excellent alternative for late ripening fruits. Hardiness Zones 8-5.