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Blueberry
These varieties of blueberry plants perform well in warm conditions and provide a good bounty of berries. To grow successfully provide organic matter and ample moisture along with a soil pH of 5.5, also ideal for azaleas. Blueberries make excellent potted specimens provided 25% of Peat Moss is added to the potting mix. Potted plants are a great gardening project for Children who delight in harvesting the fruit. Low chill varieties such as 'Misty' and 'Sharpblue' can be pruned after cropping to induce a second crop that will ensure a supply of delicious fruit throughout the year.
Blueberries apart from being delicious have many fantastic health benefits. They are extremely high in antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as lowering cholesterol in the blood, it is also claimed that they improve motor skills, balance and co-ordination in elderly people. The longer the fruits are left on the bush to mature the greater the health benefits are so if you can beat the birds leave the fruits to the last minute to pick.
The variety Biloxi was developed as a pollinator for Misty in Mississippi, for early season areas. One of the parents of this variety is Sharpeblue. In early trial plantings on the North Coast, it has fruited well with large medium flavoured berries early, but the fruit size drops off towards the end of the season. The fruit is light blue, with a mottled bloom appearance. It is of average flavour, with a medium scar and firm fruit. So far, in trial plantings, Biloxi has a habit of producing late spring flowering and a second harvest, during January and February.
The Misty is a true enigma, in that where it grows vigorously, such as on the red kraznozem soils of Northern NSW, it is very profitable and popular, yet on other soils it has often not grown well and is not a variety of popular choice. To produce high quality, early fruit, Misty is best grown under the evergreen system with attention being paid to nutrition and leaf diseases in order to keep the older leaves. It is an early fruiting variety, with light blue, medium to large fruit of excellent flavour.
Vigorous, upright, high yielding and very consistent bearer of medium-sized fruit with a very superior flavor and sweetness. Rated as one of the highest flavor blueberries. The quality of the fruit is superior to many cultivars and has long storage time of around 8 days if kept refrigerated. The fresh market is recommended due to the high quality of the fruit flavor. A mid season, medium chill variety that extends the blueberry season! Well suited to most regions of NSW.
Vigorous, upright plant, which produces outstanding yields of medium-sized fruit. Rabbiteyes are hardy and well suited to the subtropics. It ripens early to midseason.
One of the toughest blueberry varieties. It is a late season variety that may be planted with Tifblue for good cross-pollination. It can be mechanically harvested for fresh fruit, and the fruit has a very attractive pale blue colour, is medium in firmness and medium in size.
A low chill high bush variety. Excellent flavour, firmness and good picking scar. A vigorous upright bush with moderate toughness and good tolerance to root rot.
A Rabbiteye variety released from North Carolina this variety is an early season rabbiteye variety, that produces fruit of excellent colour, size and flavour. The bushes are vigorous and productive, and have been suited to mechanical harvesting.
Comments (2)NEW | 140mm pot | $14.90 AU | In Production | 
Excellent quality large fruit. Very low chill requirements and self-pollinating. A tough and vigorous bush. It has grown well in both sandy soils and heavier loams. The fruit has a wet scar, and is likely to become soft during very hot weather, meaning that it needs to be harvested frequently to overcome this.
Comments (22)NEW | 140mm pot | $14.90 AU | In Production |
An excellent eating variety for the subtropics with very low chilling requirements. Cropping extends from July through to October. Self pollinating. A delight for the children this blueberry bears regularly and has large sized fruit.
Comments (5)NEW | 140mm pot | $14.90 AU | In Production |
A highbush selection requiring 750-1200 hours of chill, it does best on cooler climates. Earliest fruiting variety from early December. Good size fruit. Most important. Blueberries require an acid soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. They also require a free draining loose friable soil. They dislike clay heavy soils. To aide the successful establishment of bushes it is best to build up beds by incorporating peat moss and garden soils at a 50/50 ratio. Peat is preferred as it is naturally acidic.
175mm pot | $24.75 AU | In Production |
An ornamental blueberry that grows to about one metre high. It has attractive small leaves and a very attractive pink flower. The fruit is small to medium, dark, and of average flavour. The plants may be used as landscape specimens, and in patio containers.
Comments (19)NEW | 140mm pot | $14.90 AU | In Production |
This Rabbiteye variety was introduced in Georgia in 1955 and was for many years the standard by which all other rabbiteye varieties were judged. The fruit is firm and light blue, and has a good flavour when it is properly ripened. The fruit is in loose clusters, is firm and has a dry stem scar, making it suitable for mechanical harvesting. The fruiting period is as for powderblue and the bush is very productive and vigorous, for many years.
Comments (1)NEW | 140mm pot | $14.90 AU | Seeking Propagation Material |
An early season Rabbiteye variety that grows upright and has proven its toughness in various difficult soil locations. The berries have a good flavour, are medium in size, medium blue colour, and have a small scar. This variety was selected for its potential to machine harvest, and its concentrated ripening period. Planted with Premier, it is a good commercial choice.
Comments (2)NEW | 140mm pot | $14.90 AU | Seeking Propagation Material |
A highbush selection requiring 750-1200 hours of chill, it does best on cooler climates. Tall growing and extremely vigorous this blueberry is prolific. Start picking before Christmas and have blueberries into March. Most important. Blueberries require an acid soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. They also require a free draining loose friable soil. They dislike clay heavy soils. To aide the successful establishment of bushes it is best to build up beds by incorporating peat moss and garden soils at a 50/50 ratio. Peat is preferred as it is naturally acidic.
175mm pot | $24.75 AU | Seeking Propagation Material |
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 3 | Medium | Beneficial | Deciduous | July - February |
We welcome your Tips on Blueberry. Share Your Tip.
You must have multiple plants to get any decent amount of berries. Birds are a real nuisance. Tub growth for protection is recommended. Plants are hardy enough. Variety Biloxi is best for warmer regions. Keep moist, don't over fertilise. | David White - Newcastle, NSW 28-May-2006
Everyone should be growing this nutritious fruit .... the four varieties i bought from daleys are easy to grow and prolific, producing fruit twice a year in spring and now again in autumn | Richard Walter - Balgownie, NSW 26-Mar-2007
A tip I got off an old Indian blueberry farmer from Woolgoolga I told him that I never got much fruit off my plants, he explained to me "good drainage and plenty of water even water twice a day in the growing,fruiting season now all are covered in flowers | Ron Briggs - South Grafton, NSW 18-Aug-2007
Could some please advise me on what varieties to plant. I want to grow blue berries as an informal hedge. | Marion Bonnici - Malvern East, VIC 31-Mar-2008
I have my Sharpe in a pot and has given fruit once. I want to plant it in granite soil. Tenterfield area. What do you think? Plant it out and hope for the best or keep in the pot. | Leighton Breen - Tenterfield, NSW 11-Apr-2008
I would like to grow a blueberry tree(s). However, I am not sure what varieties would be suitable for my area? I am in the Hills District, Sydney (app. 8km from Parramatta). Can anyone suggest a few varieties? Thank you | Tue Moy - Winston Hills, NSW 12-Jan-2009
What type of blueberry would be best to grow just south of Perth WA, we don't really get a frost, we are very close to ocean | Justine Melbourne - Falcon, WA 16-Jan-2009
I have bought two blueberry plants. They are fantastic.. but i don't know what variety they are.. they have fairly small narrow pointy leaves and it grows in a really odd shape.The plant gets lots of long odd shape new growth.Anyone know what type it is? | Bec Averillo - Brisbane, QLD 30-Jan-2009
The blueberries planted in prepared ground were still very slow to grow. When potted up in Azalia/Camelia potting mix they have since thrived. Correct PH is important. | Julie Fairbairn - Braybrook, VIC 18-Apr-2009
We planted 6 varieties and found Backyard Blue to be the best tasting. | Edward Henner - Carlingford, NSW 31-Jul-2011
I have had this Misty variety just growing on it's own for three years now and though it doesn't seem to produce much fruit (I think my 11 year old gets to them way too quick!) they are incredibly delicious in flavour - a real sweet 'blue' taste to them. | B F - Springfield, NSW 25-Aug-2011
Roots are close to the surface so mulch well. Oak leaves, pine needles and used coffee grounds are all acidic and ideal for blueberries. Each spring surface dress with a small amount of blood and bone around the drip-line. All this keeps mine happy. | Julie M - Yarra Ranges, VIC 26-Sep-2011
I had several which couldn't handle Perth heat and partial (4-5 hours a day)sun. All fell over....Now have two in pots on the patio and they only get an hour of sun before sunset - and they are thriving. Plenty of berries - every day when in season. | Charles L - Perth, WA 26-Dec-2011
Mountain Blue Orchards
University of Florida Blueberry Facts
Updated: 25th of August, 2009 at 11:28am © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright