Rabbiteye Blueberry Cultivar Performance

Abstract

‘Tifblue,’ ‘Premier,’ and ‘Powderblue’ were the highest producing cultivars tested. Economic analysis showed these three cultivars generate the greatest income per hectare even though fruit from earlier ripening culitvars received higher prices some years. Late spring frosts resulted in more damage and greater reduction in yields of some early flowering and cold-sensitive cultivars such as ‘Climax,’ ‘Woodard’ and ‘Delite.’ Sequence of maturity dates and number of harvests required per year varied by cultivar and year. Fruit size varied by cultivar and year, with the largest fruit being produced by ‘Delite,’ ‘Climax,’ and ‘Powderblue.’ Fruit of ‘Climax,’ ‘Garden Blue,’ ‘Homebelle,’ and ‘Menditoo’ had the highest percent soluble solids and ‘Delite’ had the lowest.