Photo by Nadeykina Evgeniya on Unsplash win , Centurion , and Ochlocknee . Alapaha , Vernon , Titan , and Ochlocknee are some of the newest varieties that I know of and have been bred for production in Georgia .
If you cannot acquire any rabbiteye blueberry bushes , southern highbush would be the next best option for our area . Southern highbush sets fruit earlier than rabbiteye , are self-fertile , but quality is improved in areas with more than one variety . Early season southern highbush ; like Suziblue , Palmetto , and O ’ Neal will ripen 2 to 3 weeks before early rabbiteyes . Camellia , Jubilee , and Magnolia are mid-season varieties and will ripen 8 to 12 days before early rabbiteyes .
Once you ’ ve chosen which variety you would like to grow , next you ’ ll need to focus your efforts on careful establishment . Blueberries will thrive in an area with six to eight hours of sun a day . However , I ’ ve noticed that some have the ability to still produce some fruit in partial shade . Blueberries like moist soils with higher organic matter but like most plants cannot stand “ wet feet ” so avoided poorly drained areas . Also consider your closest water source in case of a drought during establishment .
Once you have chosen where you will plant your blueberry bushes , take a soil sample . The results from the soil sample will provide instructions on what nutrients are lacking and whether the pH needs to be amended . Blueberries prefer more acidic soils . If the area that you plan to grow the bushes in has been limed you will likely need to lower the pH with a sulfur-based product .
Do not use lime around blueberries . Till the soil deeply adding organic matter or milled pine bark .
Dig planting holes at least two to five times the width of the root ball . Break out the roots if plants are pot bound and plant bushes no deeper than they originally grew to prevent the trunk from being girdled . Prune the plant back from one-third to one-half its size at planting to ease transplant shock . Remove small twigs – to remove flower buds and allow the plant to get better established . Remove all flowers and fruit the during the first year to make more resources available for growth . Plant them four feet apart , if you want them to grow together into an aesthetically pleasing hedge . Plant them eight to ten feet apart if you want to be able to walk between them for easy harvesting .
Blueberries are a rewarding plant to grow , but problems or questions may come up . For help with home garden blueberries contact your local UGA Extension Office for more information .
UGA Extension Thomas County can be reached at ( 229 ) 225-4130 .
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