By Carolyn Saft

Suwannee River Partnership Education Coordinator/Horticulture Agent

UF IFAS Extension-Suwannee County

Ahhhh…New Year’s resolutions, easy to make, but challenging to keep. Did you resolve to eat healthier in 2008? If you did, then consider looking in your yard for a sunny spot with good drainage to plant a few blueberry plants. As most of you know, blueberries are at the top of the super-food lists and they grow well in North Florida. Many studies have shown the benefits of blueberries for improved vision, enhanced memory, reversed age related physical and mental declines, clearing of arteries, strengthening of blood vessels, disease protection and reducing the risk factors for some cancers. The part of the blueberry with the most nutrient value is the skin.

Blueberries thrive in acidic soils (pH 4.0-5.5) that have plenty of organic matter. If your pH is higher you can add acid sphagnum peat moss into the planting hole and mulch with pine bark. You can also lower your soil pH by mixing granulated sulfur to the planting area. As with other acid loving plants, like azaleas and camellias, keep blueberry plants away from sidewalks, building foundations and driveways as the soil in these areas tend to have a higher pH. At higher soil pH values, iron and zinc become deficient with symptoms showing up on new growth and plants lose their vigor.

The two types of blueberries that grow well in Florida are rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei) and southern highbush (interspecific hybrids of Vaccinium. darrow, Vaccinium ashei and Vaccinium corymbosum). Generally, rabbiteye varieties grow well in colder areas of Florida north of Ocala. Southern highbush varieties are usually grown south of Ocala, even though some are grown in Alachua County.

When selecting a site, be sure and give them plenty of space. Mature rabbiteye plants can reach 12-15 feet in height and spread over an area 8-10 feet in diameter. Southern highbush plants tend to be less vigorous and smaller than rabbiteye blueberries so they only need smaller areas of 5’ x 5’. Blueberries also don’t seem to do as well when they are planted close to hardwood tree root systems, but they seem to do fine when planted near pine trees.

Most blueberry cultivars grown in Florida are not self-pollinating and require cross-pollination from another cultivar. So choose two or three different cultivars to insure good cross-pollination. Another requirement for good fruit set is the presence of pollinators like bees. Proven rabbiteye cultivars to look for are ‘Tiftblue’, ‘Brightwell,’ ‘Powderblue’ and ‘Woodard’ which are mid-late season cultivars that are more productive than the early season cultivars. However, if you want to extend the season, go ahead and plant some early cultivars like ‘Beckyblue,’ ‘Bonita’ and ‘Climax.’



For best results, mix two or more of the following cultivars from these different groupings.

1. ‘Sharpblue’/’Misty’/’Flordablue’/’Avonblue’

2. ‘Beckyblue’/’Climax’/’Bonita’

3. ‘Tiftblue’/’Climax’/’Bonita’/’Tiftblue’/’Powderblue’/’Woodard’/’Brightwell’



Even if you don’t have the right cultural conditions or time to devote to growing your own blueberries, you are in luck! Wellborn has an annual blueberry festival in June and you can get plenty of blueberries to add to salads, muffins, smoothies and yogurt or just eat them right out of the bag. There are also u-pick blueberry farms in the region. For more information, please give us a call at 386-362-2771 or stop by our office at 1302 11th St. S.W, or email csaft318@ufl.edu.

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