Blueberry

Duke is the leading early-ripening variety of tall blueberry. Bred in 1986 in the USA. It is known for its high yield and quality berries of uniform size. On average, you can collect about 6 kg of berries from a bush. Duke’s mild taste improves when stored in the refrigerator. When growing, it is necessary to choose an area with well-drained soils of light mechanical composition and carefully observe the technology. This variety is suitable for both mechanized and manual harvesting. The Duke variety is free to distribute and does not require a license.

Use – fresh market, processing.

The berries are light blue in color, dense, with a mild taste, juicy and large (up to 2 cm). They ripen simultaneously in bunches.

The bush is earthy, erect, vigorous, 150-180 cm high, forms a large number of shoots.

Frost resistance is high, it can withstand temperature drops down to -34°C.

The collection season is from the beginning to the end of July (in the conditions of Northern Ukraine). The period between flowering and harvesting is only 45 days.

Duke is an early variety that is extremely adaptable to a variety of climates and placements. It is winter-hardy for northern regions and adapted for warm climates in southern Europe.

This is an early ripening variety with a relatively late flowering period, thanks to which the variety is practically not damaged by early spring frosts. Released in 1978 and put into production in 1981. The Spartan variety is free to distribute and does not require a license.

The bush is vigorous, upright, 150-200 cm high.

Berries of large size, light blue color. The perianth is small, the separation is dry. The taste of berries of this variety is very pleasant, tart-sweet. The size is 16-18 mm in diameter, they become smaller by the third collection.

The variety is highly productive, but demanding on growing conditions. It grows and bears fruit best in well-drained areas with an optimal soil (or substrate) pH level of 4.5-5.5.

To obtain maximum productivity, it is desirable to grow the variety on plots with other varieties to ensure cross-pollination.

The mid-early variety was bred in 1976 and put into production only in 1997. The Patriot variety is free to distribute and does not require a license.

A bush of medium growth, 120-140 cm high.

Berries of the first harvest are very large, then they become smaller, flattened, light blue in color, very pleasant to the taste. The perianth is small, the separation is dry.

Berries are collected in dense clusters, the first collection is done by hand, then mechanized harvesting is possible.

The variety is highly productive, prone to thickening and crop overload. Therefore, in order to avoid a decrease in the size of the berries, it requires increased pruning and thinning of the shoots.

The variety is resistant to root rot (Phytophtora spp.), well adapted to growing on heavy soils and areas with a risk of waterlogging.

The variety is considered self-pollinating, but if there are other varieties on the site that will provide cross-pollination, higher and more stable yields can be expected.

The medium-ripening variety was bred in 1941 and put into production in 1952.

Until recent years, the Bluecrop blueberry variety was the most common in the industry. A standard variety against which other cultural varieties are compared. It is easy to grow and has very few problems. Sort

Bluecrop is free to distribute and does not require a license. The bush is vigorous, upright, 160-200 cm tall.

It is characterized by high productivity (4-9 kg from an adult bush) and good adaptation to soil conditions, it withstands drought relatively well. Begins to bear fruit at the end of July.

Berries of medium-large size (1.8-2.0 g), light blue color with a small perianth. The fruit can be tart and have a high percentage of “red backs” if picked too early. Machine picking remains a challenge, but has become more feasible with the use of color sorters in process lines. The Bluecrop variety is recommended for sale on the local market.

Prone to overloading the harvest (in this case, the berries may have a characteristic reddish color). Requires increased pruning.
One of the most frost-resistant varieties (withstands temperature drops to -34 °C).

A relatively new mid-ripening blueberry variety. Bred from the Duke variety (breeder James F. Hancock, University of Michigan, USA).

Bush 150 cm high, 1 m wide. Upright habit. The variety is self-pollinated, but with cross-pollination, the fruits are larger and better. Diameter 1.0-1.5 cm, average weight 1.6 g, purple-blue color, small and dry place of separation. The fruits are very uniform and have excellent color retention after harvest. Compared to the Bluecrop variety, the berries are more elastic and durable, the taste is much better and the shelf life is much longer. Berries are suitable for fresh consumption, freezing, and processing: jam, jelly, yogurts. Draper ripens a few days after Duke, but earlier than Bluecrop. It has concentrated ripening periods. A very good variety for machine harvesting. Requires protection from moniliosis (mummification of berries) and well-drained, light soils. Not recommended for wet and cold areas.

The variety is licensed and not available for free distribution.

The medium-ripe variety was put into production in 1988. The Blugold variety is free to distribute and does not require a license.

A cold-resistant variety with high productivity and excellent berry quality. The bush is medium-sized, semi-spreading, up to 120 cm high. The berries are very firm, aromatic and evenly spaced with a small, deep scar. Berries of medium size, pleasant sweet-sour taste with a small perianth. The variety is not prone to crushing berries. Due to concentrated ripening, it is economically beneficial for manual and mechanical harvesting. Berries quickly gain color, but are prone to shedding. Transportability is good, with immediate cooling the berries are well preserved, suitable for long-term storage under conditions of a controlled environment.

The variety is highly productive, the plant forms a large number of branches and lays many fruit buds, therefore it is prone to overloading with the harvest. Requires increased pruning and thinning.
Winter hardiness is high, it can withstand a temperature drop to -34 °C.

The bush is erect, fast-growing, strongly branched, reaching a height of 1.5 m.

The berries are very large, more than 20 mm in diameter, weighing about 2 g. It often produces fruits with a diameter of more than 25 mm. Yield is high, fruiting is regular. The berries are blue, tasty, dense, with a small scar. A very long ripening period (4-6 weeks) – from the beginning of August to the middle of September. The variety grows well in a temperate climate.

The variety is obtained as a result of crossing Brigitta Blue and Elliot varieties.

The late-ripening variety of blueberry was bred in 1997 on the basis of Michigan State University by breeder James F. Hancock and patented in 2004.

The bush is medium-sized and semi-spreading with a large number of moderately branched shoots, 1.5 m high and 1.2 m wide.

A self-pollinated variety, however, with cross-pollination, the quality and size of the berries increase. The berries are 1.1-1.3 cm long, 1.4-1.8 cm in diameter, the average weight of the fruit is 1.5 g, the color of the berries is purple-blue. Compared to the Elliot variety, Liberty fruits have a brighter color, denser flesh, drier pulp and the same, high antioxidant content.

The berries are medium-sized, light blue in color with a small perianth and a dry tear, collected in loose clusters. They have a pleasant taste and aroma. The size of the berries is uniform.

Berries have a strong skin, suitable for long-term storage. They tolerate transportation well. Dessert grade, suitable for freezing, making jams, jellies, and yogurts. High temperatures during harvest can result in soft fruit. Berries are extremely easy to separate

The variety is suitable for mechanized harvesting. The harvest ripens 5 days earlier than the Elliot variety and differs from the latter in better taste and product quality.

The variety is characterized by high frost resistance to minus 37oC and adaptability to temperature changes in the autumn-spring period.

An American variety obtained by crossing Brigitta Blue and Elliot, breeder James F. Hancock, Michigan State University. Habit erect to semi-spreading.

Bushes 1.5 m high, 1.3 m in diameter. The variety is self-pollinated, but cross-pollination improves the quality of the fruits. The diameter of the berry is 0.8-1.4 cm, the average weight is 1.5 g, it is misty blue in color, there is a small and dry part of the tear. Berries are on average 25% larger than Elliot’s, with a slightly darker color.

Compared to the Elliot variety, it has better density, taste and a longer shelf life. The fruits can be used fresh, frozen, and made into jam, jelly, and yogurt. Aurora ripens a few days after the Elliot variety. High resistance to anthracnose and both phases of berry mummification.