Northern High Bush Blueberry Varieties

Posted by Sapan Behar

September 8, 2007

Common varieties planted in BC

Here are some of the common blueberry varieties that are suitable for planting in the Fraser Valley. In a follow up post I will discuss some of the recommended and thriving varieties for the Fraser Valley.

Early Season Blueberry Varieties

Earliblue

One of the first blueberry varieties to ripen in the Fraser Valley. Early to bloom, this upright bush produces stout canes with bright red wood. Bushes are about 4 -6 feet in height when fully mature. Berries are light blue, large in size and sweet in colour, resistant to cracking and are primarily for the fresh market. Plant where blueberries are well suited and avoid frost pockets and poorly drained soils. It has potential for mechanical harvesting.

Bluetta

The blueberry variety is a great candidate for colder climates as it blooms a little later and thus is protected from late spring frosts. It ripens early and is a very productive variety in the Fraser Valley, yielding berries that are slightly dark and medium sized, with a unique wild flavour. Bluetta is compact in growth and thus is not well suited for mechanical harvesting.

Duke

Duke is the most widely planted varieties in the Fraser Valley. Most new acreage of blueberries being planted in the Fraser Valley is Duke. It is early ripening, a heavy, consistent producer with an attractive, firm, light blue high quality berry that is suitable for both processing and fresh market. In the Fraser Valley Duke blooms late but ripens early, which protects the blossoms from spring frosts. Branches may droop to the ground when laden with fruit, a trellis should be used as support. It is harvested in two main picks, thus it is very well suited for mechanical harvesting.

Spartan

Spartan is one of the most attractive, easy to pick and best flavored blueberries, making it a favorite at farm market stands. Spartan can be particular about soil types, requiring a site with light, well-drained soils and abundant organic matter. The bush is upright and open with moderate vigour and production. It blooms late, ripens early and is harvested in two main picks.

Reka

One of the most vigourous and productive blueberry varieties for the Fraser Valley. The bushes are upright, machine harvest well and grow on a wide range of soils. The fruit is medium sized, blue, firm and with a small scar. This is primarily for the process market although some growers have been successful at marketing it for the fresh market.

Patriot

This variety is not very common in the Fraser Valley, however it is found in abundance in Pitt Meadows, Richmond and Maple Ridge. The bush is slow growing and productive. The berries hang in large clusters like grapes on the outer periphery of the bush. The bush is of low to medium stature with pliable branches that will yield to heavy snow loads in winter.

Mid Season Blueberry varieties for the Fraser Valley

Bluejay

Bluejay is recommended for growers requiring a variety adapted for mechanical harvesting. The bush grows rapidly and is easy to establish. Berries are borne on loose clusters that will hang for long periods of time so that most of the fruit can be harvested in one picking. The medium sized berry is acceptable for fresh, but is best suited for the process market. Good overall production can be sustained year after year under good growing conditions.

1613-A (Hardyblue)

1613-A is a time proven variety with significant acreage planted throughout the Northwest. It is a heavy producer of excellent quality medium size process berries with consistently high brix (sugar) content. The bush shape, open cluster and concentrated ripening characteristics make it one of the best for mechanical harvesting. This berry is not well suited for fresh market. Highly recommended where a heavy producing process berry is desired.

Draper

This mid-season variety ripens a few days ahead of Bluecrop. It is highly recommended for processing and fresh market and may well be the first variety that can be mechanically harvested for the fresh market. The bush is vigourous, upright and highly productive with concentrated ripening. Fruit is large, light blue in colour, has a small scar, very firm and crips with excellent flavour and shelf-life.

Bluecrop

Bluecrop is still the industry?s standard of excellence, most reliable and by far the most widely planted of any cultivar in BC. It can withstand spring frosts quite well, resulting in high, consistent yields. The fruit can be tart and show a large percentage of ?red backs? if picked too early. The bush is upright and vigourous and is one of the most productive varieties in the Fraser Valley. Fruit is light blue in colour, very large and firm with small scar. Machine harvesting of Bluecrop has become more feasible with the advent of color sorters in the processing lines. Bluecrop is recommended for all facets of blueberry production.

Late Season Varieties for the Fraser Valley

Elliot

For the last decade, Elliott has been the leading late season blueberry for the fresh market. It is used extensively in controlled atmosphere storage programs to extend shelf life for up to 8 weeks. The berries are medium sized, light blue with high acid and slightly tart flavor that ripen over a long period of four to five weeks depending on location. Elliott can be vulnerable to high temperatures during harvest, resulting in soft and wrinkled berries. It is consistently rated as one of the highest producers. Elliott has moderate vigor and must be adequately pruned to retain bush growth and berry size.

Jersey

Jersey is one of the oldest varieties and one of the most dependable. It grows well in most types of soil, producing consistent yields of very sweet fruit. The loose clusters and upright bush are well-suited for mechanical harvesting. Jersey is best suited for the process market where a small to medium sized berry is desirable.

Aurora

Aurora is the latest ripening new release, offering the Fraser Valley growers an opportunity to extend the fresh fruit season beyond Elliott. The berries ripen over three to four pickings and average in size about 25% larger than Elliott with a slightly darker color. Aurora berries can be tart and must be harvested when fully ripe.

So there you have it, some of the common varieties found in the Fraser Valley. There are pockets of some other varieties found in the area, however the acreage is not substantial and most was planted as trials. A grower should first decide what market they are going to produce for: fresh or process. Then the varieties should be carefully picked depending on the soil and weather conditions prevalent in the area.

Sapan

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