for Michigan
Blueberry Varieties
for Michigan
Jim Hancock and Eric Hanson
Site Selection
The traditional range for highbush blueberry production is south of a line extending from Muskegon to the lower end of Saginaw Bay. Commercial production is difficult north of this line due to the combination of a shorter growing season (highbush varieties generally need greater than 160 frost-free days) and increasingly severe winter temperatures (-20 to -25°F will injure most highbush varieties). However, acceptable highbush production can be accomplished in northern Michigan in those zones moderated by the effects of the Great Lakes (USDA Hardiness zones 5-6; Figure 1). Most areas above this line are in Zones 4-5, and "half-high" types are the best choice in these areas. Half-high varieties are hybrids of highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) and lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium). They are low in stature (2-4 ft tall) and tolerate more severe winter conditions than most highbush varieties.
Blueberries require specific soil conditions for good growth and production. Optimum soils are sandy, high in organic matter and very acidic (optimum pH 4.5 to 5.0). Native "blueberry soils" generally have a shallow water table (2-3 foot depth) that supplies uniform moisture during the growing season. Flooded soils are undesirable, and some varieties like Bluecrop and Duke are readily damaged by high moisture levels. Blueberries can be grown on upland soils (those with low organic soils and a deep water table), but plants require more inputs and generally grow more slowly. Consult Extension Bulletin E-564 "Hints on Growing Blueberries," for complete information on blueberry culture.
Variety Selection
Choose varieties adapted to Michigan conditions. Varieties have been bred for use from Florida through Michigan, so only consider regionally adapted types. When possible, determine what varieties have performed well for other growers in your area. If local information is limited, consider starting a small test planting of several varieties before you plant on a large scale. Also consider the intended use; some varieties are better suited to freezing/processing, fresh shipping, Pick-Your-Own or on-farm sales.
Consider several characteristics when you select varieties: 1) picking season, 2) yield, 3) fruit quality, 4) hardiness, 5) harvesting ease, 6) amount of pruning required, and 7) disease resistance. These traits are listed in Tables 1, 2 and Chart 1.
The most important varieties in Michigan are currently Bluecrop, Jersey, Elliott, Duke, Rubel and Bluejay. Jersey and Rubel have long been the backbone of the Michigan industry, but planting of these varieties has declined over the last several decades. Bluecrop has been the most widely planted cultivar over the last 25 , being favored for its very high, dependable yields. Elliott and Duke have become very popular in the last decade, Elliott for its very late harvest and storability, and Duke for its large, firm fruit, late bloom and early harvest. Bluejay has been a minor variety for years, being desired for its high quality, machine harvested fruit. At one time, Spartan and Patriot showed promise in Michigan, but Spartan has proven difficult to grow on all but the best blueberry sites and Patriot is very early blooming and subject to spring frosts.
A large group of additional cultivars have been released by the USDA in the last two decades, including Bluegold, Chandler, Legacy, Little Giant, Nelson, Sierra, Sunrise and Toro. Nelson is highly recommended for trial because of its upright habit, high yields and flavorful, firm fruit. Toro is attractive because of its very high fruit quality, but it has the same fruiting season as Bluecrop and lower yields. Little Giant is promising because it has very small fruit that hang well and are appropriate for the processed market, but it is low in stature, bushy and may need a pollinizer. Bluegold has the potential for very high yields, but is very bushy and not as late as was initially hoped. Sierra, Chandler and Legacy are not sufficiently winter hardy for the most northern production regions.
Other recent northern highbush releases include: Bonus, Chanticleer and Friendship. Friendship is a wild clone from Wisconsin that was released because it is unusually cold hardy for a highbush type; however, it has very small, dark fruit and has not performed better than half-high types in Minnesota. Bonus shows promise as a large fruited, late type, but is little tested. Chanticleer is a very early type that may compete with Weymouth in New Jersey, although it appears highly susceptible to spring frosts and has been little tested. A number of northern highbush types have also been released out of the breeding programs in Arkansas, Florida and North Carolina; however, these are probably of insufficient hardiness for areas with very cold winters and frosty springs.
Several northern highbush types have been released from Australia, New Zealand and Germany, including Bluerose, Brigitta, Denise (Australia), Gila and Greta (Germany), and Puru, Nui and Reka (New Zealand). The Australian cultivars were selected from seed sent by S. Johnson of Michigan State University in 1970. Nui and Puru have exceptionally large fruit, although they have not proven winter hardy in Minnesota. Brigitta shows high promise as a very firm, long storage type, but it is relatively untested in North America and may be insufficiently hardy for the colder production regions.
Of the half-highs, Northblue has become the most popular. It propagates well, has among the largest fruit, is consistently productive and is highly self fertile, although it does best with a pollinizer. St. Cloud is dropping in popularity, because it is difficult to propagate in culture and needs a pollinizer. Northland has the best overall fruit quality of the half-highs and has become a minor cultivar in traditional highbush zones due to its productivity. Northsky and North Country, are very low in stature and are only occasionally planted. The most recent releases, Polaris and Chippewa, have among the largest fruit and can be used to extend the fruiting season.
Specific recommendations - Southern Michigan
The varieties most acceptable for mechanical harvesting and processed uses on a commercial scale are: Bluecrop, Bluejay, Duke, Elliott, Jersey, Little Giant, Nelson, Patriot, Rubel and Spartan. Varieties best suited for fresh packing and shipping include Bluecrop, Bluejay, Blueray, Duke, Elliott, Nelson, Spartan, and Toro. Varieties adequate for "U-Pick" marketing are: Berkeley, Bluecrop, Bluejay, Blueray, Burlington, Collins, Coville, Duke, Elliott, Jersey, Lateblue, Nelson, Northland, Patriot, Rubel, Spartan and Toro.
Specific recommendations - Northern Michigan
Choose varieties with sufficient hardiness. For processed uses, consider highbush Blueray, Jersey, Northland and Patriot, and halfhigh Northblue and Chippewa. Suitable varieties for fresh fruit sales are highbush Blueray, Bluetta and Patriot, and half-high Northblue and Chippewa.
Planting Stock
Buy inspected plants which have a State Certificate of Inspection. Plant 2-year-old plants if available. Three-year-old plants are satisfactory, but can cost more. If you do plant stock older than 3 years, make sure they were not culls which were too weak to sell as 2- or 3-year-olds. Most commercial growers plant 2-year-old plants.
Figure 1. United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones in Michigan.
Figure 2. Fruiting season of common blueberry varieties.
Acknowledgments
The comments of Mike and Joe DeGrandchamp, Jim Luby, Mark Ehlenfeldt, Al Stretch, Dave Trinka and Dave Wildung are greatfully acknowledged.
Related Publications
Extension Bulletin E-154, "Michigan Fruit Management
Guide,’
| TABLE 1. Characteristics of common blueberry varieties in Michigan | |||||||
Cultivar |
Season |
Yield in Michigan |
Fruit Quality |
||||
Size |
Color |
Scar |
Firmness |
Flavor |
|||
| Berkeley | Midseason | moderate | large | light blue | large, but dry | firm | fair, low acid |
| Bonus | Midseason | moderate | very large | light blue | small | firm | good |
| Bluecrop | Midseason | moderate to high | medium to large | light blue | small | very firm | good, tart |
| Bluegold | Late | high | medium | light blue | small | firm | good |
| Bluehaven | Early midseason |
low to moderate | medium | light blue | small | firm | fair |
| Bluejay | Early midseason |
moderate to high | medium | light blue | small | very firm | mild, slightly tart |
| Blueray | Midseason | moderate to high | large | medium blue | medium | firm | good |
| Bluetta | Very early | erratic; moderate to high | medium | medium blue | medium | medium | fair |
| Brigitta | late | low to moderate | large | light blue | small | very firm | good |
| Burlington | Late | moderate to high | medium | light blue | small | firm | good |
| Chippewa | midseason | moderate | medium | v. light blue | small - medium | medium - firm | good |
| Collins | Early midseason |
moderate | large | light blue | small | firm | good |
| Coville | Late midseason |
moderate | very large | medium blue | medium | firm | good, tart |
| Darrow | Late | low | large | light blue | small | firm | excellent |
| Duke | Early | high | large | medium blue | small | firm | good |
| Earliblue | Very early | low to moderate | medium | medium blue | medium | medium | good |
| Elliott | Very late | very high | medium | light blue | small | very firm | good |
| Jersey | Late midseason |
moderate to high | medium | light blue | medium | firm | fair |
| Lateblue | Very late | moderate | medium to large | dark blue | medium | firm | fair, tart |
| Little Giant | midseason | high | very small | medium blue | medium | medium | good |
| Nelson | late | high | large | light blue | small | firm | good |
| Northblue | Early midseason |
low - moderate | medium | dark blue | medium | medium | fair, acid |
| Northcountry | Early midseason |
low | very small | light blue | small - medium | soft | good, sweet |
| Northland | Early midseason |
very high | medium | medium blue | medium | soft | fair |
| Northsky | midseason | low | very small | light blue | small - medium | soft | good, sweet |
| Patriot | Early midseason |
high | large | medium blue | small | firm | excellent |
| Polaris | early | moderate | medium | light blue | small | firm | excellent |
| Rancocas | Midseason | moderate to high | small | dark blue | medium | firm, can crack | good |
| Rubel | Midseason | moderate to high | small to medium | medium blue | medium | firm | fair |
| Sierra | midseason | low to medium | medium | light blue | small | firm | good |
| St. Cloud | Early | moderate | medium to large | dark blue | medium- large | medium | excellent |
| Spartan | Early midseason |
moderate to high | large | light blue | medium | firm | excellent |
| Sunrise | Early midseason |
low | medium | medium blue | medium | medium | good |
| Toro | midseason | moderate | large | light blue | small | firm | good |
| Weymouth | Very early | moderate | medium to small | dark blue | medium | soft | poor |
| TABLE 2. Characteristics of common blueberry varieties in Michigan. | |||||
Cultivar |
Growth habit |
Hardiness |
Propagation ease |
Amount of pruning |
Known disease resistance |
| Berkeley | upright, bushy | limited | easy | moderate | susceptible to mummyberry and phomopsis canker; resistant to powdery mildew |
| Bonus | upright, open | hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Bluecrop | upright, open | hardy | difficult | moderate | moderately resistant to mummyberry, powdery mildew and red ringspot; very resistant to shoestring |
| Bluegold | low, bushy | hardy | easy | high | susceptible to mummyberry |
| Bluehaven | low, bushy |
limited | intermediate | moderate | susceptible to mummyberry and phomopsis canker |
| Bluejay | upright, open | hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to shoestring and mummyberry |
| Blueray | upright, open | very hardy | easy | moderate | susceptible to mummyberry |
| Bluetta | low, bushy |
moderate | easy | moderate | resistant to phomopsis canker; susceptible to mummyberry |
| Burlington | upright, bushy | very hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to mummyberry; susceptible to shoestring |
| Chippewa | upright, half-high | very hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Collins | moderately upright | hardy | easy | moderate | susceptible to mummyberry |
| Coville | upright, open | limited | easy | moderate | moderately resistant to mummyberry, powdery mildew, fusicoccum canker |
| Darrow | low, bushy |
limited | intermediate | moderate | resistant to mummyberry and shoestring |
| Duke | upright, open | moderate to hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to mummyberry |
| Earliblue | upright, bushy | moderate | easy | moderate | resistant to powdery mildew, susceptible to shoestring, mummyberry, phomopsis canker |
| Elliott | upright, bushy | hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to mummyberry, phomopsis canker and anthracnose; susceptible to shoestring |
| Jersey | upright, bushy | hardy | intermediate | moderate | moderately resistant to mummyberry, red ringspot; susceptible to shoestring |
| Lateblue | upright, open | very hardy | intermediate | moderate | resistant to mummyberry |
| Little Giant | spreading, bushy | hardy | intermediate | heavy | |
| Nelson |
upright, open | very hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Northblue |
upright, half-high | very hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to mummyberry |
| Northcountry | very low, bushy | very hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Northland | low, bushy |
very hardy | easy | heavy | resistant to shoestring; susceptible to mummyberry |
| Northsky | very low, bushy | very hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to mummyberry |
| Patriot | moderately upright, open | very hardy | easy | moderate | resistant to phytopthora root rot |
| Patriot | spreading, half-high | very hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Rancocas | moderately upright, bushy | very hardy | easy | moderate to heavy | moderately susceptible to mummyberry and shoestring; resistant to fusicoccum canker, and powdery mildew |
| Rubel | upright, open | hardy | easy | moderate | susceptible to mummyberry, necrotic ringspot, mosaic and shoestring; moderately resistant to fusicoccum canker |
| Sierra | upright, open | moderate | easy | moderate | susceptable to mummyberry and unknown flagging |
| St. Cloud | upright, half-high | very hardy | difficult | moderate | |
| Spartan | upright, open | hardy | easy | moderate | moderately resistant to mummyberry; susceptible to shoestring |
| Sunrise | low, bush | hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Toro | upright, open | hardy | easy | moderate | |
| Weymouth | low, bushy | hardy | easy | moderate | susceptible to mummyberry and shoestring |
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