BLUEBERRY VARIETIES - V7HERE ARE WE GOING? 



Since variety selection in an important factor in the success of any fruit 

 planting, the variety question is always interesting. With a short-lived plant 

 such as the strawberry, mistakes can be corrected promptly and the loss may not 

 be serious. With a long-lived plant such as the apple, mistakes can be very costly 

 and difficult to correct. The life span of the cultivated blueberry lies somewhere 

 between these two, probably nearer that of the apple. Therefore, the choice of 

 blueberry varieties merits careful consideration. 



New varieties of cultivated blueberries have been introduced at a relatively 

 rapid rate as the result of a very active breeding program. It is more than likely 

 that this rate will be maintained or perhaps increased. The question might be 

 asked, "Plant now or wait for better varieties?" At a growers' meeting several 

 years ago, a prominent horticulturist advised delaying of planting because better 

 varieties were coming. An equally prominent grower immediately took him to task, 

 reminded him that the grower must make his living today and that if the grower 

 kept waiting for the better variety, he would never get started. While certain 

 trends may influence the choice of varieties, the choice must still be based on 

 the best varieties available at the time of planting. 



Recently, a blueberry conference was held at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 

 New Jersey. Because of the importance of the variety question, a panel of experts 

 attending this conference discussed varieties at length. A summary of their con- 

 clusions which represent the combined thinking of specialists from several blueberry 



growing areas, was distributed at the meeting and appears below. 



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From Panel Discussion on Blueberry Vari,eties at 

 Small-Fruit Workers' Conference, July 6, 1960 



Blueberry Varieties to Discard In Northeastern United States 



1. Pioneer - Bluecrop much better, larger, bluer, better scar, less disease 



2. Cabot - Earliblue much better, larger, better flavor, more vigorous 



3. Rancocas - Blueray far better, larger, better flavor, hardier 



4. Stanley - Blueray much larger, more acceptable flavor 



5. June - Collins more vigorous, larger berry 



6. Scammell - Bluecrop larger, better cluster, hardier and more drought resistant 



7 . Wareham - Herbert much larger and hardier 



8. Weymouth - Earliblue lighter blue, better flower, more vigorous 



9. Dixi - Coville holds size better and does not crack so much 



10. Atlantic - Coville higher flavor, larger, more vigorous 



11. Burlington - Coville much larger and better flavor 



12. Rubel - Jersey better 



13. Ivanhoe - Blueray better 



Preferred Varieties in Order of Season 

 " BIG SEVEN " 



Earliblue - large, sweet, hardy 



Collins - large, sweet, hardy 



Blueray - large, high- flavored, vigorous, hardy 



Bluecrop - large, a good tart, hardy dependable cropper 



