Photos Half-High Highbush Vaccinium Angustifolium
Aurora has the latest ripening time of Northern varieties, slightly later than Elliot. It also seems to be more vigorous with slightly spreading strong bush. Berries ripen over three to four pickings and are about 20% larger than Elliot on average. Flavor is considered better than Elliot but can be tart if not fully ripe. In CA storage studies Aurora stored slightly longer than Elliot. Very high consistent producer of large, firm medium-dark blue fruit. **
Also late season, slightly upright spreading with long drooping fruiting laterals. Medium-large, very firm sky blue fruit. A cross between Elliot and Brigitta. Its berries detach easily from branch making machine harvesting a good possibility. Consistent high yields in Michigan indicate an inherent cold hardness.**
Draper berries appear to have long shelf life. Exceptionally firm, consistently large, light blue berries make this mid-season pre-Bluecrop a consistent producer. Fruit ripening is noticeably concentrated making it a good choice for machine adaptability. Berries are light blue, firm with a low-acid taste.**
The leading early variety of Michigan. The blueberry begins to ripen about July 15th in the South Haven, MI area. The bush is hardy and productive. Berries are medium-large, firm,bright blue and have excellent picking scar but is quite tart if picked too soon. Berries are not subject to crack and hold on the plant well. Clusters are open and medium-large. The bush is vigorous with somewhat slender growth when young. The plants are exceptionally productive. The bush is suited for mechanical picking.
Bluejay ripens 5-7 days before Bluecrop. Plants are vigorous and upright. It has an exceptional ability to retain fruit on the bush without losing quality until most berries are ripe making machine harvest practical. The berries are firm, medium-size and light blue. Best production has been achieved with moderate annual pruning to maintain vigor.
Blueray ripens a few days after Bluecrop and stands 4-6 feet at maturity with upright growth. Yield is consistent with tight clusters, large fruit and small picking scar. Berry quality is firm and bright blue. Markets can be fresh or processes. Mechanical picking can be done after first two pickings.
Developed in Australia from a cross of Lateblue and Bluecrop, it is the perfect choice for late ripening slightly before Elliot. Another admirable quality besides firm, light blue fruit with a small picking scar is its exceptional fresh shelf life of up to six weeks in proper controlled atmosphere. Adaptable for machine harvesting, it is worthy of trial throughout North America where Northern highbush are grown.
Bush is moderately tall and spreading. Berries are light blue, firm, very large and store well even with a large stem scar. Winter hardiness is limited and flavor is fair.
With a ripening time similar to Jersey, plants of Chandler are vigorous, grow upright are well branched and are consistently productive ia areas with mild winters. Berries are large with weights averaging 2.4 grams compared to Bluecrop with 1.9 grams over berry. Its berries have small dry scars, good color, firmness and flavor. Its outstanding characteristics are high yields of large fruit and good quality.
Duke variety ripens similarly to Spartan or Patriot. Height is about 4-6 feet and yield is consistently high. Fruit size is medium and if good quality, firm and of good color fresh as well as process. Good producer for machine as well as hand harvesting.
Elliot's are upright, winter hardy and consistently productive. Fruit is borne in loose clusters and is firm, light blue, medium-size with a good, mild flavor. It appears to be well adapted to mechanical harvesting as most of the ripe fruit is removed from the bush with only the immature fruit yet attached. Elliot us resistant to mummy berry and like Bluecrop, is probably the best quality for fresh packing.
Begins to ripen about three weeks after Bluecrop. Harvest season extends until mid-September. Bush is large and upright with medium-sized, good flavor berries. The bush and the berries are usually excellent and satisfactory for both hand and mechanical picking. It has been the leading mid-season berry in Southwestern Michigan for over 20 years.
Highbush type cultivar. Bush height at maturity is 4-5 feet. Ripening date in South Haven, MI is July 25th. Yield has been high at test plantings averaging 13.4 pounds per plant in 1988. Fruit size is large at 60 berries per cup or 1.99 grams per berry. Quality of the fruit is very good. Berries are firm with a dark blue color. Picking scars are small. Harvest recommended is by hand picking. Mechanical harvesting of this cultivars has not proven successful. Marketing of fruit can be used to fulfill the fresh market as the berries are of good quality for the season they ripen.
The most cold-hardy highbush variety grown. At maturity it reaches heights of 4 feet with widths of the same. It is very productive often yielding over 20 pounds per bush when mature. The berries are dark blue and medium sized and excellent for making jams and baking because of their high sugar content. Northland are easy to grow and adaptable to many soil types. Their cold hardiness extends the area where highbush blueberries can be successfully grown. The bright yellow wood fits well in the landscape especially when grouped with other compact varieties such as Bluetta and Patriot.
The Patriot ranges from 4-6 feet in height with a consistent yield ranging from 10-20 pounds of fruit. It ripens about July 5th in the Grand Junction, MI area producing tight clusters of fruit that is large, firm with small, dry recesses scars. Harvest and markets is usually fresh and U-pick because of berry size and quality. Mechanical harvest can only be achieved during final harvest.
Highbush type cultivar growing to 5-7 feet at maturity. In South Haven, MI fruit ripens July 27th. Bushes yield 8-10 pounds per bush with long clusters of small fruit; approximately 132 berries per cup. Berry quality is firm with a medium picking scar, very good flavor and light blue in color. Harvesting can be hand or mechanical as mechanical harvesting qualities are very good. Marketing is towards processing because of the small berry. Ornamental use of the Rubel is very good because of its long, slender foliage that turns reddish in the fall.
Highbush type cultivar but it is an inter-specific hybrid of four species; 1 diploid, 1 tetraploid and hexaploids. Crosses were made by A.D. Draper at Beltsville,MD. Bush height is 4-5 feet at maturity. Growth is upright and the plants are extremely vigorous. Ripening date is approximately July 10th for South Haven,MI. Yields are high in the test plots. Fruit size is medium,approximately 75 berries per cup.
Plants are vigorous, productive, upright and in open growth habit, well adapted for machine harvesting. It is an early variety ripening about the same time as Bluejay.The fruit is firm, large, light blue with very good flavor. Its berries are some of the largest of all varieties.
Highbush type cultivar with height of 5-7 feet. Plants are vigorous and grow upright in stature. The name "Toro" reflects the strong, stocky stricture of the plant. Ripening of the fruit reflects is grouped in early mid-season which would be July 15th in South Haven, MI. Yield of Toro is very consistent and it is a heavy producer. The fruit buds and wood seem to be very tolerant to fluctuating winter temperatures. Fruit size is medium yielding about 75 berries per standard cup. Recommended harvesting is by hand as little is known about the effects of mechanical harvesting although it appears Toro will be able to tolerate mechanical harvesting because it has concentrated ripening and berries can be harvested for two pickings. Fresh marketing is preferred because of its concentrated ripening and high quality fruit. The berry can be used as process or U-pick. Toro was the first cultivars release for 1987. As more commercial plantings are planted, more will become known about this cultivar.
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