Blueberry Bushes in Georgia

Rabbiteye

• More than one variety of Rabbiteye blueberry bushes that ripen at the same time is needed for cross-pollination. Austin, Climax and Premier are early-season blueberry varieties that bear large, good-quality berries. Woodard is another early variety that has large berries, but they are better quality. Mid-season varieties Briteblue, Powderblue and Tifblue bear medium to large berries of good quality. Centurion is a late-season variety that bears medium to large berries of good quality, while Delite bears large, excellent-quality berries.

Northern Highbush

• Early- and mid-season Northern Highbush blueberries ripen before early season Rabbiteye blueberries. Northern Highbush blueberry bushes are usually self-fertile, although cross-pollination can result in larger berries. Earliblue is an early season blueberry variety with medium berries of good quality. Collins bears medium to large berries of good quality, while Spartan bears large, excellent-quality berries. Mid-season varieties include Bluecrop with medium to large, good-quality berries; Blueray with large, good-quality berries, and Berkeley with large, fair-quality berries. Jersey bears small berries in the late season, while Elliott bears medium to large berries and Coville bears large berries. All are of good quality.

Southern Highbush

• Southern Highbush blueberry bushes are more difficult to grow than Rabbiteye or Northern Highbush bushes. Southern Highbush blueberries need a high amount of organic matter in the soil. In addition, deer and birds often eat the berries, which ripen earlier than the other types of blueberries. Rebel bears large, good-quality berries very early in the season. Blue Suede, Palmetto and Suziblue are early season varieties with large, good-quality berries. Camellia bears large, good- quality berries in the mid-season.