The Best Blueberry Plants for North & Central Georgia

Rabbiteye Blueberries

• Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) can be grown in all parts of Georgia since they are native and easy to grow in typical soils encountered statewide. The Southern Regions of Small Fruit Consortium warns that varieties that need little winter chilling---Climax, Chaucer, Choice and Woodard---should be avoided in the northern parts of the state since they will bloom too early and be killed by early spring frosts. In central Georgia, consider planting varieties Brightwell, Centurion, Tifblue and Powderblue, since they endure any spring freezes well if they occur. Plant multiple rabbiteye blueberry shrubs to increase pollination of flowers and subsequent crop yields.

Northern Highbush Blueberries

• Northern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are the blueberries most American see sold in supermarkets, according to the "Sunset National Gardening Book." These shrubs are native to more northern areas of the United States and thus are best grown only in the north Georgia mountains where the winters are the coldest and soils are rich in organic matter. Birds and deer need control as they will eat shoots and fruits, according to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Although northern highbush blueberries are self-fertile (they produce fruits without companion plants), their fruit crop yields are significantly greater if planted in multiples. Varieties to plant in mountain counties include Collins, Patriot, Earliblue, Elliot, Duke and Legacy.

Southern Highbush Blueberries

• Southern highbush blueberries are hybrids created by crossing northern highbush with various other southern native blueberry species (such as Darrow's evergreen blueberry). Southern highbush shrubs have low chilling requirements and thus bloom very early in spring and ripen their fruits by mid to late spring. They cannot be successfully grown in the northern counties and much of central Georgia because of the damaging threat of untimely early spring frosts. In the warmer, lower central counties success with southern highbush varieties is possible, such as south of Columbus, Macon and Swainsboro. Soil must be abundant in organic matter and planting multiple shrubs increases crop yield. Names of some varieties are O'Neal, Summit, Sharpblue, Georgia Gem and Misty.