Types of Blueberry Bushes for Georgia

Bluecrisp (Southern Highbush variety)

• Southern Highbush varieties are a cross between Northern Highbush and wild blueberry plants in Georgia and Florida. Southern Highbush berries tend to ripen in the earlier part of the season. For crops throughout the growing season, be sure to plant a variety, including some Southern Highbush coupled with mid- and late-season Rabbiteye varieties. A solid choice for Georgia farmers is the Bluecrisp, which is a patented release from the University of Florida. Bluecrisp berries are medium-size and quite firm to the touch. Because of the unusual firmness of the berries, Bluecrisp berries are a good choice for farmers looking to sell their crop at market, since the berries tend to hold up well to shipping.

Santa Fe (Southern Highbush variety)

• Like Bluecrisp, Santa Fe proves another solid choice for an early-producing blueberry plant in Georgia. Because of the early season with this plant, birds may flock to them seeking out the early fruit yield. If necessary, use netting to protect your plants from wildlife. Santa Fe have a chilling requirement of 400 hours and are highly disease-resistant, which makes them a great choice for Georgia growers. Santa Fe grow upright and are considered a strong variety that produces high-quality fruit. Santa Fe berries are light blue and firm.

Mid- and Late-Season Rabbiteye

• Rabbiteye blueberries tend to be easier to grow than their Southern Highbush counterparts. Because they're more drought-tolerant and live longer than Southern Highbush, they may be a good choice for the novice blueberry grower. Particular varieties to seek out if you're new to fruit crops are the Powderblue and Brightwell plants. These two varieties produce late-season berries and generally do not require protection from frost. Powderblue and Brightwell have chilling requirements of 350-400 hours.