Blueberries
Blueberry articles written by members of the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium. More information on Blueberry crops.
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The Mississippi State University Extension Service will be hosting two workshops for blueberry growers in 2023. An in-person workshop on January 24th and a virtual workshop on January 26th.
Posted in: Winter 2023 -
The Arkansas Grown Conference and Expo will be held January 25-28, 2023 in Little Rock at the Embassy Suites.
Posted in: Winter 2023 -
Elina Coneva1, Ebrahiem Babiker2, Eric Stafne3, Sushan Ru1, Melba Salazar-Gutierrez1, Camila Rodrigues1, and Edgar Vinson1, 1Auburn University, 2USDA-ARS, 3MSU ‘Titan’ and ‘Krewer’ (Fig. 1 A,B) are two new blueberry cultivar releases from the University of Georgia breeding program are reported to produce large berries. Their fruit size is reported to be twice as large as…
Posted in: Winter 2023 -
Rabbiteye blueberry bushes are relatively easy to grow and commonplace across Mississippi and the rest of the southeastern U.S.; however, if not properly maintained the bushes will decline over time.
Posted in: Fall 2022 -
Blueberry bushes are notorious for their strict soil requirements. The blueberry industry has relied on soil amendments to create ideal conditions for blueberry roots. Containers filled with soilless substrates are the latest tool growers have to achieve this purpose.
Posted in: Fall 2022 -
By Stacia L. Davis Conger, Ph.D., State Irrigation Specialist, LSU AgCenter Inherent to the southeastern United States, rainfall in hot-humid climates is highly variable in both frequency and duration. In Louisiana, historical rainfall averages 1,350 – 1,700 mm (53 – 67 inches) annually with most dry periods expected during the summer months (Sohoulande et al.,…
Posted in: Summer 2022 -
By Douglas G. Pfeiffer, Dept. Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061 Usually thought of as apple, peach, cherry and plum pest but plum curculio also will attack blueberry, huckleberry, grape, and persimmon (Milholland & Meyer 1984). Plum curculio is one of the most potentially damaging pests on various hosts during the petal fall period. The…
Posted in: Summer 2022 -
By Bill Cline, Entomology & Plant Pathology Department, NCSU (Revised 8dec21) Cultivated blueberries are upright, deciduous, woody perennials, forming multi-stemmed bushes with maximum unpruned heights varying from 6-8 feet (highbush, southern highbush) to 10-15 feet (rabbiteye). All cultivated species require annual pruning to manage bush height and shape. Pruning also prevents over-cropping, increases berry size,…
Posted in: Winter 2022 -
Kristin Woods, Ph.D.; Regional Extension Agent; Food Safety, Commercial Horticulture, Poultry; Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Auburn University Do you occasionally get questions about produce safety certifications and regulations, but don’t have time to take a multiday course? This free two hour course may be for you. The Small Fruit Certifications course provides Extension agents and…
Posted in: Summer 2021 -
By Elina Coneva, Extension Specialist, ACES, Auburn University Blueberries are a high value fruit crop that are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Rabbiteye blueberries are historically an important commercial crop for Alabama, and many farms produce rabbiteye blueberries for sale in the fresh market either exclusively, or as a supplemental crop. Proper cultivar selection is one…
Posted in: Winter 2021