Blueberry varieties: comparative characteristics

When planning a garden, the question arises: what varieties of blueberries should I choose? Blueberries are one of the most popular forest berries. Its beneficial medicinal properties and perfect taste have long been loved by people. And, of course, not a single gardener has already thought about growing this berry crop in the garden.

Garden blueberry is a relatively young crop. This extremely beautiful plant will enhance any garden. For example, tall varieties can serve as hedges, which are actively used in landscape design. At the same time, the berry bush, with proper care, will always delight its owner with a vitamin harvest.

Taste qualities of garden blueberry varieties

There is an opinion among ordinary people that garden blueberries are much inferior to forest blueberries in taste and beneficial properties. And this is a huge misconception! Be sure that the taste of garden blueberry varieties will never cease to please you. Be sure to add this juicy berry to your garden! To prove its usefulness, many studies have been conducted that have shown that the chemical composition of garden blueberries is no different from wild blueberries. This means that it contains all the beneficial properties of wild berries.

Harvest varieties of blueberries

Garden blueberries have much greater fertility than wild blueberries. A wild shrub begins to bear fruit only after a fifteen-year growth period. Unlike their forest counterparts, garden varieties produce a harvest already in the second year after planting, which is a clear advantage for delicacy lovers.

The most productive varieties of garden blueberries will amaze you with their fertility! After harvesting just one harvest, you will never want to go to the forest to pick berries again. For example, from one bush of the Canadian Blue Crop variety you can get about ten kilograms of large and fleshy blueberries, not to mention the fact that this variety produces fruit even in extreme conditions!
When choosing a garden blueberry variety, you should pay attention to the size of the bush if you want maximum yield from your berry garden. Naturally, tall varieties produce many times more blueberries than their low-growing counterparts.

Best varieties of blueberries for the garden and dacha

How to figure it out and find the “best”? In order not to make a mistake in this matter, you should buy seedlings directly from nurseries, where agronomists diligently monitor the quality of reproduction of this fastidious crop.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the best varieties of blueberries for the garden and dacha were bred. As a result, we have the opportunity to choose among a huge variety of blueberry varieties, different in their qualities and characteristics.

The title of “the best blueberry varieties for berry growers” rightfully belongs to the Canadian “Blue Crop”, “Blue Ray” and “Duke”. Varieties such as “Darrow” and “Rancocas” are not far behind them.

Blueberry varieties by ripening period

In most cases, the ripening period of blueberry fruits is extremely important for the gardener. And therefore, when choosing seedlings for your berry garden, this is one of the main criteria. Blueberry varieties are divided into three groups according to ripening time: early, middle and late. Moreover, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, which gardeners will be able to understand by analyzing all the characteristics and features of the varieties.

The best early ripening varieties of blueberries

Fruiting period — beginning of July

The Blue Gold variety has a height of up to one and a half meters. The yield is good, on average six kilograms per bush. The fruits are light blue in color and medium in size. The berries are quite dense and have a rich taste.

The Duke variety has a bush up to 1.8 meters high. The variety is frost-resistant and does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. The yield of this variety is good, up to nine kilograms per bush. The berries have a satisfactory taste, which improves noticeably when cooled. The fruits are poorly stored and do not tolerate transportation well.

The “River” variety can grow up to two meters in height. The bush is erect and strong. One blueberry bush of this variety can produce up to ten kilograms of berries! The fruits reach one and a half centimeters in diameter and have a bright blue color. The berries are of excellent quality, spicy in taste and quite aromatic. They do not crumble when ripe and are suitable for transportation.

The “Stanley” variety can also grow up to two meters. But its yield is lower, up to five kilograms per bush. The fruits are poorly stored. At the same time, the berries are quite dense, large and have a pleasant dessert taste.

The "Early Blue" variety shrub reaches 1.8 meters and has high frost resistance. The yield is good, up to seven kilograms per bush. However, the berries are quite small and have only a satisfactory taste.

The best mid-season blueberry varieties

Fruiting period — end of July, beginning of August

The Blue Jay variety is one of the fastest growing and powerful blueberry bushes reaching up to 1.8 meters. The yield is good, up to six kilograms per bush. The berries have a very pleasant taste, are quite dense, and therefore can be stored for a long time and are suitable for transportation.

The Blue Crop variety is one of the most popular on the market. The height of the bush reaches two meters. The fruits reach up to one and a half centimeters in diameter. Durable, high quality berries have a pleasant taste and aroma. The yield is good, up to 9 kilograms per bush. The ripening period is extended. The variety is extremely drought-resistant, capable of growing and bearing fruit even in the most extreme conditions. At the same time, it is resistant to diseases and pests.

The Blue Ray variety has also established itself as one of the best. The bush is erect and reaches 1.8 meters in height. The fruits are glossy and quite large. The fruit ripening period is extended. The yield is good, up to eight kilograms. The taste of the fruits of this variety is quite specific, not for everyone.

The Toro variety reaches two meters in height. Winter-hardy. The yield is good, up to nine kilograms per bush. The taste of the berries, medium in size, is pleasant and very sweet.

The “Coville” variety reaches a height of two meters. The variety adapts to any environmental conditions. The yield is good, up to six kilograms per bush. The fruits are large, up to one and a half centimeters, and have a sour but pleasant taste.

The “Nelson” variety reaches 1.6 meters in height. The bush is quite dense. Can withstand frosts up to 34 degrees! The harvest is regular and high, up to nine kilograms per bush. The berries are large and dense, can reach two centimeters in diameter. The taste is sweet with a spicy aroma.

Varieties “North Blue” and “North Country” are both low-growing, up to one meter in height. Winter-hardy. The yield is average, up to 2.5 kilograms of fruit per bush. Large berries. The taste of the fruit is pleasant and sweet. The fruits of these varieties are stored very well.

Variety “Elizabeth” reaches two meters in height. Heat-loving. The yield is good, up to six kilograms per bush. The fruits are large, strong, persistent and very aromatic.

The best late-ripening blueberry varieties

Fruiting period – end of August, September.

The blueberry variety “Herbert” has a powerful and widely spreading bush that reaches over two meters. The yield is high, up to four kilograms per bush. The fruits are large and tender, dessert-like in taste and incredibly aromatic.

Jersey variety also reaches two meters in height. This variety is characterized by high winter hardiness. The yield is high, up to six kilograms per bush. The berries are not large enough, but dense and even elastic. The taste is good.

The dense bush of the "Rancocas" variety reaches 1.8 meters in height and is prone to thickening. Therefore, it requires annual lightening pruning. Frost-resistant and unpretentious. The yield is good, up to six kilograms per bush. The berries are not large, but very sweet.

There are still a large number of blueberry varieties that you can ask the nursery agronomists about, and then buy yourself the exact variety that is right for you!