What’s New and Exciting?

A new early ripening variety ’Sweetheart’ has been released by USDA. The prospectus on ‘Sweetheart’ states: ”Its desirable characteristics are: superior flavor, very good firmness, good productivity, attractive medium- to medium large fruit”. ‘Sweetheart’ ripens in the Duke season and is similar in size and productivity. Initial tests show that it is winter hardy in traditional blueberry growing states. We have a limited supply available in 2012. If you are interested in trying some ‘Sweetheart’ please let us know so we can plan our production schedules.

This past season again I have been impressed with production and fruit quality of both ‘Draper’ and ‘Toro’. These two cultivars are mid season ripening blueberries that are picked at the same time as Bluecrop and Blueray. Both Draper and Toro are good compliment varieties for you in the mid season picking time. Draper is later blooming than Bluecrop and has the firmest best keeping berry I have ever seen. Toro has a very large fruit that is 90% ripe in just two pickings. If you don’t have these two varieties planted yet you need to add them to your farm.

Last year ‘Huron’, a new Michigan State University cultivar was released. ‘Huron’ is an early mid season ripening berry, it is picked at the same time as Patriot and Bluejay. Two year old plants will be available in the Fall of 2012. ‘Huron’ is a much needed new cultivar in the early-mid season ripening time.