Growing Blueberries In Florida
In fact excess fertilizer can burn leaves or even kill plants.
Growing blueberries in florida. Plants will benefit from the addition of organic matter and a layer of pine bark. The southern highbush cultivars that are commonly grown in florida are well adapted to areas south of ocala and north of sebring although they will grow reasonably well in alachua county. Rabbiteye blueberries can be grown in zones 7 9 and can grow to over 10 feet 3 m in height. What these areas do have is searing hot and long summers as well as year around mild temperatures.
Spread soil amendments in a 4 inch layer over the surface of the soil. Generally rabbiteye blueberries grow well in areas of florida that have winters as cold as or colder than winters in ocala. In fact there are at least eight native vaccinium species found growing in the woods and swamps of florida. The low chill blueberry cultivars of each of these blueberry types can survive north of sebring fl.
Tallahassee nurseries recommended best pick for home gardens in north florida plant at least 3 different rabbiteye varieties together for best pollination the more varieties the better to ensure good fruit set large growers 6 12 tall by 6 10 wide over time southern highbush blueberries vaccinium hybrids. The best amendments for blueberries in florida soil include peat moss pine bark pine straw pine sawdust compost and sulfur to lower ph. Mix these amendments into the soil with your rototiller. Two of the blueberry bushes that grow in florida are southern highbush vaccinium darrowii vaccinium virgatum and vaccinium corymbosum and rabbiteye vaccinium virgatum.
Both kinds of blueberries require acidic well drained soils. In recent years blueberries have been planted in the southern hemisphere for shipping to the northern hemisphere during the period from november to march. Growing berries in zone 9 zone 9 can experience temperatures as low as 20 to 30 degrees fahrenheit 7 to 1 c but rarely receive freezing events. Southern highbush blueberries are grown in florida and are the earliest blueberries to ripen in north america.
Consider installing drip irrigation which will minimize weeds as will mulch. The major incentive for growing blueberries in florida is the excellent market window available for blueberries that ripen before may 20. These blueberries were developed by crossing northern highbush varieties from michigan and new jersey with native wild florida blueberries. In florida blackberries typically ripen during may and june.
The rabbiteye blueberry vaccinium ashei can be found in river valleys in northern florida and southeastern georgia. Two types of blueberries grow well in florida. Rabbiteye and southern highbush. If you re in the northern half of the state plant rabbiteye but if you re in the southern half choose the southern highbush.
Rabbiteye grow in the parts of florida with winter temperatures from 45 f 7 1 c to 52 f 10 9 c.