When it comes to the blueberries that Mississippi is famous for, it's good to know there are only two types that are commercially grown, but each has its own popular varieties. Blueberries Mississippi are mostly grown in the Southeast part of the state, and those two basic types are known as Southern Highbrush and Rabbiteye. Harvesting season begins in May, and sometimes lasts till September, depending on the variety.
Rabbiteye type is native to the Southeast. This type requires cross pollination for achieving maximum fruit set, and that is why they usually combine two or more varieties on the same area. There are several really popular varieties, such as Premier, Brightwell, Powderblee or Baldwin, and probably the most popular of all is the variety called Tifblue.
Harvesting season for this popular Tifblue sort starts in June, to be more precise, June 20. The fruits are large, juicy and tasty, with small scars and lovely color. Beautiful berries may be picked manually, or harvested mechanically, both for freezing and consuming fresh. This sort needs up to six hundred and fifty chill hours. Powderblee is also quite popular, thanks to really good characteristics of fruits and vigorous plant growth.
Baldwin has different characteristics, for example, late ripening and darker color. It is mostly used for backyard growth, and requires five hundred chill hours. Centurion is another variety with special characteristics. This one has self-fertile flowers, mid sized berries and lovely blue color. Long harvesting season that last from late July till September.
Another interesting sort is called Brightwell. These medium sized berries have especially pleasant taste, nice blue color and very small scars. Harvesting starts in the beginning of June, and this particular sort is well-known for its high volume of fruits, not to mention that it requires only three hundred fifty to four hundred chill hours. Another highly productive variety is Premier, popular thanks to its large, tasty berries.
Southern Highbush type is usually ripened during May. The earliest varieties are Reveille and O'Neal, which come early in May, while others usually come mid May. There are many popular varieties in this particular blueberry type, such as Gulf Coast, Bladen, Jubilee or Georgia Gem. Medium blue O'Neal has very large berries and requires four hundred chill hours. Early harvesting makes it really widely appreciated, as well as its lovely flavor.
There are some other sorts there, for example Cape Fear, Bladen, Jubilee or Biloxi. All have specific characteristics, some have lighter berries, for example Cape Fear or Reveille, some hold up storage better than other sorts, for example Reveille, and some are highly appreciated thanks to their high harvesting qualities, such as Jubilee, which can be harvested in only one or maybe two picks, in 95%.
In any case, large, medium blue berries with smaller scars and more flavor are always more popular, although all sorts have their specific characteristics and advantages. Some are more resistible to wet weather, some have higher productivity and vigorous plant growth. When it comes to their market price, early sorts usually have higher prices, and after that the price goes a little bit down.
Rabbiteye type is native to the Southeast. This type requires cross pollination for achieving maximum fruit set, and that is why they usually combine two or more varieties on the same area. There are several really popular varieties, such as Premier, Brightwell, Powderblee or Baldwin, and probably the most popular of all is the variety called Tifblue.
Harvesting season for this popular Tifblue sort starts in June, to be more precise, June 20. The fruits are large, juicy and tasty, with small scars and lovely color. Beautiful berries may be picked manually, or harvested mechanically, both for freezing and consuming fresh. This sort needs up to six hundred and fifty chill hours. Powderblee is also quite popular, thanks to really good characteristics of fruits and vigorous plant growth.
Baldwin has different characteristics, for example, late ripening and darker color. It is mostly used for backyard growth, and requires five hundred chill hours. Centurion is another variety with special characteristics. This one has self-fertile flowers, mid sized berries and lovely blue color. Long harvesting season that last from late July till September.
Another interesting sort is called Brightwell. These medium sized berries have especially pleasant taste, nice blue color and very small scars. Harvesting starts in the beginning of June, and this particular sort is well-known for its high volume of fruits, not to mention that it requires only three hundred fifty to four hundred chill hours. Another highly productive variety is Premier, popular thanks to its large, tasty berries.
Southern Highbush type is usually ripened during May. The earliest varieties are Reveille and O'Neal, which come early in May, while others usually come mid May. There are many popular varieties in this particular blueberry type, such as Gulf Coast, Bladen, Jubilee or Georgia Gem. Medium blue O'Neal has very large berries and requires four hundred chill hours. Early harvesting makes it really widely appreciated, as well as its lovely flavor.
There are some other sorts there, for example Cape Fear, Bladen, Jubilee or Biloxi. All have specific characteristics, some have lighter berries, for example Cape Fear or Reveille, some hold up storage better than other sorts, for example Reveille, and some are highly appreciated thanks to their high harvesting qualities, such as Jubilee, which can be harvested in only one or maybe two picks, in 95%.
In any case, large, medium blue berries with smaller scars and more flavor are always more popular, although all sorts have their specific characteristics and advantages. Some are more resistible to wet weather, some have higher productivity and vigorous plant growth. When it comes to their market price, early sorts usually have higher prices, and after that the price goes a little bit down.
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