Arts Entertainments

Drought Resistant or Heavy Soil Tolerant Blueberry Plants

Introduction

The main requirement of blueberry plants is soil filled with good organic material, acidic soil that drains well, and plenty of available water. All blueberry plants require good watering conditions, but some are more drought tolerant than other varieties. Also, some are more tolerant of heavy soils than other varieties. This article provides a list of varieties that were reported to be more tolerant of drought conditions and/or heavy soils than other varieties.

A soil pH between 4.5 and 5.0 is ideal for blueberry plants (pH 7.0 is neutral).

Nearly all of the plants on the following list have growth ranges that make them suitable for growing in south central Kentucky, which is in growing zone 6. South central Kentucky also has heavy clay soil, which makes plants that grow best in this type of soil are a good choice.

Rabbit eye cultivars as a group, they are easier to grow than the tall southern shrubs. They are more drought tolerant than southern highbush blueberries and less susceptible to Phytophthora rotten root. They can also grow satisfactorily in soils low in organic matter. Rabbiteye blueberries have a stronger root system than highbush blueberries and are more drought tolerant. Rabbiteye blueberries are more vigorous, longer-lived, and easier to care for than most tall-bush southern varieties. They do not self-pollinate and require other varieties for cross-pollination. Recommended growing areas are zones 7 through 9. Therefore, growing rabbiteyes in south central Kentucky can be somewhat risky due to cooler weather in early spring. Tifblue is more cold hardy than most rabbiteye blueberry varieties.

Southern Blueberry Varieties

Darrow is an evergreen blueberry with somewhat higher tolerance to drought and develops superior fruit quality in Southern growing conditions. Recommended growing areas are zones 6 to 7

Anniversary is a mid-season maturing variety.it is a hard and consistent producer of very high quality fruit. It has been distinguished by its good performance on heavy soils during very hot summers and sudden cold ones in winter. They are successfully grown in zones 5 to 9

Legacy Produces medium to large, light blue berries with a strong flavor. Collectors refer to it as the “golden bush” due to its large production. The cultivar appears to adapt to most cool to moderate soils and climates. They are successfully grown in zones 5 through 9.

misty is a heat and drought tolerant variety for southern gardens. They are successfully grown in zones 5 to 10.

ozarkblue the heat does not bother it, it does not need so much watering, it resists spring frosts. It is highly productive of berries of the highest quality. They are successfully grown in zones 5 through 9.

Strong blue it is a mid-season shrub that is exceptionally vigorous and slightly spreading. Its fruit is very large with medium scar and excellent flavor. Sharpblue has a lower chilling requirement than most varieties and grows well in areas where it is managed like an evergreen blueberry with virtually no chilling. It is the most adaptable of all the low-chill types, and performs well in heavy soils. Recommended growing areas are zones 7 to 10.

sun blueTolerates higher pH soils better than all other types of tallbush and southern rabbiteye blueberries. It is self-pollinating. They are successfully grown in zones 5 to 10.

Northern Blueberry Varieties

blue harvest It is an early to mid-season maturing variety. It is very hard and drought resistant. Their fruit is excellent, whether fresh or processed. Bluecrop is the industry standard of excellence. It is easy to care for in the garden and holds the title of one of the most frost tolerant highbush blueberry cultivars. They are successfully grown in zones 4 through 7.

blue rays They are drought resistant plants. An old favorite and versatile variety, Blueray does particularly well in areas with hot summers or very cold winters. They are grown successfully in zones 3 to 7.

hardyblue is a long established variety in the Northwest that is known for its exceptionally sweet berries. Hardyblue has a reputation for adapting to many soil types, including heavier clay soils. They are successfully grown in zones 4 through 8.

sweatergrows well in most types of soil; it is one of the oldest and most widely cultivated blueberry varieties producing consistently high yields of very sweet fruit. They are successfully grown in zones 4 through 7.

north country it is vigorous and adaptable on less than optimal soil types. It is a classic wild variety that grows 1.5 to 2 feet tall. They are grown successfully in zones 3 to 7.

Patriot the plants are easy to establish and tolerate less than ideal conditions, such as moist or heavy soils. They are grown successfully in zones 3 to 7.

Reka It was developed in New Zealand. It is one of the fastest growing and most adaptable varieties. It is a very vigorous variety; It grows well in light sandy soils, peat and heavy clay loams and is more tolerant of wetter soils than many other varieties. It is well adapted to a wide range of northern climates and soil types. They are successfully grown in zones 4 through 7.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *