Blueberry Cultivar Trials in Western Kentucky - UKREC - 2005
Joseph G. Masabni, John Strang, and Dwight Wolfe, Department of Horticulture

Introduction

Blueberries are native to North America. They have recently been touted for their health benefits because of their high levels of antioxidants. Highbush blueberries have been a good supplemental crop for Kentucky growers who want to use rolling land not suitable for tillage. Kentucky has a small acreage of commercial blueberry production. Results from a previous highbush blueberry cultivar have been reported in previous issues of the Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports (1). This study was initiated in order to further evaluate a number of blueberry varieties and other types of blueberries for adaptability to Kentucky soils and climatic conditions.

Materials and Method

In the spring of 2004, two new blueberry cultivar trials were planted at UK Research and Education Center, Princeton, KY. The first trial consisted of combination of thirteen Northern and Southern Highbush cultivars randomized in a complete block design with six replications. These plants were spaced 4 ft apart within rows spaced 14 ft apart. Prior to planting, the pH was reduced from above 6.0 to 5.4 with elemental sulfur. The planting was mulched in spring of 2005 with pine park mulch and trickle-irrigated with 1/2 gallon/hour in-line emitters. A similar planting of Rabbiteye blueberries, consisting of 9 cultivars was established in the spring of 2005. The plants in this trial were spaced 6 ft apart within rows 14 feet apart, and were also randomized in a complete block design.

Results and Discussion

Temperatures during the summer of 2005 were above average and rainfall was below normal. Also, many of the plants were from tissue culture. Consequently, mortality was high, especially in the Northern and Southern highbush trial. The cultivars in the two plantings and their survival rates are presented in Table 1.

Literature Cited

1. Masabni J., G. R. Brown (Professor Emeritus), and D. Wolfe, 2004. Highbush Blueberry Cultivar Trial in Western Kentucky. 2004 Fruit and Vegetable Crops Report, PR-504:32-33.

Table 1. Cultivars in plantings at UKREC recent mortality.