Rabbiteye Blueberry Bush

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 The Alapaha blueberry is a Rabbiteye variety, so it needs another Rabbiteye variety for optimal cross-pollination.

Here are some of the best choices:   

• 'Vernon': This is often specifically recommended as a companion for Alapaha. They have good bloom time overlap and are considered highly compatible. Many sources suggest this is the best pairing.   
• 'Titan': This is another good option that can work well with Alapaha, especially if you also want large berries.
• 'Premier': While an early-season Rabbiteye, it can still work, especially in areas with longer bloom periods where there's sufficient overlap.

Key things to remember when choosing pollinators for Alapaha:

• Bloom time overlap: This is crucial. The pollinator must bloom at the same time as Alapaha for effective pollen transfer.   
• Genetic compatibility: Stick to other Rabbiteye varieties for optimal results.
• Proximity: Plant the pollinator within 50 feet of your Alapaha blueberry bush for the best pollination.

Many sources point to 'Vernon' as the ideal pollinator for Alapaha, so if you have the option, that's likely your best bet.

By planting one or more of these compatible pollinators, you'll encourage heavier fruit set, larger berries, and a more abundant harvest from your Alapaha blueberry bush.

The "Bless Your Heart" blueberry is a Rabbiteye variety. Rabbiteye blueberries are known to benefit significantly from cross-pollination with other Rabbiteye varieties.

Here are some of the best pollinators for "Bless Your Heart":   

• Takes the Cake™: This is often recommended as a companion plant for "Bless Your Heart" as they are both early-season bloomers and have proven to be a successful pairing for increased yields.   
• Climax: This is a reliable and popular Rabbiteye variety that blooms around the same time as "Bless Your Heart."
• Premier: Another good choice that blooms early in the season and is known for its consistent production.   
• Tifblue: While it's a mid-season bloomer, planting it alongside early season varieties like 'Bless Your Heart' can help extend the pollination window and potentially increase overall yields.
• Powderblue: A late-season variety that can also contribute to extending the harvest season when planted with early-season varieties.

Key things to remember for Rabbiteye blueberries:

• Cross-pollination is key: While Rabbiteye blueberries are partially self-fertile, they produce significantly more fruit when cross-pollinated with another Rabbiteye variety.
• Similar bloom times: Choose pollinators that bloom around the same time as "Bless Your Heart" to ensure effective pollination.
• Plant multiple varieties: Planting at least two different Rabbiteye varieties is highly recommended for optimal fruit production. 

By planting one or more of these recommended pollinators, you'll maximize the fruit production of your "Bless Your Heart" blueberry bush and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

 The Climax blueberry is a Rabbiteye variety, which means it requires cross-pollination with another Rabbiteye variety for optimal fruit production.

Here are some of the best pollinators for the Climax blueberry bush:   

• 'Premier': This is a great choice as it blooms around the same time as Climax and is known for its consistent production and good fruit quality.
• 'Tifblue': Another popular and reliable Rabbiteye variety that can effectively pollinate Climax. While it's sometimes listed as mid-season, its bloom time often overlaps sufficiently with Climax, especially in areas with longer bloom periods.   
• 'Brightwell': This is also a good option, as it has a similar bloom time to Climax.

Key things to remember when choosing pollinators for Climax:

• Bloom time overlap: This is the most important factor. Make sure the chosen pollinator blooms around the same time as Climax for effective pollen transfer.
• Genetic compatibility: Stick to other Rabbiteye varieties for optimal results.
• Proximity: Plant the pollinator within 50 feet of your Climax blueberry bush for the best pollination.

By planting one or more of these compatible pollinators, you'll encourage heavier fruit set, larger berries, and a more abundant harvest from your Climax blueberry bush.

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

The Pink Lemonade blueberry is a Rabbiteye type, even though it has some unique characteristics like the pink berries. This means it needs another Rabbiteye variety for optimal cross-pollination. 

Here are some of the best choices:
'Powderblue': This is a late-season Rabbiteye that often overlaps well with Pink Lemonade's bloom time, making it a good choice.   
'Tifblue': Another reliable Rabbiteye variety that can effectively pollinate Pink Lemonade. Its bloom time often overlaps sufficiently, especially in areas with longer bloom periods.
'Brightwell': This is also a good option, as it has a similar bloom time to Pink Lemonade.

Key things to remember when choosing pollinators for Pink Lemonade:
Bloom time overlap: This is the most important factor. Make sure the chosen pollinator blooms around the same time as Pink Lemonade for effective pollen transfer.
Genetic compatibility: Stick to other Rabbiteye varieties for optimal results.
Proximity: Plant the pollinator within 50 feet of your Pink Lemonade blueberry bush for the best pollination.

Pink Lemonade is technically self-fertile, meaning it can produce some fruit on its own, you'll get a much larger and more consistent harvest with cross-pollination from another Rabbiteye variety. 

The Likely Parents

• One parent is definitely 'Delite':  This is a rabbiteye blueberry variety that was developed by the USDA and the University of Georgia. It's known for its good yield and flavor. 
• The other parent is likely a complex hybrid: This parent, sometimes referred to as 'NJ89-158-1', has a mixed ancestry that includes both Northern and Southern Highbush blueberries, as well as potentially some rabbiteye influence. It's this parent that likely contributed the pink fruit color to Pink Lemonade.

Why the Mystery?

The exact pedigree of the 'NJ89-158-1' parent is not fully disclosed, which is common in plant breeding programs. This can be due to various reasons, such as protecting intellectual property or the complexity of the breeding process.

What We Can Infer

Based on Pink Lemonade's characteristics, we can infer some things about its parentage:

• Rabbiteye influence: The fact that Pink Lemonade is classified as a rabbiteye suggests that 'Delite' or the complex hybrid parent had significant rabbiteye genetics.
• Highbush influence: The larger size and sweetness of Pink Lemonade's berries compared to typical rabbiteyes suggest some highbush influence from the complex hybrid parent.
• Pink fruit color: The pink color likely came from the complex hybrid parent, as 'Delite' has blue fruit.

The Premier blueberry is a Rabbiteye variety, which means it absolutely needs another Rabbiteye variety for optimal fruit production.

Here are some of the best pollinators for the Premier blueberry bush:
'Tifblue': This is an excellent choice and often considered the best pollinator for Premier. They have overlapping bloom times and are very compatible.
'Powderblue': This is another good option, especially if you want to extend your harvest season, as it ripens a bit later than Premier.
'Brightwell': This variety also has a good bloom time overlap with Premier and is a reliable pollinator.

Key things to remember when choosing pollinators for Premier:
Bloom time overlap: This is the most important factor. Make sure the chosen pollinator blooms around the same time as Premier for effective pollen transfer.
Genetic compatibility: Stick to other Rabbiteye varieties for optimal results.
Proximity: Plant the pollinator within 50 feet of your Premier blueberry bush for the best pollination.

By planting one or more of these compatible pollinators, you'll encourage heavier fruit set, larger berries, and a more abundant harvest from your Premier blueberry bush.

Tifblue Blueberry: A Rabbiteye Classic for Reliable Southern Yields

The Tifblue blueberry, a Rabbiteye variety, is a long-standing favorite for gardeners in the South. It's known for its vigor, adaptability, and consistent production of flavorful berries, making it a reliable choice for home and commercial growers in warmer regions.

Bloom Time:

• Late Spring (Regional Variation): Tifblue's bloom time varies somewhat depending on the specific location within the South:
  • Lower South (e.g., Florida, South Georgia): Bloom is likely to begin in late April and extend into early May.
  • Mid-South (e.g., Central Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi): Bloom typically starts in early to mid-May and continues into late May.
  • Upper South (e.g., North Carolina, Tennessee): Bloom may be concentrated in mid to late May, potentially extending into very early June.
  • This late spring bloom is advantageous as it helps the plant avoid late spring frosts, which are common in these regions.

Ripening Period:

• Mid-to-Late Season (Regional Variation): Tifblue's ripening period also shifts slightly depending on where it's grown:
  • Lower South: (e.g., Florida, South Georgia) Berries typically ripen in late June to early July.
  • Mid-South:(e.g., Central Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi) Ripening usually occurs from early to mid-July.
  • Upper South: (e.g., North Carolina, Tennessee)The main ripening period is generally mid to late July, sometimes extending into early August.
  • This provides a harvest that comes a bit later in the summer, after some of the earlier varieties are finished.

Chill Hours:

• Moderate to Low Chill: Tifblue has a moderate to low chill hour requirement, generally requiring between 350-500 chill hours. This makes it well-suited for the lower South, where winters are milder.

Cross-Pollinators:

• Not Self-Fertile: Tifblue is not self-fertile and requires cross-pollination to produce a good crop. Planting it with other Rabbiteye varieties that bloom at the same time is essential.
• Recommended Cross-Pollinators: Good options include:
  • Premier: An early-season Rabbiteye variety that has overlapping bloom time with Tifblue and is an excellent pollinator.
  • Powderblue: Another late-season Rabbiteye that will pollinate Tifblue.
  • Brightwell: A variety that will overlap blooms in a large range of the south and can pollinate Tifblue.

Other Notable Features:

• Large Berries: Tifblue produces medium to large-sized berries that are typically firm and have good flavor.
• Vigorous Growth: It's a robust and vigorous plant, reaching a mature height of 6-10 feet with a spreading growth habit.
• Heat Tolerance: As a Rabbiteye variety, Tifblue is well-adapted to the heat and humidity of the South.
• Long-Lived: Rabbiteye blueberries, in general, are known to be long-lived and productive.

Overall:

The Tifblue blueberry bush is a reliable choice for Southern gardeners seeking a productive and relatively late-season variety. Its heat tolerance and adaptability, coupled with the need for cross-pollination, make it a staple in many Southern blueberry farms and gardens.

The Vernon blueberry is a Rabbiteye variety, which means it requires cross-pollination with another Rabbiteye for optimal fruit production.

Here are some of the best choices:
'Titan': This is often specifically recommended as a companion for Vernon. They have good bloom time overlap and are considered highly compatible. In fact, some sources suggest they were developed together with this pairing in mind.
'Krewer': This is another good option that is sometimes recommended alongside Titan for Vernon.   
'Alapaha': Some sources mention 'Alapaha' as a good pollinator, especially in areas with fewer chill hours.

Key things to remember when choosing pollinators for Vernon:
Bloom time overlap: This is crucial. The pollinator must bloom at the same time as Vernon for effective pollen transfer.
Genetic compatibility: Stick to other Rabbiteye varieties for optimal results.
Proximity: Plant the pollinator within 50 feet of your Vernon blueberry bush for the best pollination.
It's worth noting that 'Titan' is frequently mentioned as the best companion for 'Vernon', so if you have access to that variety, it is likely the top choice. 'Krewer' is also a strong recommendation.

By planting one or more of these compatible pollinators, you'll encourage heavier fruit set, larger berries, and a more abundant harvest from your Vernon blueberry bush.