Plants Available

Plants Available in Autumn 2009

Mountain Blue Orchards stocks Low Chill varieties, Australian climates that are suited to these varieties include the Northern States.

Southern Highbush Varieties

Variety

Season

Fruit

Quality

Bush

Legacy

Late Season

Large

Light Blue

Excellent Flavour

Upright

Open Vigorous

Legacy is a late season variety. When it receives enough chill this variety gives high yields. Late flowering means it is suitable for cold frosty climates. Berries are medium to large and are highly regarded for both scaring and berry flavour. Legacy picks well.

Sharpeblue

Mid- Late

Medium

Self Pollinating

Excellent Flavour

Spreading

Vigorous

Sharpeblue has proved to be the most adaptive release. The bush is tough and vigorous, generally maintaining an evergreen appearance throughout the winter months if rust is controlled. It has grown well in both sandy soils and heavier loams. The fruit has a pleasant flavour that is tailored to the Australian market. The fruit has a wet scar, and is likely to become soft during very hot weather. Off season yields make it a valuable variety.

Misty

Mid

Large

Firm

Mid Sweet Flavour

Upright

Vigorous

The Misty variety is variable, on the red kraznozem soils of Northern NSW, it is very profitable and popular, yet on other soils it has often not grown well and is not a variety of popular choice. To produce high quality, early fruit, Misty is best grown under the evergreen system, it is especially important to pay attention to nutrition and leaf diseases in order to keep the older leaves. Misty is an early fruiting variety, with light blue, medium to large fruit of excellent flavour.

Biloxi

Mid

Medium

Very Firm

Excellent Flavour

Spreading

Vigorous

The variety Biloxi was developed as a pollinator for Misty, for early season areas. One of the parents of this variety is Sharpeblue. In early trial plantings on the North Coast, it has fruited well with large medium flavoured berries early. Fruit size drops off towards the end of the season. The fruit is light blue, with a mottled bloom appearance. It is of average flavour, with a medium scar and firm fruit. Biloxi has a habit of producing late spring flowering and a second harvest, during January and February.

Sunshine Blue

Mid

Medium

Sweet

Self-Pollinator

Upright

Compact

This variety is ideal for the home gardener. The evergreen bush features compact branches reaching up to one metre tall. With unique pink flowers that complement any garden, Sunshine Blue producer large crops of delicious blueberries nine weeks in summer. Sunshine Blue grows better than most varieties in higher pH soils. It is self-pollinating.

Rabbiteye Varieties

Powderblue

Very Late

Large

Firm

Mild Flavour

Upright

Vigorous

Powderblue is one the best late season blueberries varieties. Under most conditions it is known for its tough vigor. Powderblue produces high yields of evenly sized berries. The berries are quick to pick and resistant to splitting from rain. Powderblue is a recommended rabbiteye variety where a quality, late season berry is needed.

Britewell

Mid

Medium

Firm

Sweet Flavour

Upright

Vigorous

The Britewell is a vigorous and upright plant. This variety is known for producing good yields of medium-sized fruit. Berries are a light blue colour and, although a little gritty, very sweet in flavour. Britewell’s are hardy and well suited to Northern NSW. Plant with Powderblue and Premier.

Climax

Early

Medium

High Yield

Small Scar

Upright

Vigorous

The climax is an early season Rabbiteye that has proven to grow well in various difficult soil locations. This high yielding berry has a good flavour. Medium in size, the Climax variety quite often has a small scar. Berries tend to ripen uniformly in the early rabbiteye season. This variety works great planted with Premier.

Premier

Early

Large

Light Blue

High Yield

Vigorous

The new genuine premier is an early season Rabbiteye variety. The fruit of premier is very large, light blue and considered a high quality berry. Boasting a vigorous bush this variety is considered very productive.

Tiffblue

Late

Medium

Dry Scar

Loose Clusters

Long Lasting Bush

Tiffblue is a tried and tested Rabbiteye variety. With a light blue firm berry, this fruit has good flavour when it is properly ripened. Loose clusters make this variety a gem for pickers. Fruit is firm and has a dry stem scar. With highly vigorous bushes, the Tiffblue variety is known for its long life of productive bushes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure: These descriptions are collated through grower experiences in Northern NSW, plants are subject to vary in different environmental conditions.