The Best Blueberries for Zone 8

Type

• Commercial growers in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8 often grow southern highbush blueberries. These berries have good yields, but require very rich soil and specialized care. Rabbiteye berries require less care, and are a better choice for home growers. Most garden centers and nurseries carry rabbiteye berries, or you can order them online.

Varieties

• Rabbiteye berries ripen at varying times, depending on the variety. If you live in a mountainous area, select a variety that blooms later to avoid late spring frosts. If you have the room, plant several varieties to extend the harvest. Early blooming varieties include Austin, Brightwell, Climax, Woodard and Premier. For mid-season berries, try Briteblue, Chaucer, Bluebelle, Powderblue and Tifblue. Late season varieties include Baldwin, Centurion, Choice and Delite.

Pollination

• Blueberries are open-pollinated, which means that two plants of different variety are required to pollinate and produce fruit. When selecting varieties, read the labels to make sure the varieties bloom at the same time, or use the descriptions above as a guide.

Considerations

• Rabbiteye blueberries require very acidic, loamy soil with a pH between 4.0 to 5.0. Conduct a soil test before planting blueberries, and modify the soil with sulfur if necessary. Amend clay and sand soils with organic matter, and apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of wood chip or shredded bark mulch to the surface after planting. Keep the soil evenly moist. Blueberries may yield small harvests two or three years after planting. At six years, the plants produce a mature harvest between May and July. One bush can produce 15 lbs. of fruit.