Overview Blueberry Overview Blueberry Production Practices in Production Practices in

Florida Florida

Jeff WilliamsonJeff Williamson

Horticultural Sciences Horticultural Sciences Department Department

IFAS, University of FloridaIFAS, University of Florida

Cost of Establishment Cost of Establishment

Land Preparation Land Preparation $1500 $1500 Pine bark (450 ydPine bark (450 yd33) ) $4500 $4500 Plant costs (1800/a) Plant costs (1800/a) $4500 $4500 Overhead irrigation Overhead irrigation $4750 $4750 Labor (2 ½ years)Labor (2 ½ years) $3000 $3000 Chemicals Chemicals $ 500 $ 500 Total establishment costs Total establishment costs $18,750 $18,750

Planting Establishment Planting Establishment

Soil test Soil test Water test Water test Eliminate difficult to Eliminate difficult to

control weeds control weeds (brambles, nut (brambles, nut sedge, smilax)sedge, smilax)

Drainage Drainage Pine bark Pine bark Irrigation system Irrigation system

Pine bark is often used as a Pine bark is often used as a growing media for blueberries. growing media for blueberries.

Pine Bark CulturePine Bark Culture

Construction of a trench Construction of a trench revealed that very few roots revealed that very few roots

were located in the underlying were located in the underlying soil. soil.

Root systems are easily Root systems are easily separated from underlying soil separated from underlying soil by pulling back the pine bark by pulling back the pine bark

layer. layer.

Excavated Blueberry Plant with Excavated Blueberry Plant with root system intact. root system intact.

Pine Bark Culture Pine Bark Culture

New bark must be New bark must be applied to fields applied to fields every 3 to 4 years. every 3 to 4 years.

Pine bark incorporated Pine bark incorporated culture culture

Grower trials and Grower trials and UF studies are UF studies are underway to underway to evaluate evaluate alternatives to pine alternatives to pine bark culture. bark culture.

Single rows are most Single rows are most common common

Plant spacing is Plant spacing is about 2.5 to 3.0 about 2.5 to 3.0 feet in the row. feet in the row.

Between row Between row spacing is typically spacing is typically about 8 feet. about 8 feet.

Double row beds Double row beds

Once popular Once popular are now are now becoming less becoming less common. common.

3-row beds 3-row beds

3-row beds are 3-row beds are rare. They rare. They increase plant increase plant densities but densities but complicate complicate harvesting, harvesting, spraying and spraying and other cultural other cultural practices. practices.

Drainage Drainage

Blueberry PollinationBlueberry Pollination

Alternating rows of Alternating rows of different varieties different varieties provide good cross-provide good cross-pollination. pollination.

Blueberry Pollination Blueberry Pollination

All blueberry All blueberry varieties benefit varieties benefit from cross-from cross-pollination. Bumble pollination. Bumble bees are the most bees are the most efficient efficient pollinators. pollinators.

Cultivar Improvement Cultivar Improvement

Sharpblue and Sharpblue and Misty were the Misty were the most widely most widely planted cultivars planted cultivars until newer, until newer, improved, cultivars improved, cultivars were released were released during the 1990’s during the 1990’s and 2000’s. and 2000’s.

Cultivar Improvement Cultivar Improvement

Cultivar Selection Cultivar Selection Newer cultivars like Newer cultivars like

Jewel, Emerald, Jewel, Emerald, and Star have and Star have improved quality, improved quality, increased yield, increased yield, and advanced and advanced harvest date. harvest date.

Freeze Protection Freeze Protection

Freezes are the Freezes are the primary yield primary yield limiting factor for limiting factor for Florida blueberries. Florida blueberries.

Most blueberry use Most blueberry use water for freeze water for freeze protection. protection.

Typical appearance of non-Typical appearance of non-pruned blueberry plantpruned blueberry plant during during

fallfall

Typical appearance of pruned Typical appearance of pruned blueberry plant during fallblueberry plant during fall

Conclusions Conclusions

Blueberries are very expensive to grow in Florida. Blueberries are very expensive to grow in Florida. Knowledge and labor requirements are high. Knowledge and labor requirements are high. Improved cultivars and cultural practices have resulted in Improved cultivars and cultural practices have resulted in

consistent annual production. consistent annual production. Florida’s blueberry has steadily increased in acreage, value, Florida’s blueberry has steadily increased in acreage, value,

and production during the last 7 years. and production during the last 7 years. Prices have remained high despite increased production. Prices have remained high despite increased production. Many new plantings indicate continued growth for the Many new plantings indicate continued growth for the

immediate future. immediate future. Prices will likely decline as supply continues to increase Prices will likely decline as supply continues to increase

during Florida’s market window. Small growers may be during Florida’s market window. Small growers may be forced out of business. forced out of business.

Other production regions may eventually encroach on Other production regions may eventually encroach on Florida’s market window. Florida’s market window.

Thank YouThank You

For more information visit the Small For more information visit the Small Farms web at Farms web at http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu

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This presentation brought to you by the

Small Farms/Alternative Enterprises Focus Team.