Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) NELSON

Northern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) 'Nelson'

Low-maintenance American variety with aromatic berries and high resilience.

'Nelson' is a popular American variety that has earned recognition for its ease of growth and high fruit quality. It is an ideal choice for commercial plantations as well as home gardeners looking for a reliable and hardy cultivar. It is characterized by a dense, compact growth habit and berries with an outstanding aroma that have the rare ability to hang on the bush for a long time without losing their firmness or flavor.

Key Highlights:

• Excellent aroma: Fruits are very tasty and distinctly fragrant.
• Long hang time: Ripe berries do not drop easily and maintain quality even if harvest is delayed.
• High productivity: Average yield reaches up to 6 kg per bush.
• High resilience: Excellent frost hardiness and disease resistance.
• Compact and dense growth habit for easy maintenance.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: USA (released in 1988).

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Upright, compact, and naturally dense.
• Height: Reaches approximately 150 cm at maturity.
• Habit: Sturdy structure that withstands adverse weather conditions well.

Fruit

• Size: Large berries growing in loose clusters.
• Flavor: Excellent, sweet, and highly aromatic.
• Quality: Fruits are firm, suitable for fresh consumption, freezing, and extended storage.
• Usage: Universal – from fresh market sales to home processing.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost: Very high resistance to winter frosts.
• Diseases: Known for its good natural resistance to common blueberry diseases.
• Soil: Requires standard acidic, well-drained soil with adequate moisture.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Pollination: Planting near varieties like 'Chandler' or 'Bluecrop' is recommended for optimal yields.
• Pruning: Best performed in late winter or early spring when flower buds are clearly visible.
• Spacing: 1.5 m apart in rows, with approximately 2 m between rows.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Ripens during August. The harvest period lasts about 3 weeks.