Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) BALDWIN

Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) 'Baldwin'

Late Rabbiteye variety with an extremely long harvest season.

'Baldwin' is a proven late-season Rabbiteye blueberry variety released in 1985. Named in honor of the founder of the University of Georgia, it is an ideal choice for home gardens and Pick-Your-Own farms due to its robustness, high productivity, and especially its extremely long ripening period, allowing for fresh fruit enjoyment throughout the summer.

Key Highlights:

• Extremely long season: Harvest lasts 6 to 7 weeks (July – August).
• High yield: Very productive variety.
• Firm fruits: Good flavor and a dry stem scar.
• Vigorous growth: Upright and vital bush.
• Resistant to common diseases.

Origin and Registration

• Origin: USA (University of Georgia and USDA). Bred in 1963, released in 1985.
• Genetics: Cross of 'Tifblue' x Ga 6-40.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Vigorous, upright. The plant is very vital and productive.
• Chill hours: Low, requires approximately 450 – 500 chill hours (suitable for warmer regions).

Fruit

• Size: Medium-sized.
• Color: Dark blue.
• Quality: Fruits are firm with a small, dry stem scar.
• Taste: Good, pleasant.
• Storage: Good.

Resistance and Requirements

• Pollination: The variety is self-sterile. It requires a pollinator of another Rabbiteye variety (e.g., 'Brightwell', 'Powder Blue') for a good yield.
• Resistance: Resistant to common blueberry diseases.

Harvest and Usage

• Harvest time: Late. Ripening is gradual and lasts 6 to 7 weeks.
• Usage: Ideal for Pick-Your-Own and home gardens. Less suitable for commercial mechanical harvesting.