blueberry Variety
Sweet Duchess
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Early, Low Chill Southern Highbush Blueberry
Low Chill Southern Highbush Blueberry
Breeder: Dr. Scott NeSmith, University of Georgia, USA
World-class low-chill blueberry for very early fresh-market programmes, combining high yield, excellent flavour and outstanding shelf life for export.
Sweet Duchess Key Features
Flavour
Premium eating quality - sweet, crisp, outstanding flavour
Yield
3.5 - 5 KG per plant
Fruit Colour
Medium to light blue with good bloom
Fruit Size
20-25 mm
Firmness
Exceptionally firm and crunchy
Disease Resistance
Healthy plant with little signs of rust or Botryosphaeria observed
Chilling
0–100 hours
Seasonality
Exceptionally early
Comparative Results
Compare key commercial characteristics across our blueberry genetics, including chill type, yield performance, fruit firmness, flavour profile, and market suitability. Use the dropdown below to select a trait and compare performance across our blueberry varieties.
Chill Requirement
Sweet Duchess
0-100 hours
Tropical Blue
0 hours
Gladiator
0–200 hours
Maverick
0 hours
Seasonality
Sweet Duchess
Exceptionally Early Season
Tropical Blue
Exceptionally Early Season
Gladiator
Early to mid-season
Maverick
Early Season
Yield
Sweet Duchess
3 kg/plant
Tropical Blue
3.5-5 kg/plant
Gladiator
6+ kg/plant
Maverick
4.5-4.8 kg/plant
Fruit Size
Sweet Duchess
20-25mm (1.8-2.2 g)
Tropical Blue
16-22mm
Gladiator
18–22 mm (1.8–2.2 g)
Maverick
16-22mm (1.5–2.2 g)
Fruit Colour
Sweet Duchess
Medium to light with good bloom
Tropical Blue
Mid blue attractive berries with a good bloom
Gladiator
Light blue with excellent bloom
Maverick
Medium to light with good bloom
Firmness
Sweet Duchess
Exeptionally firm
Tropical Blue
Firm
Gladiator
Very firm
Maverick
Very firm
Flavour
Sweet Duchess
Sweet, crisp berries with outstanding flavour
Tropical Blue
Great, well-balanced sugar/acid profile
Gladiator
Crisp, sweet, balanced acidity
Maverick
Crisp and sweet with good acid balance
Shelf Life
Sweet Duchess
Superb
Tropical Blue
Good
Gladiator
Excellent
Maverick
Excellent
Use
Sweet Duchess
Fresh market, premium brand berry for very early supply windows
Tropical Blue
Fresh market, zero-chill growing regions (evergreen systems)
Gladiator
Fresh market, including premium listing
Maverick
Fresh market, tropical/zero-chill evergreen production
Growth Habit
Sweet Duchess
Upright, grower-friendly bush with natural branching
Tropical Blue
Semi-upright, moderate vigour
Gladiator
Upright, vigorous
Maverick
Upright, vigorous
Sweet Duchess Enquiry
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