Low-chill Blueberries Continue to Impress
As the blueberry season in southern Spain is getting into full swing, we remain excited at the current and impending performance of our low-chill variety portfolio…
As the blueberry season in southern Spain is getting into full swing, we remain excited at the current and impending performance of our low-chill variety portfolio. The three main varieties within this bracket are Tropical Blue, Maverick and Gladiator, all from the world-renowned breeding programme at The University of Georgia, USA. Each one has its own unique characteristics that make it a high-level performer in this region as well as many others in warmer climates globally.
Tropical Blue is at the vanguard of very-early season blueberry production in Spain. The variety was producing its excellent quality berries from early January this year and has continued producing high yields throughout February, into early March. Tropical Blue is making a real name in this very early production and supply window when market conditions are optimal. The variety responds superbly to August “tipping” meaning that fruit ripening is concentrated early in the harvest season, thus reducing harvesting costs. Its berries are large, 16-22mm throughout the harvest, very firm and with an excellent sweet / acid balance, delivering a superb eating experience.
Following hot on the tail of Tropical Blue are Maverick and Gladiator. Both of these varieties deliver exceptional, premium-quality berries in the next phase of the harvest season in Spain. It is also important to note that all three varieties can perform in zero-chill / evergreen production systems. Maverick is well-known for its industry-leading yields of this excellent quality fruit. Not only does it produce massive volumes of fruit per plant, it has a level of precocity that is genuinely unique with yields of close to 5kgs / plant in the first full harvest season in some locations. It also has a very uniform berry size in the 18-22mm bracket. In addition, we are also now witnessing impressive rusticity as demonstrated in organic production in Spain this season.
Gladiator, also adapted to evergreen harvesting in hot climates, is best-known for its world-beating fruit quality. Its berries are very large, many 20-24mm and occasionally even larger. It has a very crisp texture and an optimal equilibrium of natural sugar and acidity levels. Its flavour, texture and mouthfeel never fail to impress, not to mention its very high production levels.
We look forward to updating you further as the fruiting season transitions from Tropical Blue into both Maverick and Gladiator.
