Introduction
Tasty fresh blueberries are a favorite summertime delight to many people across the country. Fresh blueberries are in season during the summer months, and are available frozen all year around.
In the summer warm temperatures make harvested blueberries extremely perishable. They can decline rapidly in quality if not cooled soon after picking. Warm, ripe blueberries can leak, juice as a result of rough handling. This provides ideal conditions for decay to start right after they are picked. Shelf- life investigations have established remarkable reductions in decay are possible by rapid and thoroughly cooling blueberries right after they are picked. Cooling slows down the inevitable decline in quality after picking. You should cool blueberries as soon as possible after being picked and always if possible, within 4 hours of being harvested.
As may be expected, there are distinct differences between different blueberry varieties. Some varieties will keep much longer than other varieties. The following list is some of the blueberry varieties and their shelf life after picking and stored under refrigeration. Some such as Bluegold and Legacy have exceptional shelf lives. Both of these blueberry varieties also have outstanding flavor. This makes them particularly good for fresh eating and storage for a time while they are being eaten over a month after picking.
Table of blueberries shelf life, flavor and yield
Varieties for processing, shelf life, Flavor, yield at maturity (lbs/bush)
Arch blue, superior, sweet to sub acid, 15
Earliblue, average, large, delicious, 5-10
Duke, average, very sweet, 10 to 15
Reka, good, good flavor,
Northland, average, wild berry flavor, 15-20
Bluejay, average, medium/large, 10 to 20
Hardyblue, average, exceptionally sweet,
Draper, store well, good flavor
Bluegold, outstanding (up to five weeks), superior fruit, 12
Bluecrop, average, , high quality, 10 to 20
Legacy, above average (up to four weeks), robust flavor, 10 to 20
Rubel, average high anti-oxidants levels, full flavor, 8 to 10
Jersey, above average shelf life, best flavor of all, 5 -10
Ozarkblue, Shelf life is superior, sweet to sub acid, 15
Liberty, above average shelf life, medium in size,
Brigitta, tremendous keeping quality, well-balanced flavor, 10 to 20
Echota, excellent shelf life, great taste, 10 to 20
Little giant, average, rated very high, 15
Top Hat, average good for muffins, good, 2 to6
Premier, stores very well, excellent flavor, 8-16
Patriot, excellent flavor, 10 - 15
North Blue, stores well, very good, 3 - 7
Nelson, good shelf life, good, 10 - 15
Jubilee, long shelf life, high quality fruit, bountiful
Hannah's Choice, average, best flavor, 10 - 12
Friendship, good, superb flavor, 4 - 8
When selecting blueberries to grow in your garden shelf life and flavor are two qualities you may wish to consider. There are of course of factors that may be important to you such as antioxidant levels. The use of the berries such as baking in muffins, using to make jams etc. Small berries usually have higher levels of antioxidants than other varieties and are also a good size for use in baking such thing as muffins, and pancakes. Top Hat and Rubel are examples of wild blueberries with very high levels of antioxidants and also of a size favorable for using in baked goods. Duke is an example as shown in research trails that is exceptional for making good blueberry jam.
You can purchase naturally grown blueberries that are grown without the use of harsh pesticides from (Blueberry Croft Farm and Nursery). Our primary goal is to serve you the customer. Harold Stewart understands both the theory and practical applications of growing blueberries. He has a PhD in biophysics with many years of teaching, extensive hands on and research experience at the university level. This coupled with of years of experience spent growing up on a farm translates into being able to provide you with quality blueberry plants. The farm is a reputable source for quality blueberry plants. Over 30 varieties of blueberries are grown and sold. This includes northern, southern and rabbiteye varieties of blueberry plants that are marketed all over the in the lower 48 continental United States (not all varieties are always in stock). The farm is in southern Kentucky in growing zone 6 in an Amish community with "green thumb" Amish employees caring for the plants. Because of his expertise he has served as a United States expert representative to the World Health Organization for committee work. For more information contact http://www.blueberrycroft.com/. Get free S/H on orders of $65+.
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