Yes, blueberries grow in Florida, but the state’s warm climate requires specialized cultivars developed specifically for the region. Traditional northern varieties are unsuitable due to the mild winters and unique soil conditions. Florida’s blueberry industry is a significant part of the state’s agriculture, primarily targeting the early fresh fruit market. This allows the state to ship its harvest when supplies from other regions are low, making the crop economically important.
Florida’s Unique Blueberry Varieties
The primary challenge for growing blueberries in Florida is the requirement for “chill hours”—cumulative hours spent below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during winter dormancy. Insufficient chilling results in delayed, weak, or erratic flowering and poor fruit yield. Because Florida’s winters are short and mild, specialized low-chill cultivars have been developed to thrive with fewer than 400 chill hours, and some newer varieties require fewer than 150 hours.
The two main types successfully grown are Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye blueberries, both bred for low-chill requirements. Southern Highbush varieties are interspecific hybrids that are the primary choice for commercial shipping in central Florida because they ripen the earliest. However, these plants are more difficult to cultivate and are highly susceptible to late-season spring freezes and certain diseases.
Rabbiteye blueberries are a hardier option, better suited for the cooler winters of North Florida and for home gardeners. They are more vigorous, tolerant of drought, and less demanding of soil conditions compared to Southern Highbush varieties. The fruit from Rabbiteye varieties, such as ‘Brightwell’ or ‘Climax,’ tends to have a slightly thicker skin and ripens later in the season.
Essential Growing Conditions for Florida Blueberries
Successful blueberry cultivation in Florida requires careful management of soil and water needs. Blueberries require a highly acidic soil environment, ideally with a pH range between 4.0 and 5.5. A higher soil pH can lead to deficiencies in essential micronutrients like iron and zinc, causing new growth to lose vigor.
To achieve and maintain this low pH in Florida’s naturally sandy or alkaline soils, growers incorporate large amounts of organic matter, such as peat moss or pine bark. Applying elemental sulfur several months before planting is a common technique to lower the pH, requiring monitoring with annual soil tests. Commercial growers often acidify their irrigation water, frequently using sulfuric acid injection, because deep well water in Florida often has a pH above 7.0 that can rapidly neutralize the soil.
The shallow, fibrous root system of Southern Highbush blueberries makes them sensitive to drought stress and requires consistent moisture. Drip irrigation is the preferred method, as it delivers water directly to the root zone and minimizes water loss. Frequent, light irrigation applications may be necessary, sometimes multiple times per day during peak heat, because sandy soil and pine bark growing mediums do not retain water well. Plants require full sun for fruit production, and their shallow roots benefit from a layer of mulch to regulate soil temperature and retain moisture.
The Florida Blueberry Harvest Calendar
Florida’s blueberry season is notable for being the earliest in North America, giving the state a significant market advantage. The harvest for the commercially grown Southern Highbush varieties typically begins in March in the south-central and central regions of the state. This early availability allows Florida fruit to reach the market before supplies from other U.S. regions, when prices are generally highest.
The Southern Highbush harvest usually continues through April, often ending by early May. Rabbiteye varieties, which are better suited for North Florida and for home gardeners, have a later harvest season. These berries typically ripen from late May through July, depending on the specific cultivar.
Pruning is another important timing consideration, as it occurs after the harvest to prepare the plant for the next season. For Southern Highbush, most routine pruning is done immediately after the fruit is picked in late spring or early summer. This post-harvest pruning encourages new vegetative growth during the summer, which produces the fruiting wood for the following year’s crop.