Three new blueberry varieties produced at North Carolina State University promise growers a high-quality fruit and plants that adapt easily to different soil types.
The three varieties are named Montgomery, Ira and Yadkin. Montgomery and Yadkin were named for North Carolina counties where they performed particularly well. Ira was named for Ira Cline, a blueberry grower in Conover, in honor of his long cooperation with the N.C. State breeding program. The three new varieties of rabbiteye blueberries were developed by Dr. James Ballington, plant breeder at N.C. State University.
Montgomery, a late-June-to-early-July cultivar, is intended as a complimentary cultivar to its parent, "Premier." The fruit has good color and aromatic flavor. Plants show resistance to the sharp-nosed leafhopper, which carries the blueberry stunt disease.
Ira has shown outstanding performance across a range of environments. In a cold location in Catawba County, it has never failed to produce a crop for more than 10 years, even when all other selections and cultivars were wiped out. Its medium-blue fruit ripens in July, is aromatic in flavor and produces a high percentage of marketable fruit and low percentage of soft fruit.
Yadkin is described as a highly aromatic cultivar with excellent flavor and superior shelf life. The medium-blue fruit also ripens in July and is usually concentrated on the outer periphery of plants, making berries readily accessible for harvest.
A limited number of rooted cuttings of these varieties will be available in fall 1997 through the North Carolina Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. For more information, contact Michael W. Baker, manager; N.C. Foundation Seed Producers, Inc.; 320, Riley Hill Road; Zebulon, NC 27597.