YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES AT VARYING PLANTING DENSITY AND ROW SPACING

Planting density can affect blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) yield and fruit size, and optimum plant spacing has not been determined in new California blueberry production areas.
Two early, low-chill southern highbush blueberry cultivars – ‘Misty’ and ‘Sharpblue’ – were planted at varying plant densities in field trials in 2002 on California’s central coast.
Six different planting densities were established by planting in varying between plant spacing in single rows per bed on 3.3 m centers or double row beds on 3.6 m centers.
With one row per bed, between-plant spacing of 45 cm, 60 cm, and 75 cm created planting densities of 7,173, 5,380, and 4,303 plant per hectare (ha), respectively.
With two rows per bed, between-plant spacing of 45 cm, 60 cm, and 75 cm created planting densities of 11,854, 8,966, and 7,173, plants per ha, respectively.
In harvest years 2006 and 2007 (3^rd and 4^th year from planting), marketable yield was consistently higher in ‘Sharpblue’ than ‘Misty’ at all plant spacings.
Yield of ‘Sharpblue’ and ‘Misty’ was higher in two-row configurations than in single-row-per-bed configurations.
Average fruit weight was greater in ‘Misty’ than ‘Sharpblue’, but fruit weight was not different among planting densities.
In 2006 and 2007, fruit yield was higher in double rows than single rows across plant spacing, but highest yields both years were at the 75 cm spacing in double rows.

IX International Vaccinium Symposium

M. Gaskell

Vaccinium corymbosum, ¿Misty¿, blueberry, ¿Sharpblue¿, row width, plant spacing

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.810.64