Duke High-bush Early season Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Duke'

Duke is a one of the heaviest, most consistent producers of large sized, light blue colored berries with a midly sweet flavor. The berry is firm and retains it quality longer than most varieties. Duke ripens early in the season in early through mid-July in Michigan. However, it is a late blooming variety which helps protect it from spring frost damage. Duke is a heavy produced, often producing more than 20 pounds of berries per bush when mature. The leaves turn a beautiful yellow-orange color in the fall.

Pricing

Duke Blueberry, Large 18-24" plant    -    $11.99

Height 4-6 Feet

Spread 4-6 Feet

USDA Hardiness Zone 4-7

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips Almost all blueberries are self-fertile, but experience has shown that you may get larger crops of bigger berries if cross-pollinated with other varieties. Make sure you have adequate cultured or wild bees for pollination. Blueberries do best on soils with high organic matter, adequate moisture all through the summer, and a pH in the range of 4.5 to 5.0. For once Grandpa recommends amending your soils with lots of well decomposed organic materials like weathered sawdust, wood chips, bark, or good peat additives. Make sure you try to bring the pH into the optimum range before planting. Most blueberries will tolerate soil with higher, but not flooded, water tables. If you are growing in a more "upland" site, with sandy soils, make sure to irrigate regularly to maintain a moist, but not soaked soil condition through the season. Prune bushes when dormant to open them up to better sunlight penetration when they grow up and get too thick. See Grandpa's Growing Tips for more on blueberry culture.

A Little History Duke was bred and introduced from the New Jersey Experiment Station in 1986, from a cross made by the USDA in 1972. It is a complex cross of many older blueberry varieties.

Characteristics & Attributes

Bloom Character • Late blooming • Self-fertile	Fruit Characteristics • Large fruit	Growth Rate/Habit • Very productive • Spreading habit	Harvest Period • Early season
Other Attributes • Complex flavor • Aromatic	Site Requirements • Frost Resistant • Winter hardy • Full Sun	Skill Required • Easy to grow	Uses • Canning or freezing • High dessert quality • Cooking or baking • Good for pies