This is a practice that has been utilized in Virginia and New Jersey with great success. It allows the plants more growing days in the fall, protects from winter lows, and offers some frost protection. After this last winter, we were taught a lesson. This year, I hope to be able to test a few other varieties than just the Chandler. Haven't firmed up my plans yet.
Funding is always a consideration.
Ozarkblue Southern Highbush Blueberry by John R. Clark James R. Moore Ozarkblue is the first blueberry cultivar to be released from the University of Arkansas blueberry breeding program. Ozarkblue was selected in a seedling field in Fayetteville in 1980 and was tested as A-109. The most extensive testing has been done at the Fruit Substation where Ozarkblue was compared with Bluecrop northern highbush, several other southern highbush cultivars, and rabbiteye cultivars. Reliability in fruiting, high yields, large berry size, high quality and excellent plant vigor are all attributes of Ozarkblue. This consistency in fruiting is due to the later budbreak and bloom date of Ozarkblue compared to most other southern highbush and rabbiteye cultivars.