Technical sheet of the Blueberry variety Bluecrop
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Skin color: Dark blue to blue-black, sometimes described as purplish-blue or pure blue. The berries are often covered with a fine white bloom that accentuates their waxy appearance.
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Size and shape: Large, 16 to 18 mm in diameter. Round to slightly flattened in shape
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Tree Size: Typically reaches 1.2 to 1.5 meters in height (sometimes up to 2 meters) and 0.8 to 1 meter in width. It has a bushy, upright habit.
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Fruit maturity: From mid-July to the end of August, depending on the region
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Fruit taste: Subtly sweet, tangy, with a fairly strong aroma. The flesh is firm, with a good balance between sugar and acidity. The reference Brix level is approximately 12.8%.
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Earliness of the variety: Mid-season
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Fruiting period Mid-July to the end of August. The harvest is grouped and spread over a short and regular period of 3 to 4 weeks.
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Disease resistance and storage: Shows good to very good resistance to common blueberry diseases and is superior to most standard varieties. It is particularly robust against sclerotinia rot and fruit splitting. However, it shows very high susceptibility to anthracnose fruit rot (*Colletotrichum acutatum*) and high susceptibility to twig dieback (*Godronia cassandrae / Fusicoccum putrefaciens*). The fruits are firm and withstand transport well, which reduces losses during harvesting and handling. It has excellent post-harvest storage.
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Variety yield: An adult plant generally produces between 6 and 9 kg of fruit per year. In professional orchards, yields of 8 to 9 tonnes per hectare are observed.
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Is this variety self-fertile? Generally considered self-fertile, but its productivity and fruit quality are significantly improved by cross-pollination with other compatible varieties.
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Commercial use: A world-class variety for professional cultivation, suitable for fresh sales and processing (such as juice production). It is widely cultivated and is a standard in the professional market in France and internationally.
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Comments: The Bluecrop variety is known for its exceptional ease of picking, as the fruits are large, firm and separate easily from the stalk, making it very suitable for mechanical harvesting. It is very hardy, tolerating winter temperatures between -26°C and -34°C, and has good drought tolerance. To optimize production, it is recommended to plant it in association with other varieties with similar flowering and maturity such as 'Duke' or 'Berkeley'
Quick read / the essentials on Bluecrop blueberry
The 'Bluecrop' blueberry is undoubtedly a world reference in the cultivation of small fruits. Originally from North America, this variety has now established itself as the standard for open-field production , particularly in France. It combines taste quality, regularity of production and hardiness , major assets for professionals. Thanks to its high yield (up to 9 t/ha), its good resistance to transport and its commercial versatility (fresh, processing, freezing), it perfectly meets market requirements. At Bairiverse , a wholesale supplier specializing in blueberry plants , we offer certified plants, selected for their vigor and adaptability.
For growers looking to buy Bluecrop blueberry plants , it is important to note that this variety offers excellent post-harvest storage , a group harvest in 3 to 4 weeks and a hardiness down to -30°C, making it ideal for many French regions. Its bushy, upright habit makes cultivation easier, and although self-fertile, it gives better results with synchronous pollinating varieties.
Buying Bluecrop blueberry plants means investing in a reliable, high-performance, and internationally recognized variety. Thanks to the expertise of Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants , you benefit from expert advice and personalized support to help you make your planting project a success.
General presentation
'Bluecrop' is today the most widely cultivated blueberry variety in the world. Recognized for its regular production, the quality of its fruit and its hardiness, it is a benchmark in the professional sector, both for fresh consumption and for processing. Originally from North America, it has established itself on the European market, particularly in France, as the varietal standard for open-field crops .
Fruit characteristics
The fruits of 'Bluecrop' are medium to large in size , with an average diameter of 16 to 18 mm and a weight of around 1.4 g per berry . Their shape is round, slightly flattened, and they grow in compact clusters , which greatly facilitates harvesting, including mechanical harvesting.
The skin has a dark blue to blue-black color , with a characteristic white bloom giving a waxy appearance. This visual presentation is highly sought after in the fresh circuit. The fruit is firm , offering good resistance to transport and excellent post-harvest preservation .
The taste is balanced, both sweet and tangy , with a strong aromatic character . The average Brix level is around 12.8% , indicating a good soluble sugar content. The fruit also has a good juice yield (72 to 75% of fresh weight) , making it suitable for industrial processing.
Fruiting period
'Bluecrop' is a mid-season variety , with a harvest period that extends from mid-July to the end of August depending on the French production areas. Maturity is generally grouped over a short period of 3 to 4 weeks , which optimizes the organization of the harvest, both manual and mechanical.
Agronomic behavior
The plant reaches a height of 1.2 to 2.0 m at maturity, with a width of 0.8 to 1.2 m . Its habit is bushy, erect and not very spreading , which facilitates cultural interventions. The vigor is average to good , with regular productivity and ease of management.
The root system is superficial , concentrated in the first 30 to 45 centimeters of soil , requiring acidic soil (pH 4.0 to 5.5), rich in organic matter and well drained. Organic mulch is strongly recommended to conserve moisture and protect the roots.
The variety is self-fertile , but has a low affinity for self-fertilization . To optimize yields and improve fruit quality, it is advisable to plant 'Bluecrop' with pollinating varieties such as Spartan, Hardy Blue, Legacy, Ivanhoe, Duke, Draper, Chandler or Goldtraube , ensuring good flowering synchronization (often in May in France).
Resistance to diseases and health constraints
Bluecrop has good to very good general resistance to diseases , particularly to sclerotinia rot ( Sclerotinia spp. ), fruit splitting , and red ringspot virus , which allows for limiting fungicide treatments . However, two points of vigilance should be highlighted. On the one hand, a high sensitivity to fruit anthracnose ( Colletotrichum acutatum ), with attack rates that can exceed 70% under certain conditions. On the other hand, a marked sensitivity to twig dieback ( Godronia cassandrae / Fusicoccum putrefaciens ).
Strict monitoring of the orchard and the implementation of prophylactic measures are essential to secure production.
The variety tolerates harsh winters well with hardiness tested between -26°C and -30°C , or even down to -34°C in certain regions, which makes it compatible with most French production areas outside mountainous areas.
Its drought resistance is also good, provided that adequate watering is ensured during installation and fruiting.
'Bluecrop' is susceptible to root asphyxiation , like most blueberries, making well-drained soil essential. Sensitivity to limescale is not documented for this variety, but generally remains high in blueberries in unsuitable soil.
Performance and professional uses
The average yield is estimated between 6 and 9 kg per adult plant per year , or approximately 8 to 9 tonnes per hectare under optimized professional cultivation conditions . Its commercial outlets are numerous . When eaten fresh , it is appreciated for its presentation , firmness and balanced flavor . In industrial processing , it is suitable for the production of jams , juices , syrups , compotes , frozen fruits and pastries . The health and cosmetics industry is also interested in it, thanks to its richness in antioxidants and vitamins .
Implementation and management
Planting is recommended in autumn (September to November) or spring (February to May) , outside of periods of frost. The variety is not remontant : it only produces one annual harvest. Annual winter pruning is essential to maintain productivity and encourage the formation of young branches.
'Bluecrop' is grown ungrafted , without the use of grafting. No rootstock is currently recommended for this variety in France.
Conclusion
'Bluecrop' is a safe bet for professional blueberry growers , combining numerous agronomic advantages : controlled vigor, good hardiness, regular production, taste and visual quality of the fruit, and great commercial versatility.
However, for optimal management, it is essential to:
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Monitor for risks of specific diseases such as anthracnose or twig dieback .
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Combine the variety with suitable pollinators .
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Plant the plants in soil conditions strictly suited to the blueberry bush .
To summarize: Bluecrop blueberry
In summary, the 'Bluecrop' variety is distinguished by its firm, sweet, tangy and visually attractive fruits , suitable for both fresh consumption and industrial processing. Its yield (6 to 9 kg/plant), its hardiness, its resistance to common diseases and its tolerance to cold make it a strategic choice for blueberry professionals . At Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants , we provide plants selected for their agronomic performance, their uniformity and their reliability in the orchard.
Growers who wish to purchase Bluecrop blueberry plants will benefit from flowering in May, a cluster harvest between mid-July and the end of August, and a high adaptability to acidic, well-drained soils. Organic mulching is recommended, as is careful monitoring against anthracnose and twig dieback. By combining 'Bluecrop' with suitable pollinators, you maximize your yields and the quality of the harvested fruit.
Buying Bluecrop blueberry plants means choosing safety and performance. Trust Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants , to support your orchard project with professionalism and expertise.
