Crowley Blueberry Variety Fact Sheet
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Fruit flesh color: Not specified in sources for Vaccinium corymbosum 'Crowley'. For Vaccinium macrocarpon 'Crowley' (cranberry), the flesh is firm.
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Skin color: Light to medium blue, covered with a thick white bloom giving a matte appearance. Blue to blue-violet with a white bloom.
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Size and shape: Medium to small (10 to 14 mm in diameter), or medium to large (14-18 mm) depending on the source. Large (16-18 mm) for Vaccinium corymbosum . The fruits are rather firm.
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Shrub size: Bushy, upright habit. Medium to strong vigor.
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Fruit maturity: Mid-season to late. Clustered ripening.
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Fruit taste: Sweet, tangy, aromatic for Vaccinium corymbosum . For Vaccinium macrocarpon , very tangy, not very sweet (Brix 7-9%, acidity 1.5-2%).
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Earliness of the variety: Semi-early.
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Disease resistance and storage: Good post-harvest stability. Excellent storage.
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Variety yield: Up to 4-6 kg/plant, or 6-8 kg/plant for Vaccinium corymbosum . Productivity.
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Commercial use: Fresh and processing. Suitable for mechanical harvesting.
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Comments: Good ease of picking. Dry and shallow peduncle scar. Firmness often greater than 120-140 g/mm.
Quick read / Crowley blueberry essentials
The Crowley blueberry is a semi-dwarf American variety, appreciated for its moderate vigor, its bushy habit and its ability to produce quality fruit over the long term. Selected in 1963, it is still little cultivated in France, but constitutes a strategic option for market gardens seeking to diversify their range dedicated to processing (juices, jams, frozen foods). Thanks to its medium size, its very firm texture and its balanced sugar level (12-14° Brix), it meets the expectations of demanding professionals. Its grouped harvest allows for partial mechanization, thus optimizing labor costs.
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Origin and identification
Crowley is an American variety of shrub blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum ), selected and registered in 1963. Mainly developed for North American markets, it is still little cultivated in France but has several interesting characteristics for professional cultivation oriented towards processing.
Plant growth and development
The plant has a compact to spreading bushy habit , with short, well-branched branches. Its adult height is between 0.80 m and 1.20 m , for an equivalent width , which makes it a semi-dwarf variety easy to integrate into dense cultivation systems. Vigour is moderate to low , with slower growth than varieties such as 'Bluecrop' or 'Duke'. The need for staking is generally low to moderate , except in windy conditions or for young plants.
Flowering and fruiting
Flowering occurs between mid-May and early June , lasting 10 to 15 days. Fruiting extends from mid-July to mid-August , with relatively clustered maturity. This characteristic favors a harvest in one or two passes , which limits labor costs.
The first significant harvest occurs from the 3rd to 4th year after planting . Productive longevity is estimated between 30 and 50 years , comparable to the best varieties of the same species.
Fruit characteristics
The fruits of 'Crowley' have a spherical shape , an average size of 14 to 18 mm and a light blue to medium blue color covered with a white bloom, giving them a matte appearance.
The texture is very firm , with a high burst strength (120 to 160 g/mm²), which facilitates manual or mechanical picking without loss of quality.
The flavor is tangy to aromatic , with a sugar level around 12 to 14° Brix . The juice content is between 76% and 80% , making the variety suitable for processing.
Harvesting and preservation
The fruit has a dry, shallow peduncular scar , allowing for a clean harvest. Thanks to its firmness , 'Crowley' can be kept for several days in a cool place and withstands transport well. These characteristics allow it to be integrated into a professional sector, particularly for processing.
Performance and commercial use
In professional cultivation, the average yield is 3 to 5 kg per adult plant , with a potential of 10 to 14 tonnes per hectare . 'Crowley' is recommended for industrial processing : jams, juices, jellies, frozen products. It can also be suitable for direct sales or short circuits , depending on the positioning of the farm.
Fertility and pollination
The variety is self-fertile , but the presence of other varieties improves the size and regularity of the harvests. 'Duke' and 'Berkeley' are recommended for cross-pollination.
Resistances and sensitivity
'Crowley' is distinguished by good general resistance to fungal diseases , including anthracnose and stem rots. Few cases of dieback or bacterial diseases are reported.
Pest resistance is considered satisfactory , although not exceptional. It is sensitive to root asphyxiation and requires well-drained soil . Its resistance to drought is average , with a high water requirement in summer (7 to 10 mm/day).
Growing conditions
The 'Crowley' blueberry requires acidic soil (pH 4.0 - 5.5) and is highly sensitive to calcareous soils . No specific rootstock is used ; cultivation is generally carried out on its own roots.
Honey character
Flowering attracts pollinators, especially bees. Honey production remains modest , but contributes to the biodiversity of the growing environment.
To summarize: Crowley blueberry
The Crowley blueberry stands out for its agronomic qualities perfectly suited to the needs of French producers, particularly for processing. Its moderate vigor, compact habit, and ability to produce firm fruit with a high juice content make it a reliable, profitable, and technically attractive variety. Its late flowering, good fruit retention at harvest, and productive longevity (up to 50 years) make it an excellent choice for those looking to secure a long-term investment in blueberries.
At Bairiverse , we strive to guarantee you a quality supply as a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants . Our offer of certified Crowley plants comes with personalized recommendations for planting density, fertilization and irrigation. Whether you are planning a modest-sized orchard or a large-scale operation, we are your preferred contact for purchasing Crowley blueberry plants with all the necessary technical and logistical guarantees.
In summary, buying Crowley blueberry plants from a wholesale supplier specializing in blueberry plants means opting for quality, consistency of production, and adaptation to the processing market. Trust Bairiverse , your wholesale supplier specializing in blueberry plants , to structure a high-performance and sustainable plantation, adapted to French soil and climate constraints. Our experts will support you every step of the way to make your project a success.
