Silver Creek Nursery Ltd.

Potted Duke Highbush Blueberry

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Vaccinium corymbosum

History: Duke was developed in Maryland by Arlen Draper, a blueberry breeder working for the USDA, in collaboration with the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. After ten years of testing it was released in 1987 thanks to its early ripening time, general disease resistance, reliable crops, and suitability for commercial sale. It was named Duke after S. Arthur "Duke" Galetta of the Atlantic Blueberry Company in honour of his support for blueberry breeding efforts over the years.  

Why We Grow It: Duke produces good-sized crops of large, firm berries that are a good balance of sweet and tart. This is one of the earlier ripening blueberries and it has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Duke is an extremely reliable producer thanks to it's later bloom time that allows it avoid late spring frosts. Like other blueberries, it is great for a variety of uses including fresh eating, baking, and preserving! 

$40.00

Size:

10 low in stock

Fruit Traits:

Recommended Use: Fresh eating, baking, preserving, wine

Fruit Size: Large

Storage: Keeps less than two weeks when stored in the fridge

Harvest: July - Mid

Tree Traits:

Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4

Soil Preferance: Prefers sandy, well-drained, acidic soil. We plant ours in a mix of one part peat moss and 1 part wood chips (we prefer pine). Consider checking your soil type and pH before planting and adding peat moss or other acidifiers if needed.

Flowering Time: Spring

Pollination Requirements: Self-pollinating, this variety will produce fruit without a different highbush blueberry variety but will produce more and better fruit if one is present

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily) preferred but will tolerate partial shade

General Growth Habit: Shrub reaches up to 2m tall, vigorous with an upright growth habit, produces good crops. Generally disease resistant.

Reminder: Potted plants are available for pick-up only!

Potted plants vary in size and age, but we typically pot berries and smaller seedlings in 1-3 gal pots and larger grafted trees in 5-16 gal pots.

  • 1g pots - 1-3ft tall
  • 2g or 3g pots - 1.5-3ft tall
  • 5g pots - 3-7ft tall
  • 8g pots - 4-7ft tall
  • 16g pots - 6-8ft tall

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