Growing blueberry
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Needs two or more different rabbiteye varieties to fruit at all.
Growing it
Zones 7-9, the Southeast's workhorse blueberry - vigorous, drought-tolerant once established, later-ripening. Acidic soil still essential.
Where blueberry grows best
Hardy in zones 7-9, and it needs enough winter cold - about 350-700 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Will you get enough chill?
Blueberry (Rabbiteye) needs roughly 350–700 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does blueberry grow in?
Blueberry (Rabbiteye) grows in USDA hardiness zones 7-9. In the warmest of those (zone 9), winters may be too mild to give the chill it needs, so choose low-chill varieties there.
How many chill hours does blueberry need?
Roughly 350-700 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does blueberry need a pollinator?
Needs a pollination partner. Needs two or more different rabbiteye varieties to fruit at all.
Which states can grow blueberry?
Blueberry (Rabbiteye) suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and parts of 27 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.