Spring frosts are proving a challenge for SHB and early Rabbiteye on our south facing 7a site in Chattanooga TN. Current mid-lates include Ochlocknee, Desoto and a Powder Blue. Would like to add Centurion, Columbus, Yadkin, Baldwin and Southland but nurseries seem high priced, offer very small plugs, out of stock or simply non-responsive.
We have a decent selection of plums going and the more native types are faring much better than the AU varieties about avoiding frost damage. I’ve noticed the same thing with my blueberries as the native transplants push out later in Spring.
For plums, I plan on expanding more wild selections and It’s tempting to try the same with the blueberries, but there is an obvious difference in vigor compared to the cultivars.
I added a Trentberry from Edible Landscaping and just ordered a Hodnett from Mail Order Natives. @Bradybb any updates on this selection? See you got one from an old GW thread. Wilson Bros and Bottoms have Baldwin. Am I missing any obvious RE nurseries?
Also curious about more native selections versus cultivars from the breeding programs. It seems that flavor is better with more wild types but most of us need a better balance of production with berry size and vigor.
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Hi Brian, welcome to GrowingFruit! Are you looking for just a few plants each of those cultivars or wholesale quantities for farming?
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Hi Brian,
I’ll second the welcome.Hodnett is still in my collection,but there was an irrigation malfunction last summer and the Trentberry expired.
Hodnett is good flavored,just somewhat small berries.Trentberry has a unique tangy flavor and maybe another will be bought.There is another variety,Nocturne,that has similar colors in the fruiting stages.I wonder if they are the same plant or maybe share parentage.
Yadkin was the sweetest Rabbiteye I grew,but unfortunately that went the same time Trentberry did.
Brightwell is another that sounds worth trying.
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Finch in NC used to be very good and carried most of the NCSU varieties like Centurion, Columbus and Yadkin. We did not like Southland and no longer grow it.
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Hi Richard, just a few each. This is a backyard operation.
Thank you Brady! I actually have one Nocturne starting year 3. I pruned out the flowers this year with the freeze and to encourage more vegetative growth. it looks like a promising addition and occupies a prominent spot in our landscape. I also have a single Brightwell that’s done very well, bought locally as a 3G container. Maybe I should add another as it does have a good bloom period. Can’t find Yadkins for sale anywhere. Better luck next year perhaps.
Thanks for the Southland feedback, will take that off the list blueberrythrill. Been trying with Finch but even with an order 50% above their required minimum, they don’t respond to calls or email. Maybe too late in the season or they are in transition to all commercial.
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I believe Finch may have lost interest in the nursery business. I had trouble getting an order for 100 of one variety through last year.
Hartman is pretty good and sells retail too but not as many variety as Finch.
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I got my Desoto and additional Legacy through Hartman. Very happy with my Hartman order. Hopefully they can add more RE varieties in the future.