Having successfully grown blueberries in San Diego for the past 7 years, I thought I would describe what I have learned about varieties and practices:
Planting - you definitely do not need to plant them in containers. In fact, the roots often bake in the intense sun and heat. They are healthier if you plant them not in the ground, but on the ground. I would till the soil, then put a mound of acid loving mix on the ground, often mixed with peat moss, and then that was my mound. I found if you made a guild, in a circle, and watered in the middle of the circle, that seemed to work really well. Rows work fine too.
Protect the roots - if the roots dry out or bake in the heat, the plant will never be the same again. I added mulch around the roots. They seem to be susceptible to getting water logged. They like great drainage and frequent watering. I did not experiment much, but I wonder whether sand or volcanic rock (pumice, perlite, etc) would be even better than the mixes I was using. The author of Teaming with Microbes would say use wood chips, as fungal colonization makes for acidic soil and the nitrogen would be available in ammonium form, the type that blueberries use. I did not notice a difference but I see no reason not to follow that advice.
Watering - My first year I watered them like a lawn, every day in the summer, and they did great. I used microsprinklers. My father used soaker hose tubing and his did even better. I suspect drip would be fine if you spread the emitters enough. I watered them less frequently once mature.
Varieties (in order of recommendation)
Snow chaser is definitely your earliest variety. At its best, it has outstanding flavor, and at its worst it tastes like a good blueberry. This is a must have variety because you can get fruit early, when nothing else is ripe.
Emerald is very productive, vigorous, the fruit are large, the plant is large. Everything about this variety is great. Jewel is like a watery tasting Emerald. I pulled Jewel out after a couple years. Emerald also is a must have and fortunately, easier to find than Snow Chaser.
Southmoon - this variety is later and it does not produce well but its flavor is amazing. Rather floral and tastes good even when not ripe.
Sweetcrisp - not as productive in the shade but in full sun and perhaps with good chill, it can be very productive. The birds don’t like it as much because the flesh is more firm. You hear an audible crunch. That said, the flavor is outstanding.
Scintilla had a wine like taste, I really liked it. My plants died from disease, presumably fungal as I experiemented with a weed barrier (terrible idea). I replaced my dead with Scintilla with Scintilla from Florida Hills Nursery and they don’t taste the same and the plant is lower growing and more bushy. I am not sure I have Scintilla any more, alas.
Star and Sharpblue are fine. Nothing bad or distinguishing. O’Neal was great some years and bland other years. I pulled it.
Jubilee does not do well here. Not enough chill?
Sunshine blue are not as good. I pulled all mine.
Reveille has not lived up to its reputation. Due to be pulled if not better by next year.
I tried a couple rabbit eye varieties. They definitely extend the season but were not nearly as good. Pink Lemonade is popular and interesting but the flavor was not good enough.