Biloxi Blueberry – Very Low-Chill Southern Highbush Blueberry Biloxi is a vigorous, upright-growing Southern Highbush blueberry developed for areas with mild winters. It produces an early crop of medium-sized, firm blue berries with good color, a small picking scar, and excellent blueberry flavor. Because Biloxi requires very little winter chilling, it can begin flowering extremely early. This makes it a good choice for low-chill climates, but the early flowers may need protection during late winter or early spring freezes in North Florida. Plant Details Plant Type: Fruiting shrub Botanical Name: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Biloxi’ Blueberry Type: Southern Highbush Mature Size: Approximately 5–6 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide Growth Habit: Vigorous, productive, and upright Sun: Full sun for the best fruit production USDA Zones: 8–10 Chill Hours: Approximately 150–200 hours; considered a very low-chill variety Bloom Time: Very early Harvest Time: Early season, generally before most rabbiteye blueberries Fruit: Medium-sized, light-to-medium blue berries Flavor: Good to excellent blueberry flavor Fruit Quality: Firm berries with good color and a small picking scar Pollination: Plant with another early-blooming Southern Highbush blueberry for the best fruit set, berry size, and production Soil: Moist, acidic, well-drained soil with a preferred pH of approximately 4.5–5.5 Water: Keep evenly moist, especially during establishment and fruit development, but do not allow the roots to remain waterlogged Landscape Uses: Home orchards, edible landscapes, blueberry hedges, wildlife gardens, and container growing Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while ripe berries attract birds Best Pollinator Partners Biloxi should be paired with another Southern Highbush blueberry that has a similarly low chill requirement and early bloom period. Springhigh: One of the strongest choices because it is an early-season Southern Highbush with a chill requirement close to Biloxi Jewel: Another strong partner because Jewel flowers extremely early and should provide good bloom overlap Emerald: A suitable low-chill Southern Highbush that may overlap Biloxi’s flowering period Sunshine Blue: Another low-chill Southern Highbush that may provide helpful cross-pollination Springhigh and Jewel are likely the closest pollination matches from the varieties we carry. Actual bloom overlap can vary depending on winter temperatures and spring weather. Do not rely on rabbiteye blueberries such as Brightwell, Climax, Premier, Powderblue, Tifblue, Ochlockonee, or Centurion to pollinate Biloxi. Choose another Southern Highbush blueberry for dependable cross-pollination. North Florida Growing Note Biloxi’s very low chill requirement means it may satisfy its winter chilling needs early and begin flowering during warm periods in January or February. In DeFuniak Springs and other colder parts of the Florida Panhandle, those early flowers can be damaged by a later freeze. Biloxi can grow in North Florida, but it may require frost protection when flowers or small berries are present. Planting it in a protected location near the south or southeast side of a building may offer some protection from cold north winds. Plant in full sun and acidic, well-drained soil. Blueberries have shallow roots and benefit from a 2- to 3-inch layer of pine bark or pine-straw mulch. Keep the mulch slightly away from the base of the plant. ATTRACTS POLLINATORS Available for local pickup at our nursery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Limited shipping may be available for select smaller plants. Please contact us before ordering if shipping will be required. Wholesale quantities may be available for farms, landscapers, garden centers, and other qualified buyers. Advanced Nursery Growers1911 McLeod RoadDeFuniak Springs, FL 32435Call: 850-391-2228Email: [email protected]
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