April 2024

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April 17, 2024

Warm Waters Abound

In just a few short weeks we will be in Hurricane Season. I capitalized those words for a reason — it appears we may be in for a doozy of a year. Atlantic waters are warmer than ever and the number of predicted storms is record-breaking. Now we wait. Right now everything looks great. The blueberry crops looks excellent (with a few exceptions), so if we can get the weather to cooperate things will be looking up. In this issue I show some examples of cultivar crop progress on our Poplarville station (both rabbiteye and southern highbush) and invite you to watch the recorded virtual workshop from earlier this year. Exciting news also at USDA-ARS in Poplarville as they are in the process of hiring a new Research Leader. Come and have some input if you are so inclined (I’ll be there!). And lastly, don’t forget about the Blueberry Jubilee. Even though I am no longer involved with it, I hope you can visit and enjoy some fresh blueberries.

Blueberry Jubilee 2024

Eric T. Stafne, Fruit Extension Specialist, MSU-ES

The 2024 Blueberry Jubilee in Poplarville is on for this year. It will take place on June 8. If you are interested in participating as a vendor go to this website and download the application forms: https://blueberryjubilee.net/applications

The blueberry jubilee in Poplarville is a good way to interact with consumers — and they all love blueberries!

P.S. I am no longer in charge of the Blueberry Products section.

2024 Virtual Blueberry Workshop Speakers

(Click PDF to view speakers)

Dr. Eric T. Stafne
Extension and Research Professor
Coastal Research and Extension Center
Mississippi State University

Title: Changes in Plant Hardiness Zones and Ramifications for Mississippi Blueberries

Description: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated their plant hardiness zone maps. These maps are based on 30 years worth of weather data. Unsurprisingly, the zones in Mississippi have changed. What does this mean for blueberry plants? Can we start to grow some varieties that were not possible in the past? We will discuss these and more questions.

To view this and the following 2 presentations go to this link: https://vimeo.com/913490716/18ed7f6c58?share=copy

Jenny Ryals
Research Associate II
South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station
Mississippi State University

Title: Blueberry Propagation Techniques and Tips

Description:This presentation aims to offer advice and methods to enhance the success of grow-ers in propagating blueberries through various techniques. Tailored for both novice and seasoned gardeners and growers, the talk will provide insights applicable to a broad audience with diverse levels of experience.

Haley Williams
Research Associate I South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station
Mississippi State University

Title: Blueberry Wine and Blends With Other Small Fruits

Description: This presentation will focus on blueberry wine and blends with other small fruits, providing information on their unique qualities along with some production tips. Whether a hob-byist winemaker or someone simply curious about wine, attendees will gain insights into the possi-bilities of combining the flavors of blueberries with complementary fruits, expanding their knowledge of fruit-based wines.

Blueberry Cultivar Crop Progress
Eric T. Stafne — Fruit Specialist, MSU

As of April 25, 2024 the blueberry crop looks very good. I have noticed a few bushes that do not have as much fruit as I expected. My thought is it could be drought related, as they were not irri-gated last summer. Another thing to look out for — just because a bush looks great right now does not mean it might not have problems later as a delayed effect of the drought. If you start see-ing seemingly healthy bushes with full crops die suddenly then it may be due to a reduced root sys-tem from extreme heat and drought last year. On the next few pages are photos of different blue-berry cultivars on the Poplarville station. (View images in PDF).

The Mississippi Vaccinium Journal is a quarterly, digital publication of Mississippi State University Extension Service. Subscriptions may be obtained by sending an email address to eric.stafne@msstate.edu. All articles and images are copyright of Mississippi State University Exten-sion Service.

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.