Duke Blueberry Plant
Description
About the Duke Blueberry Plant
The Duke Blueberry is a Northern Highbush Blueberry, growing well in cooler climates and northern regions. Developed by the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, this variety was released to the public in 1987.
It is known both for its early season fruit, which is large with a firm, crisp texture, and its high yield of berries. The fruit has a tangy, sweet, delicate flavor. Blueberries are a top fruit source of antioxidants, and they are high in fiber and vitamin C.
This blueberry bush is an attractive plant with white, pink-tinged flowers in the spring; large, light blue berries in the summer; and vibrant yellow and orange fall foliage. It is a great plant to use for landscape design, as well as in the garden or berry patch. This bush can grow up to six feet tall at maturity.
Growth and Care
Duke blueberry bushes are cold-hardy. They prefer acidic soil and full sun, and they should be pruned annually. Flowers bloom late in the spring, helping to avoid issues with late spring frost. We recommend Stark® Blueberry Special Fertilizer to help your blueberry plants thrive.
Like all blueberry plants, the Duke variety can live a long time, bearing fruit up to fifty years. Bushes should start producing berries one to two years after planting. While self-pollinating, this variety benefits from cross-pollination with other cultivars, producing even larger yields. See below for more information about planting and care.
Buy a Duke blueberry plant and enjoy an abundance of blueberries that ripen early and the attractive landscape qualities of this plant.
Survival Guaranteed!
Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.
Characteristics
| Bloom Color | White |
| Bloom Time | Early |
| Fruit Color | Blue |
| Fruit Size | Large |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 4 - 7 |
| Pollination | Self-Pollinating |
| Ripens/Harvest | Late May |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 4.5 - 5.5 |
| Texture | Firm |
| Years to Bear | 2 - 3 |
Size & Spacing
Mature Size
Recommended Spacing
Zone Compatibility
Pollination
This variety is self pollinating.
Tools & Supplies
Planting & Care
Learn all about how to grow blueberry plants in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.
Shipping Information
Arrives when it's time to plant
Questions & Answers
Both. The 4-inch potted blueberry plants will be about 4-6 inches tall when they arrive and the gallon-potted blueberry plants will be more mature — up to 12 inches tall when they arrive. Both options have a well-developed root system within the pot for your transplanting success.
I will be able to let the two Duke blueberry plants I bought last year produce fruit this year since they are at least 2 1/2 feet tall. Google Michigan State University on how to avoid a common blueberry planting error. Stark Bros does not show the correct way. You can also google how to properly plant blueberry bushes and watch/read some other information. I also followed how to fertilize and mulch the blueberry bushes on some other websites rather than Stark Bros. I use organic fertilizer/acidifier. I also bought 2 each of Patriot, Herbert and Elliot from Stark Bros. The Herberts are slow starters as they are late bloomers. One of the Herbert plants they sent me had barely any roots and I bought the more expensive 1 gallon plants. They did replace it, but they should have never sent me a dead bush & it was like they stuck a one pint plant in some soil and sent it out. Otherwise, so far we're happy with the plants and they are thriving and we hope they continue to do so. We will not let the Herberts produce fruit this year since they are not at least 2 1/2 feet tall per Ohio State University extension website. Enjoy!
Deer can eat the plants...they usually won't bother the berries.
Rabbits love to munch on the plants in the winter especially if snow is on the ground.
Birds are more of an issue for the fruit.
Repelz ALL is a good organic solution for keeping deer/rabbits away.
Safest way is to cage the plants.
I have never pinched off the flowers on a first year plant.
Blueberry plants grow slowly, and they may not seem to get much bigger from year to year. It takes a blueberry bush about 10 years to reach mature size, but this also means they will live a long, long time. It will be 2 or 3 years before you start getting large harvests, but it is definitely worth the wait.
Thank you for your inquiry. I am attaching a link to some great information regarding planting Blueberry plants in containers. You will find the information under the header, "Container-Growing." http://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/berry-plants/blueberry-plants/planting Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. Thanks!
If the item is eligible to be delayed and we have inventory for the season in question then we are happy to delay delivery. Please call customer support at 800.324.4180 to speak to a representative for more information.
We prefer to use more earth friendly, softer chemicals like biological fungicides and insecticides, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, and insect growth regulators. We raise our trees and plants as organically as we can. We do spray when necessary - primarily with biological/organic agents - to keep pests and diseases at bay in order to save a threatened crop, but you may raise the tree or plant as organically as you wish.
They are currently only available in a 4 inch pot
Any other variety as they are all self pollinating.
Customer Reviews
Im just waiting for it to ripen
One plant died
The Jubllee #135187
I wanted them in my g3arden this year.
Adding to my berries
In research, this was shown to be a good producer in our area.
Early producer