Duke Blueberry

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New Jersey, USA

Duke was developed by the USDA at its Beltsville, Maryland research station and released in 1987, a tetraploid variety derived mostly from Vaccinium corymbosum with a small contribution from the wild lowbush species V. angustifolium. Its documented parentage traces to the varieties Ivanhoe and Earliblue. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, and remains genuinely valued as one of the most reliable early-season northern highbush varieties, prized for large, firm, crisp fruit and consistently high yields.

Submitted by @system · 10 days ago

Counts toward the overall Top Tier Fruit list — every category's votes are compared the same way.

Growing & Care

Hardiness zone

USDA Zones 4-7

Chill hours

~800 hours

Pollination

Self-fertile, benefits from a pollinator.

Care info

One of the earliest-ripening highbush varieties, extending the blueberry season on the front end.

Recommendations

Plant alongside a later variety like Elliott to stretch the harvest from early to late season.

Flavor Profile

Mild, well-balanced sweetness, slightly less complex than late-season types

Quick facts

Skin color

Light blue

Size

Medium to large

Hardiness zone

USDA Zones 4-7

Chill hours

800

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