Hi Queenkitchen,

Sunshine Blue is a dwarf variety of blueberry only growing to about 4ft tall and wide. They are one of the easier varieties to grow because they can withstand higher ph soils than most other varieties. They are a southern high bush so they tend to over produce and must be prunned to keep from over fruiting every spring. Do alittle home work on growing them in pots and you will have success!

Rabbiteyes are a different bred of blueberry but if you get the soil ph right they are easy to grow also and alot less fussy than Southern High Bush. I grow both here in houston and have had great results so far. They tend to get much larger than SHB and will produce more fruit per plant once mature. There will be some more posts here from some more expirenced growers than I so listen to them, they know whats up!!!

I haven't grown Sunshine Blue blueberry. It's very low chilling but pretty hardy. I believe it's also somewhat dwarf.

My favorite is Sweetcrisp because the fruit is sweeter and much crunchier than any other I've tried.

what do you mean by fussy in relation to southern high bush.

Fruitnut, will sweetcrisp work well in NY? does it produce well (I am not sure the amount of pollination i will get i am in a pretty urban area).

sunshine was recommended by a place that sells plants but wanted to see what else would work.

I was intending to grow in the 5-1-1 mix discussed on the container forum, will that work for the rabbiteyes? or these in general. I want to firm up my plant orders soon so things dont sell out.

Don't know how cold Sweetcrisp will tolerate. Probably nothing like a northern highbush. If you are NYC my impression is that it doesn't usually get all that cold. If you don't mind some risk or can protect it in a pot during the coldest spells you will probably be OK.

Sunshine Blue is the name of the variety we're talking about, right? I haven't heard of Sunshine.

Sunshine is an easy to grow blueberry. I grow a few different blueberries that do well in California which includes Misty, ONeal, Sunshine, Southmoon, Bountiful Blue, and the new pink lemonade variety. Out of the 6, sunshine is my family's least favorite since it isn't as flavorful and sweet as the other varieties I grow.

-Blueboy, what rabbiteyes do good in the South? I didn't know we can grow any in zone 9, otherwise I want to try some. Like you said, a lot of mine over produce and a lot of times my berries are small.

The cure for small berries is to prune now to take out a good part of the small fruiting wood. This is especially true for varieties that tend to over produce like Misty and Emerald.

Reducing the crop load can also make the fruit taste better.

Queen, I didnt realize you were in Newyork. You may want to check out the Northern High Bush varieties. Im sure you could grow the Southern High Bush but like Fruitnut said they would have to be in a pot and brought in during cold snaps.

Ocbrian2,

There are several Rabbiteyes that have 350 chill hour requirements. I have 7 different cultivars ranging from 350 to 450. If you fall in that range I dont see why you couldnt grow them. Im growing Woodard, Brightwell, Bluegem, Beckyblue, Alapaha, Austin and Powder Blue. Wanting to get a couple more low chill varieties but I have to get a better watering system down before I do.

I read somewhere,I think it was some literature from the University of Florida that Sweetcrisp can go to Zone 6,so maybe it can grow in NYC,as was said though,protect it during a cold winter.It might need a partner Southern Highbush for better fruiting.
Rabbiteye is mostly a Southeastern plant.
There are lots of choices of Northern Highbush that will work.Reka is vigorous and good flavored.Also,for a big berry,Darrow is one of my favorites.Best to have at least two different ones of SB or NB for pollination.Brady

Queen,

I just realized I didnt answer your question. By fussy I mean the SHB are more prone to diseases, pests and soil ph than Rabbiteyes. Not sure how they compair to NHB in that sense.

Appreciate all the help as always. A very reputable nursery thought that the sunshine would work very well in NY and when researching it i realized it was Southern and was concerned. Maybe considering my intent for keeping it in a containerand the fact that it is self pollinating, that outweighed potential better tasting varieties. I am really focusing on a few black and rasps but figured if i could get some BBs too i would. I have an unheated garage i could slide them into so maybe sweetcrisp would work. In the new USDA map,I was moved up to zone 7B so maybe sweetcrisp would work. I don't know that i will have the space for a second plant as a pollinator though

I have a couple of Jewels here in Brooklyn NYC, they have huge fruiting buds. Every day I pray it doesn't start to bloom too early. If they are successful I will pick some other SHBs, including some Sweetcrisps.

queenskitchen I have 4 varities in my attached garage with a thermometer to keep tabs on the temperture. I bought a fancy atomic clock at Walmart that gives indoor temp, outdoor temp via radio signal(in garage). If your garage is attached you may be OK.
Dan

I have 125 blueberries 9 of which are sunshine blue. A couple of points.... It is a pretty plant, has pink blossoms and a finer leaf than other southerns. Far as the poster that said the sunshine wasn't as sweet......you have to leave the berries on the plant at least 10 days after they turn blue and if you do I assure you they will be sweet and very good tasting. It is an easy plant to grow and not nearly as picky. Mine are blooming now.

Molex, do you grow and blackberries or raspberries? If so, what varieties?

I grow Triple Crown and Natchez Blackberries. I have been very successful with those. The Raspberries I grow are Heritage, Latham, Kiwi Gold, Jewel and Indian Summer.

I plan to add some more Raspberries and Blueberries in the spring.