Please bear in mind before reading this that mine is only one experience.

Several years ago I ordered 70 plants for the same reasons you mention. I think I got the smaller 1 and 2 year old plants. Within a year I noticed a lot of red blotches forming on the leaves. I called them back and they suggested an iron deficiency. Turns out it was a virus common to blueberries. When I called back again I got the impression they were well aware of this possibility. I felt they should have mentioned it the first time. Out of 70 I have 6 or 8 left.

Now, my soil probably was not of low enough ph to begin with. May or may not have contributed to the problem so I'll take any responsibility that is due. I felt that the sudden and complete virus onset was probably there from the nursery but I could be wrong.

Again, don't put too much emphasis on my experience. We tend to do that on the internet, but you asked so I told you.

I bought 200 three year old northern high bush last march
Great plants great company

I have purchased plants from Finch on several occasions over the past 8 years or so. I find that the plants shipped early in the season, Dec., are reasonably healthy, while those shipped later might not be. A few years ago I ordered later in the season and the plants arrived brown and dead in the box. In 2007 I received 3 year plants where one variety had a root ball the size of an egg, the others had good roots. I called them and Rudy told me that if they measured 18", they must be 3 years old.
Last year I ordered and got healthy plants with good roots.

I ordered 100 blueberry plants from Finch 4-5 years ago to divide with a couple friends. (I had ordered 12 plants 4 years before that and had been perfectly happy with everything.) The plants looked good and they've performed well, but I had ordered all older plants and they sent and charged me for young plants, so I called to see about correcting things. They obviously didn't want to deal with me, because the woman that answered the phone just kept taking messages. I called about every day for a week with no returned calls. Meanwhile, I didn't want to plant the plants, and I was holding up my two friends' plants, too. They did finally make things right but only after I had been pressed to the limits of my pushiness, which only added to an overall awful customer service experience. So in the end it was all fine, but I would never travel that path again. If I were to order rabbiteye blueberries, I would order from Edible Landscaping. I very much second EL's highest recommendation for 'Yadkin', by the way.

I've considering ordering from Finch before, but always ended up getting my blueberries in the same order as my other fruiting plants. My dad lives in Durham and he drove there a few years ago and got eight, large, healthy, 3-gallon plants each for about the price of a bareroot plant, i.e., less than $20 apiece (might have been $10 or $15). If you've got the time, drive there and you'll put yourself at least one year (maybe two) ahead harvest-wise. If you're getting bareroot plants, I wouldn't go any higher than 3 year plants. The only time I've ever ordered older bareroot blueberries (4-5 year plants), they grew sluggishly and the younger plants caught up quickly. If you're buying potted and can drive to Finch with a pickup truck, then I'd fill the bed up with 3 and 5 gallon plants and move yourself a lot closer to that first good harvest. A properly planted and cared for 3 or 5-gallon rabbiteye will grow fast (as will some of the southern commercial varieties like Tifblue); a lot faster than the northern varieties. You may already know this, but prep the soil to make it acid, give them a really thick mulch (makes a huge difference in my experience), don't let them dry out, and periodically fertilize with a dilute fertilizer for acid loving plants (Mir-acid, which I use, or time release granules that you may have seen posted about here).

Glad to hear about Yadkin. I've got a young one from EL that hasn't fruited yet.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It sounds like Finch is reliable (most of the time), but, if you do have a problem, you can't necessarily count on a quick resolution. Now I just have to make up my mind. Edible Landscaping is a good alternative, and I was planning on ordering some other things from them anyway. Their selection isn't quite as good, but the varieties that they do have are definitely appropriate for my climate. Decisions, decisions...

I've probably ordered later in the season than is optimal. Some of the Finch plants I've gotten were so small that I probably should have potted them up and grown them out for an additional year before planting them in a permanent location, where they probably didn't get the TLC they needed. But, most were of reasonable to good size and performed well.
It's been a while, but I always get 2 or 3 yr old plants, when available. Their variety list is unmatched anywhere I've seen.
Best berry plants I've ever gotten have consistently come from Simmons Berry Farm in AR - but their selection pales next to Finch.

You're definitely right about the selection -- that plus the prices plus the generally favorable reviews is likely to win me over. If I'm going to order while the plants are still dormant, though, I need to get cracking. Thanks to this year's very mild winter, several of my blueberries are already waking up from dormancy.

I am very happy for many reasons. (YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR) from Finch Nursery..I saw some comments that are subject for disbelief. I am a first time buyer with a degree in horticulture.

The representative (LADY) who answers the phone when you place your order is very up to date with your questions. Spending wisely is the key! I bought 200 High Top (4) varieties. 3 cultivars were 1 year old, 1 variety was 2 year old. If a customer does not have a green thumb, or does not have time to cultivate, and MAINTAIN reviews would be negative. If some of my 1 year old's die from animals, neighbor kids , whatever. I will buy two year old's next year to catch up with other one year old's. I have 15 year old blueberry'

s growing here on this small farm. The soil and requirements are excellent. Duplicate the environment and the cultivars will thrive. Lastly weather conditions vary due to elevation, and terrain. Nursery preparing orders may take a a little time for pick up or in my case shipment. Be patient I was told the tracking number and it would be here on a Monday. I was happy to receive the order 2 days before on Monday.

They may grow nice enough blueberry plants (even if they're inconsistent), but if they happen to mess up your order I wouldn't expect them to make it right or to so much as respond to any problems. Dealing with them after they made a mistake is one of the worst experiences I've had dealing with any business.

With every business, with every transaction, we try to make things right. I apologize to cousinfloyd for whatever went wrong with your order. I would like very much to talk with you about your past experiences with Finch Nursery. Our management team has changed and I would enjoy having a conversation as to how to correct errant behaviors that occurred in the past, so that we don't make that same mistake again.