Oh where to start? Are you sure you read that rabbiteye blueberries don't get eaten as much as others? If you indeed read that then look at the author with suspicion as it sounds like a bunch of hooie to me. Three feet on center is NOT enough spacing. Oh that might be alright if they remained the size they are when you plant them but plants are alive and what they do every season is "grow." Let me make some suggestions: First spray Roundup one foot on the far side of the fence and six feet on the near side of the fence from one end to the other. After a week till this area and add soil amendments such as sphagnum peat and pine bark mini-nuggets, Wait a week then spray any re-emerging weeds or grass. Now you can plant your blueberries three feet out from the fence on at least 6 foot centers - maybe more. Put stakes in the ground and keep moving them around till you get the spacing you want then plant your plants. After you have planted the berries and watered them in, mulch with pine straw and water again. As far as which varieties to get, at that spacing you can probably fit in 6 or 7 so I would get 4 rabbiteye of a different cultivar each and 3 southern highbush which is a cross between the rabbiteye and the highbush. Do a google search and get some of each ripening type: early, mid and late season, that way you will have blueberries over a longer period. If you spent the time and effort and money to do this right you will be proud of it for a long, long time.

I think that rabbiteye blueberries are the ones that you will find for purchase around here. This is a good time to be finding them in local nurseries and even Home Depot.

Here is a link that might be useful: UGA publication on blueberries

Eddie has some good advice. Steve Benders Southern Living gardening book has a great section on blueberries including cultivars and partners.

GGG

Thanks,

Eddie the article that Ellen posted is the one I had read that recommends Rabbiteye because highbush are more prone to rabbit and deer attacks (I mistakenly said birds above) "becaue they ripen early in the season." I was just at Home Depot they had nothing, Lowes had Elliott, Bluejay, Bluecrop and Legacy, all of which I believe are Northern Highbush varieties. I haven't been to any nurseries yet, trying to keep away from too much temptation. I will have to call around so I don't have to visit too many places.

Thanks for the advice on planting.

Here's a lot of info about blueberries in Georgia from UGA. Includes info about how to mix cultivars.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blueberries for Georgia

I just saw that Growers Outlet has a few different kinds of blueberries... they're in Lawrenceville... click this to see their latest ad
http://www.growersoutletllc.com/
Good luck!

Northside Nursey is over by you on Peachtree Ind just below Rt 20. I saw some bushes in there recently. Not sure what kind they were. I have Climax and Tifblue and get more than I can handle from them

bobbygil, how many do you have of each? Have you had them for a long time. Are they consistently heavy producers for you? I noticed Scoftsdale Farms has 5 varieties listed on their website. I haven't called to see how many are in stock but that might be my closest source with a good variety. Mulinax has woodard and an unnamed Rabbiteye, not sure if I should by one tht just says rabbiteye. I think I am going to limit myself to 5. Now I just have to get the Japanese honeysuckle to die.

I'll also recommend Northside Garden on Peachtree Industrial in Sugar Hill. I bought several of my Blueberry Bushes there last year, I've bought stuff there for years. I have Climax, Woodard, Legacy and recently added a Rabbiteye, the Rabbiteye type evades me (having a middle age moment). Northside is a family run business and they always have good quality plants of any type. You may pay a little more, but your plants will be of excellent quality and very healthy. Ask for Jaimie or Turk. Jaimie also does an great job with the roses there also.
-Greg

I have 3 Climax and 2 Tifblue kind of just clumped together and actually want another couple that rippen a little later or earlier to extend the season. I put bird netting over them when they get close to ripe and dont loose any to deer or birds. 1st year the deer got all of them. As for Northside, I actually think they are very inexpensive.The selection isnt all that great but what you get is always good and I think the average 1gal. perennial is about $ 4.50.If anyone knows of a later season variety please let me know..thanks

Bobby, I'm just notoriously cheap, lol, I have a whole backyard full of perennials I've bought off the clearance rack at the Buford Lowes' for .25, .50, .75 cents and $ 1.00. i seem to have a semi-talent for bringing the almost nearly departed back to life. Around Mother's Day, Northside generally has some pretty nice fuschia's around also.
-Greg
Southern Gardener on The Skids