U.S. Patent PP26,312
Southern Highbush Blueberry Variety
General Description
Chickadee is a very early season cultivar for the evergreen production system, with excellent fruit ripening timing for the Florida market window.
Cultivar name: Chickadee (selection code FL04-235)
Recommended for Florida: yes
FL region best adapted to: central and south-central Florida.
Production system: evergreen
Hydrogen cyanamide: not recommended
Machine Harvestability: no data yet
Per plant yields (Density 1,452-1,742 plants/acre):
o North Central FL (2018-2020): 1.1 – 5.9 lbs/plant, average 3.7 lbs/plant
o Central FL (2015): 2.6 – 5.0 lbs/plant (reported by growers)
o South FL (2019-2021): 2.5 – 2.9 lbs/plant, 2.72 lbs/plant
Known disease susceptibility: algal stem blotch
Known insect damage susceptibility: none observed to date
Fruit quality data:
o Fruit firmness: 233 – 311 g/mm, average 261 g/mm, much higher than Emerald, similar to Colossus
o Berry Weight: 1.8 – 2.6 grams, average 2.1 grams, similar to Avanti and Kestrel
o Berry Diameter: 15.0 – 18.4 mm, average 16.7 mm, small than Emerald, similar to Avanti
o Brix: 8.9 – 12.3, average 10.5, lower than Emerald, similar to Endura
o Brix/Acid Ratio: 14.9 – 75.8, average 30.7, higher than Emerald
o Fruit scar: normal (small, dry), similar to Emerald
o Wax/bloom: medium, similar to Emerald
o Fruit defects: none observed
o Flavor Score: 23.9 – reference Emerald (19.9), Kestrel (29.0)
o Aroma: none
Cultivars with overlapping timing of flowering: Arcadia, Kestrel
Other information: Very early production of high-quality fruit, with excellent timing for the Florida market window. Canopy can tend to be a bit sparse, and plants may not respond well to hard pruning when mature. Longevity has not yet been determined. May require supplemental nutrition for good performance.
License availability: For a list of current nursery licensees in the USA, click here
License Availability
For licensing availability contact Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP):