Plant Quick Guide

Growing Zones:

6-9.

Mature Height:

6-8 ft

Mature Width:

5-6 ft

Sunlight:

Full (6-8 hours)

Spacing:

5-6 ft for hedge; 8-10 ft individual

Chill Hours:

500-550

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Harvest Time:

Early June

Years to Bear:

2-4 years

Pollinator:

Needed. For larger crop plant another rabbit eye with similar chill hours. Try Alapaha, Climax or Premier

Does Not Ship To:

AK, AZ, CA, HI, PR

Blueberry - Vernon (Rabbit Eye)

Vaccinium virgatum
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9.
$59.95
SKU: BLUVER05G
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Description

The Vernon Blueberry is an early-ripening rabbiteye variety celebrated for its outstanding flavor, high yields, and adaptability. This versatile and hardy blueberry variety is ideal for home gardens and commercial orchards, offering beautiful blooms in spring, plump berries in early summer, and vibrant foliage in fall. Vernon is a top choice for those seeking a reliable and productive blueberry plant with ornamental appeal.

Key Features

  • Early Ripening: Enjoy fresh blueberries earlier in the season with Vernon’s early harvest window.
  • Delicious Flavor: Produces large, firm, and sweet berries with excellent flavor, perfect for fresh eating, baking, or preserving.
  • High Yields: Consistently provides heavy harvests year after year.
  • Cold-Hardy and Heat-Tolerant: Thrives in a variety of climates, making it an adaptable choice.
  • Ornamental Value: Features showy white flowers in spring and vibrant red foliage in fall, adding beauty to the garden year-round.

Mature Size

  • Height: 6–8 feet
  • Spread: 4–6 feet

Chill Hours

  • Requires 500–550 chill hours, making it ideal for regions with moderate winter temperatures.

USDA Hardiness Zones

  • Zones 6–9

Care Instructions

  • Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5–5.5. Incorporate organic matter like peat moss for best results.
  • Sunlight: Requires full sun for optimal growth and fruit production.
  • Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
  • Fertilization: Use a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants in early spring and after harvest to support growth and berry production.
  • Pruning: Prune in late winter to remove weak or old canes and encourage vigorous new growth.
  • Mulching: Apply 2–3 inches of mulch to conserve soil moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds.

Why Choose Vernon Blueberry?

The Vernon Blueberry stands out for its early-season harvest, excellent fruit quality, and stunning year-round appearance. With its robust adaptability and heavy yields, Vernon is perfect for gardeners and growers looking to kick off the blueberry season with a flavorful and productive variety. Add Vernon to your collection for a fruitful and beautiful addition to your landscape!

More Information: Blueberry Growing Guide
Shipping
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Tennessee FedEx Transit Times
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Oregon FedEx Transit Times
Ships from Oregon

At Plant Me Green, we carefully handle, package, and ship every order to ensure your plants arrive healthy and ready to thrive. All orders ship via FedEx Home Delivery®, typically the next business day after checkout.

  • We offer $15 flat-rate shipping on all eligible orders.
  • Orders over $100 ship FREE.
  • Replacement tree shipments are $15 per box.

Plant Me Green ships from multiple nursery locations, including Oregon, Tennessee, and Florida. If your order contains items from more than one location, plants may ship separately and arrive at different times.

🚨 Please note: We are unable to hold orders. To ensure your plants arrive at the right time, please place your order as close as possible to when you would like to receive it.

If you have any questions concerning transit time for your order, please feel free to contact us at info@plantmegreen.com or toll free 855-817-5268.

Due to strict agricultural laws, we cannot ship to the following locations:

  • Alaska

  • Hawaii

  • Puerto Rico

  • International destinations

  • California and Arizona orders are limited to approved items only and may not apply to all products.
How to Plant
STEP 1) First, decide on a planting location. Consider carefully what kind of sun, soil, and growing-space your tree or shrub will need.
STEP 2) Once you've located the perfect spot, the hole you are digging must be at least double the width and as deep as the root system you are planting.
STEP 3) Remove the plant from the pot and place the root ball in the hole. The top of the root system should be level with the ground. Before placing the tree or shrub in the hole, use your hands to gently break up the root system.
STEP 4) Once the plant is in place, backfill the hole with native soil and any leftover potting material.
STEP 5) Pack down the soil to eliminate any air pockets.
STEP 6) When finished, water thoroughly.
Care Guide

Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Keep an area approximately 4 feet in diameter around the bush clear of grass and weeds to minimize competition for water and nutrients. Mulch in spring and fall with approximately 4-6 inches of acid mulch (pine bark, oak leaves). Pull mulch a couple of inches away from the trunk for good air circulation. Do NOT mulch with mushroom compost. Routine pruning of blueberries is unnecessary until plants are 3 years old. During this time, remove dead, damaged or diseased limbs. Cut any leggy growth so the plant will bush up. Make all cuts flush with the limb or the next largest branch. Do not leave stubs. For established rabbiteye blueberries, approximately one quarter of the oldest canes are pruned each year to encourage cane renewal. Three to four year-old canes have maximum fruit production, declining with age. Blueberries can be lightly topped right after fruit harvest to hold down the height of the plant. All heavy thinning cuts should be made in the dormant season.

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