Paloma™ Blueberry

Southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid), also marketed as 'Haven'. Vigorous growth reaching 5-6 feet tall with finely shaped upright habit. Excellent growth characteristics suitable for both hand harvest and mechanical harvest operations. Upright growth habit and uniform ripening pattern perfect choice for mechanical harvest. Foliage appears prior to flowering, eliminating need for dormancy-breaking applications like Dormex. Excellent resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi and other fungal diseases. 

Medium-sized berries, uniform size throughout harvest. Excellent berry quality with superb flavor. Small dry scar. Very extended harvest season - longest of any variety studied, lasting 51 days (compared to average 26 days), providing sustained production window. Storage of fruit excellent, very comparable to 'Misty Blue'. Marketed for early fresh markets due to superb quality, flavor, size, and early ripening time.

Released 2004 by Hartmann's Plant Company. Southern highbush cultivar hybridized and selected by Patrick J. Hartmann and Arthur Elliott of Earleton, Florida. Arthur Elliott was pioneering Florida blueberry breeder who encouraged release of early southern highbush cultivars from University of Florida including 'Avonblue' (named after his wife Avon Elliott). 'Paloma' demonstrates exceptionally high yields of up 8-14 pounds per plant in prime growing conditions.