Blue Steele blueberries growing in the field

US PATENT #36263

Blue Steele

Blue Steele

A vigorous, high-yielding early to mid-season cultivar bred for firm fruit, low freeze risk, and dependable machine harvest.

Built for the early window.

Blue Steele blooms late yet harvests before Duke in North Carolina. Its upright, high-vigor bush carries firm, heavily bloomed berries that stay in packable condition even when left on the plant for extended periods.

ESTIMATED CHILL

700 hrs

2023 YIELD

6–8 lb

FIRMNESS

238 g/mm

MACHINE HARVEST

Very good

COMPLETE GROWER REFERENCE

Blue Steele performance data

Blue Steele performance data

US Patent #36263 · Possible cross of Southern and Northern Highbush

Blue Steele is a vigorous, high-yielding early/mid-season cultivar with no known disease concerns at this time. It blooms late but harvests early to mid season in North Carolina—before Duke and Legacy. Recommended for North Carolina, it is currently tested there and is being test planted across U.S. blueberry growing areas, with potential for Northern states.

Production & harvest

Estimated chill hours: 700
Production system: Typical Southern Highbush
Hydrogen cyanamide: Recommended in low-chill areas
Machine harvestability: Very good; fully machine harvestable, high tolerance to bruising, and very packable
Per-plant yield: 6–8 lbs per bush (2023)

Fruit quality

Firmness: 238g/mm · Berry weight: 25g average · Diameter: 16–18mm
Brix: 9.8 · Brix/acid: 27.8
Very small, dry fruit scar · Heavy wax/bloom · No observed fruit defects
Flavor: Medium · Aroma: Medium · Storage: Similar to Legacy

Additional field notes: High-vigor, upright bushes produce large early-to-mid-season yields with firm fruit and a heavy wax bloom. Late bloom means buds tend to break together, with a short gestation period of approximately 43 days. Low chance of freeze damage; no splitting observed during heavy rain or prolonged wet conditions. Fruit remains high quality even when left on the bush for extended periods. Flowering overlap is similar to Blue Ribbon and Jersey. No known disease or insect susceptibility at this time.

IN THE FIELD

Blue Steele in the field

Blue Steele in the field

Blue Steele blueberry fruit in the field
Blue Steele blueberry plant in the field

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