Alapaha, a new University of Georgia and U.S. Department of
Agriculture rabbiteye introduction, has a later blooming time
that greatly reduces its risk of late-winter freeze damage.

“This new variety blooms 10 days later than Climax, the most
popular early-season rabbiteye,” said Scott NeSmith, a
horticulturist with the UGA College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.

Growers will like it, NeSmith said, because it blooms later and
ripens at the same time as their early-season varieties.
“Homeowners will like it,” he said, “because it will give them an
early crop for their gardens.”

First of River Releases

The new release is named for the Alapaha River in south Georgia.
UGA plant breeders expect to release five more varieties over the
next five years. Each will be named for a south Georgia river.
Blueberries first grew as native plants along south Georgia
rivers.

Alapaha plants should be available for commercial and home garden
planting by fall 2003.