Description
Bonus is grown for berry size. The fruit is very large, bright blue, juicy and sweet with high sugars, and the skin is crisp rather than soft, which is what lets it sit in the fridge for several days without turning.
The plant is upright with strong branches, around 5 to 6 ft tall and only about 3 ft wide, so it takes less room across a row than most blueberries of its height. It crops consistently and ripens mid to late in the season.
Overview
- Very large, bright blue, sweet berries with high sugars.
- Crisp skin that stores well in the fridge.
- Upright and narrow: about 5 to 6 ft tall by 3 ft wide.
- Consistent cropping, mid to late season.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bonus’
Site and Soil: Full sun; acidic, well drained soil, pH 4.5 to 5.5
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 4
Rootstock: Grown from cuttings or tissue culture
Bearing Age: Fruits right away; full production in 5 to 6 years
Size at Maturity: Upright, about 5 to 6 ft tall and 3 ft wide
Ripening Time: Mid season; July into August
Pollination: Self-fertile; a second blueberry variety improves size and yield
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: The narrow habit is useful. At 3 ft across it fits a row spacing that a 5 ft spreading blueberry would overrun.
- Regional Insight: Blueberries crop best where winters are cold enough to meet their chill and the soil is naturally acid, which covers most of the country once the planting hole is prepared properly.
- Explore more berries in our collection: Berries
