385 Bridal Ridge Rd, French Creek, West Virginia 26218, United States
West Virginia's Largest U-Pick Blueberry Farm
Why we grow blueberries
Need more reasons to love blueberries? They might be small, but they’re mighty in benefits ranging from boosting our brain power to helping us fight cancer. These are just a few of the benefits they offer:
- Low in fat, high in nutrients
- High in vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and fiber
- Decrease potential for glaucoma
- Reduce heart disease, especially in women
- High in anthocyanins, which give the berries their blue color and also help attack cancer-forming free radicals
- Combat UTIs by inhibiting bacteria from binding to bladder tissue
- Improve brain health
About Us
West Virginia Blueberries
Blueberries are members of the Ericaceae family, which includes rhododendron, azalea, Indian pipe, heath, cranberry, and huckleberry. Most members of this family need acidic soils for good growth and reproduction. We have very acidic soil here in West Viginia and at Floral Acres, we take advantage of that to grow these beautiful bushes. We grow Highbush varieties here at Floral Acres Blueberry Farm, and currently feature seven different species. Highbush blueberries are the species most commonly grown commercially.
Daylilies to Blueberries
Floral Acres Blueberry Farm, was founded originally by our late matriarch, Mrs. Roberta Koblank and her family. After relocating from Miami Florida to West Virginia in the late nineties, she started the farm out as a daylily breeder and nursery. After many years devoted to growing and hybridizing daylilies, the family switched over to growing and selling blueberries. They learned the natural acidity of the West Virginia soil, is optimal for growing premium varieties of blueberries.
Five Generations
Floral Acres Blueberry Farm is now run by her daughter, Dinah Campi and her family. Five generations later, the tradition continues to be passed down to her great grand children. West Virginia has blessed us with beautiful natural conditions that have allowed us to now have approximately 3,500 blue berry bushes and counting. We invite you to come and enjoy Floral Acres Blueberry Farm with your friends and family.
Blueberry Varieties AT FLORAL ACRES
NORTHERN HIGHBUSH CULTIVAR BLUEBERRIES
Northern highbush blueberry varieties are the most common types of blueberries cultivated throughout the world.
BlueRay
1. Highbush type cultivar
2. Height at maturity is 4-6 feet and upright in growth.
3. Yield is consistent, ranging from 10-20 pounds per plant at maturity depending upon cultural care.
4. Fruit size is large with 60 berries per cup.
5. Berry quality is firm, picking scar is small and color is bright blue.
6. Ornamental value for the bush is excellent. Dark green color in the summer and
burgundy red in the fall.
7. Middle season.
BlueGold
1. Highbush type cultivar
2. Height of bush will vary 4-5 feet. Growth will be compact and low growing, producing many branches. To encourage upright growth, prune heavily.
3. yields are consistently high, 12 pounds average, in commercial plantings.
4. Blue Gold is the easiest cultivar for hand harvesting. The fruits ripen uniformly and clusters are large.
5. Quality of the fruit is excellent. Small dry picking scar, attractive color. Good flavor and firm fruit makes Blue Gold an outstanding new mid-late season cultivar.
6. The cultivar seems to adapt to most soils and cold to moderate climates.
7. Beginning season.
Elliot
1. Highbush cultivar
2. Height is 5-7 feet, upright and slightly spreading
3. Yields are consistently high, 10-20 pounds per bush at maturity.
4. Fruit size is small to medium averaging 75 berries per cup.
5. Quality of the berry is very firm and has no picking scar. The berry is light blue and has a good, mild flavor when fully ripe.The flavor is very tart until 60% of the berries are ripe.
6. The berries ripen simultaneously so that 70-80 percent of the berries can be picked at one time.
7. Ornamental use is very good because of its upright growth habit, bluish-green leaf color and late blooming flowers. Fall color is orange-red and long lasting.
8. Late season
Jersey
1. Highbush type cultivar
2. Height is 5-7 feet. The bush is upright and spreading.
3. Yields average 7-10 pounds per bush.
4. Fruit size is small-medium with 110 berries per cup, borne on long and loose clusters. Flavor is considered the best by most blueberry connoisseurs.
5. Quality of berry is good but has a small picking scar.
6. It is the #1 processed blueberry.
7. Ornamental use is good; the bush is large and upright. Foliage in the fall is yellow-orange and is long lasting.
8. Mid-late season.
Coville
1. Highbush type cultivar
2. Height is 4-6 feet at maturity and is more upright.
3. Yields average 5-8 pounds per bush.
4. Fruit size is large, 65 berries per cup.
5. Quality of berries firm with little to no picking scar. Good flavor; a tart, aromatic taste.
6. Ornamental use of Coville is okay, its upright growth is similar to most upright growing cultivars. Fall color is yellow-orange.
7. Late season.
Nelson
1. Highbush type cultivar
2. Height of bush is 5-6 feet tall at maturity.
3. Yield averages 13-18 pounds per plant.
4. Fruit size is large, 60 berries per cup
5. Quality of the fruit is very good. Berries are firm. Picking scars are small and berry color is a dark blue.
6. The clusters are loose so ripe fruit will separate easily from the stems.
7. Middle season.
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