Farthing Blueberry Plant

Farthing is a productive southern highbush blueberry developed by the University of Florida. It forms a vigorous, dense plant with numerous branches and can produce heavy crops of firm, sweet blueberries during the early Florida harvest season.

Farthing is especially valued for its exceptionally firm berries, good flavor, small dry picking scar, and ability to hold ripe fruit on the plant longer than many varieties. Berry size is generally medium when the plant is carrying a heavy crop but may be large when the crop load is lighter. The fruit is usually darker blue than many other southern highbush varieties.

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Deciduous to semi-evergreen fruiting shrub
• Blueberry Type: Southern highbush
• Botanical Name: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Farthing’
• Mature Size: Approximately 6–8 feet tall and wide; size can be controlled with pruning
• Growth Habit: Vigorous, dense, compact, and heavily branched
• Sun: Full sun for the best flowering and fruit production
• USDA Zones: Generally Zones 8–10, with late-freeze protection recommended in colder locations
• Chill Hours: Approximately 300 hours
• Bloom Time: Early spring; later than many Florida southern highbush cultivars
• Harvest Time: Early season, generally late April through mid-May in North Florida
• Berry Size: Medium to large, depending on crop load
• Berry Color: Dark blue
• Flavor: Sweet with good overall flavor
• Fruit Texture: Very firm with a nearly crisp texture
• Picking Scar: Small and dry
• Pollination: Partially self-fertile, but another southern highbush variety is recommended
• Soil: Acidic, organic, moist, and very well-drained
• Preferred Soil pH: Approximately 4.0–5.5
• Water: Keep evenly moist, but never allow the roots to remain waterlogged
• Spacing: Approximately 4–5 feet apart; plants may be spaced closer for a fruiting hedge
• Landscape Uses: Home orchards, edible landscapes, containers, fruiting hedges, local farms, and U-pick plantings
• ATTRACTS POLLINATORS: Spring flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators

Farthing has a low chilling requirement of approximately 300 hours and begins producing new spring leaves around bloom time. Mature test plants in North Florida were vigorous and productive, and the original cultivar information reported yields of approximately 5–10 pounds per established plant under suitable growing conditions.

Best Pollinator Partners

Farthing has better self-fruitfulness than many southern highbush blueberries, so one plant can produce some fruit. However, cross-pollination with a different southern highbush variety can increase fruit set, berry size, quality, and the speed of ripening.

Recommended pollination partners from Advanced Nursery Growers’ inventory include:

• Sweetcrisp — one of the best choices
• Jewel — very good choice
• Emerald — good choice

Sweetcrisp and Jewel flower during a useful period between the earlier Emerald bloom and the later Star and Windsor bloom periods. Farthing also flowers after Emerald but before Star or Windsor, making Sweetcrisp and Jewel especially useful choices for bloom overlap. Emerald may also provide some overlap, particularly during seasons with an extended bloom.

Only pair Farthing with another southern highbush blueberry. Rabbiteye varieties such as Brightwell, Climax, Premier, Austin, Alapaha, Powderblue, or Tifblue should not be listed as pollinators for Farthing.

Important Pollination Reminder

Two Farthing plants are genetically the same variety and do not provide true cross-pollination for one another. Plant at least one different southern highbush cultivar nearby so bees can move compatible pollen between the flowers.

North Florida Growing Note

Farthing is best adapted to North-Central Florida. It may also be grown farther north, but southern highbush blueberries are more sensitive to late winter freezes, wet soil, and root rot than rabbiteye blueberries. In the Florida Panhandle, choose a protected location and be prepared to cover blooming plants when a late freeze is expected.

Farthing’s low chilling requirement means it can begin flowering early after its winter chill requirement has been met. Although it blooms later than many Florida southern highbush cultivars, open flowers and young fruit can still be damaged by late winter or early spring freezes.

For customers who want the easiest and most forgiving blueberry for the Florida Panhandle, a rabbiteye variety may be a better choice. Farthing is best for gardeners who can provide acidic soil, excellent drainage, consistent moisture, and freeze protection when necessary.

Soil and Planting Note

Southern highbush blueberries require acidic soil with plenty of organic matter. Amend the planting area with pine bark, pine fines, or peat moss. Where the native soil has poor drainage, use a raised bed, mound, or large container filled with an acidic blueberry-growing mix.

Blueberry roots are shallow and can be seriously damaged by waterlogged soil. Mulch with pine bark to conserve moisture, reduce weeds, protect the roots, and gradually add organic matter. Do not add lime around blueberry plants because lime raises the soil pH.

Pruning Note

Farthing produces numerous flower buds and can set very heavy crops. Some dormant pruning may be helpful to prevent over-fruiting. Reducing excessive flower-bud wood can improve berry size, maintain plant vigor, and prevent the plant from becoming overloaded.

Local Pickup and Shipping

Available for local pickup at Advanced Nursery Growers in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

Limited shipping may be available for select smaller plants. Please contact us before placing an order that will require shipping so we can confirm availability, plant size, and shipping cost.

Wholesale Availability

Wholesale pricing may be available for qualifying quantities. Please contact us for current plant sizes, availability, and wholesale information.

Advanced Nursery Growers
1911 McLeod Road
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Call: 850-391-2228
Email: info@advancednurserygrowers.com