Blueberry 'Brigitta' (Vaccinium corymbosum)

A late-season northern highbush blueberry with exceptional storage quality and commercial-grade fruit

Overview

Blueberry 'Brigitta' is an outstanding late-season variety that extends the blueberry harvest well into September, providing fresh berries when most other varieties have finished. This robust northern highbush cultivar produces consistently heavy crops of large, firm berries with excellent flavour and exceptional keeping qualities that rival commercial standards. Bred for reliability and performance, 'Brigitta' combines vigorous growth with excellent cold tolerance, making it ideal for British growing conditions. The variety's late ripening, superior storage characteristics, and attractive autumn foliage make it an invaluable addition to any fruit garden seeking extended harvest seasons and premium fruit quality.

Key Features

• Harvest Period: Late August to mid-September (extends the season)
• Height: 1.8m tall 
• Width: 1.8m wide
• Growth Rate: Vigorous, reaching full production in 4-5 years
• Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -20 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H6)
• Aspect: Full sun to partial shade
• Pollination: Partially self-fertile (better crops with cross-pollination)

Berry Quality

'Brigitta' produces impressively large berries, typically 18-20mm in diameter, with an attractive light blue colour and prominent crown. The berries have exceptionally firm flesh that provides excellent texture and outstanding storage life - often keeping fresh for 2-3 weeks under proper storage conditions. The flavour is well-balanced with good sweetness, mild acidity, and the classic blueberry taste that's excellent for both fresh eating and culinary applications.

Cropping Performance

This variety is renowned for its reliable, heavy cropping, typically producing 3-6kg of fruit per mature bush. The berries ripen in clusters over an extended period from late August through mid-September, allowing for multiple harvests and ensuring peak ripeness. The late season provides fresh berries when most other varieties have finished, making it invaluable for extending the harvest window.

Storage and Culinary Excellence

The exceptional firmness of 'Brigitta' berries makes them superior for fresh market sales and extends home storage significantly beyond typical blueberry varieties. They transport well without bruising, freeze excellently, and maintain their structure in cooking applications. The balanced flavour makes them versatile for fresh eating, baking, smoothies, and premium preserves.

Growth Habit

'Brigitta' develops into a vigorous, upright bush with strong, well-branched stems that easily support heavy crops. The plant has an attractive, naturally rounded form that requires minimal shaping. The robust growth habit and excellent cold tolerance make it one of the most reliable blueberry varieties for British conditions.

Foliage and Seasonal Interest

The elliptical leaves are medium green during the growing season, providing an attractive backdrop for the developing fruit. In autumn, the foliage transforms into spectacular displays of orange, red, and yellow, making 'Brigitta' valuable for ornamental as well as fruit production. The autumn colour display often lasts for several weeks, providing extended garden interest.

Flowers

Small, white, bell-shaped flowers appear in drooping clusters during late spring, typically in May. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators, and the late flowering helps avoid frost damage that can affect earlier varieties.

Soil Requirements

Like all blueberries, 'Brigitta' requires acidic soil with a pH between 4.5-5.5. The soil must be well-draining yet moisture-retentive, rich in organic matter, and free from lime. If natural soil conditions aren't suitable, consider container growing or creating dedicated acidic beds using ericaceous compost and soil amendments.

Light Requirements

'Brigitta' performs best in full sun where it produces the heaviest crops and develops the best fruit flavour. However, it tolerates partial shade better than many blueberry varieties, making it suitable for gardens with some shade constraints. Morning sun is particularly important for flower development and fruit ripening.

Watering Needs

Consistent moisture is essential, particularly during fruit development in summer. Blueberries have shallow, fibrous root systems that are sensitive to both drought and waterlogging. Maintain evenly moist (not waterlogged) soil throughout the growing season, using rainwater where possible as tap water may be too alkaline.

Planting

Plant container-grown bushes from spring through early autumn, choosing a sheltered position protected from strong winds. Prepare the planting area by incorporating generous amounts of ericaceous compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted pine needles. Plant at the same depth as in the container, spacing bushes 1.5-2 metres apart for optimal air circulation and light penetration.

Pruning

'Brigitta' requires minimal pruning in its early years. Once established (after 3-4 years), remove the oldest canes annually to encourage new growth, as blueberries fruit best on younger wood. Remove weak, crossing, or damaged branches, and thin the centre of the bush to improve air circulation. Avoid heavy pruning as this can reduce cropping.

Feeding

Blueberries have specific nutritional needs and benefit from ericaceous fertilisers that won't raise soil pH. Apply balanced ericaceous fertiliser in early spring, avoiding high-nitrogen feeds late in the season which can encourage soft growth susceptible to winter damage. Organic options include well-rotted pine needles, leaf mould, and specialist organic ericaceous feeds.

Container Growing

'Brigitta' is excellent for container cultivation, allowing gardeners with alkaline soil to grow blueberries successfully. Use large containers (minimum 50cm diameter and depth) with excellent drainage. Fill with ericaceous compost and ensure consistent watering, as container plants dry out more quickly. Feed regularly with ericaceous liquid fertiliser during the growing season.

Dedicated Fruit Production

Ideal for fruit gardens and allotments where the late season extends fresh berry availability. The excellent storage qualities make it valuable for preserving and value-added processing.

Ornamental Edible Landscaping

The attractive growth habit, spring flowers, summer fruit, and spectacular autumn colour make 'Brigitta' excellent for ornamental edible gardens where plants must earn their space through multiple seasons of interest.

Wildlife Gardens

The flowers provide nectar for early pollinators, whilst the fruit (if not harvested) feeds birds. The dense branching provides shelter and potential nesting sites.

Woodland Edge Planting

The partial shade tolerance makes 'Brigitta' suitable for woodland edge situations where it can naturalize effectively.

Companion plants that thrive in similar acidic conditions include:

• Rhododendrons and azaleas

• Heathers and hebes

• Pieris and other ericaceous shrubs

• Acid-loving perennials like astilbe and hosta

Determining Ripeness

'Brigitta' berries are ready when they're fully blue with no red or green tinge, easily detach from the stem, and have developed their full sweetness. The berries ripen over several weeks, allowing for multiple harvests.

Harvesting Technique

Pick berries individually when fully ripe, handling gently to avoid bruising. Early morning harvesting when berries are cool provides the best storage life.

Storage and Handling

The exceptional firmness allows 'Brigitta' berries to be stored fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks - significantly longer than most blueberry varieties. For longer storage, berries freeze excellently and maintain their quality for up to a year.

Health Benefits

'Brigitta' blueberries provide:

• Exceptional levels of antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins

• High vitamin C content

• Dietary fibre and manganese

• Natural compounds supporting cognitive function and heart health

• Low calorie, nutrient-dense superfruit status

Commercial Potential

The combination of late season, excellent storage life, attractive appearance, and good flavour makes 'Brigitta' popular with commercial growers and suitable for small-scale market production.

Why Choose 'Brigitta'?

'Brigitta' represents the pinnacle of late-season blueberry production, combining extended harvest timing with exceptional fruit quality and storage characteristics. For gardeners seeking to maximize their blueberry season and enjoy premium fruit quality, this variety is unmatched.

The late ripening period provides fresh berries when other varieties have finished, whilst the exceptional storage life means extended fresh eating and flexible processing timing. The combination of heavy cropping, excellent flavour, outstanding keeping quality, and spectacular autumn colour makes 'Brigitta' a valuable long-term garden investment.

Whether you're building a diverse blueberry collection for extended harvests, seeking premium fruit for fresh eating and processing, or wanting an ornamental edible plant that performs across multiple seasons, 'Brigitta' delivers exceptional results. Its vigorous growth and excellent cold tolerance ensure reliable performance in British conditions, whilst the late season provides unique value in the fruit garden calendar.

For gardeners prioritising quality, extended seasons, and storage flexibility, Blueberry 'Brigitta' represents one of the finest late-season varieties available.