Darrow Blueberry

Darrow is a Northern Highbush blueberry released in 1965 through the cooperative USDA and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station breeding program, named in honor of George McCall Darrow, a USDA botanist who spent decades advancing small-fruit breeding and whose name was later given to the evergreen blueberry species Vaccinium darrowii. The variety was selected for its very late maturity window — one of the latest-ripening northern highbush cultivars available at the time of its release — and for consistently large berry size and firm texture that stood out in comparison trials. Specific parentage documentation is not prominently available in current extension literature. Darrow carries solid cold hardiness through Zone 4, making it a reliable anchor for growers in the upper Midwest and Northeast who need a season-extension variety. Decades of regional trial data from land-grant institutions across the Mid-Atlantic and New England have confirmed its value for pick-your-own and direct-market operations where late-season premium fruit commands strong demand.

Darrow demands the acidic soil conditions common to all Northern Highbush blueberries: target a pH of 4.5–5.0 and amend with elemental sulfur well in advance of planting if your native soil reads higher. A deeply organic, moisture-retentive growing medium—amended with aged pine bark or peat—supports the shallow, fibrous root system. Space plants 4–6 feet apart in rows to allow adequate air movement and harvesting access. A 3–4-inch layer of wood-chip or pine-bark mulch conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and maintains the cool root-zone temperatures Darrow prefers. Consistent irrigation is critical during berry development in midsummer; drip irrigation minimizes foliar wetness and reduces disease pressure. Annual pruning to remove old canes and open the canopy maintains vigor and fruit size on this slow-to-moderate-growing bush. Darrow is suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 4–7 and performs across a range of humid, temperate climates.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7
AHS Heat Zone: 4-7
Chill Hours: 800-1000
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 4.5-5.0
Soil Type: Acidic, sandy loam high in organic matter
Soil Drainage: Well-drained (excellent drainage required; intolerant of waterlogging)
Water Requirements: Medium (consistent, even moisture; shallow-rooted and intolerant of both drought and waterlogging)
Drought Tolerance: Low
Plant Spacing: 4-6 ft apart
How to Prune: Renewal prune annually in early spring; remove oldest, least productive canes to encourage vigorous new growth; remove dead and diseased wood; withhold flowers the first 1-2 years to establish root system

Darrow grows as a compact, upright Northern Highbush bush reaching 5–7 feet tall and 5–7 feet wide at maturity. The deciduous foliage is dark green through the growing season, transitioning to vivid crimson and orange in autumn—a landscape asset that extends the plant’s appeal well past harvest. Growth rate is slow to moderate, so the bush builds gradually into a dense, multi-stemmed form that requires minimal structural staking. Wildlife value is substantial: bees and butterflies work the bell-shaped spring flowers heavily, songbirds seek out any berries that escape harvest, and small mammals use the dense branching for cover. Deer find Darrow attractive and will browse twigs and young shoots; fencing or repellents are warranted in high-pressure areas. The plant tolerates moderate wind exposure but is sensitive to soil salinity, so avoid sites with salt-laden runoff or brackish irrigation water.

Mature Height: 5-7 ft tall
Mature Spread: 5-7 ft wide
Growth Habit: Upright
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Shrub
Permaculture Role: Edible fruit shrub; pollinator nectar source; wildlife food (berries) and habitat
Leaf Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Coppery red to scarlet
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Flowers attract bumblebees, native bees, and honey bees; ripe berries attract songbirds and small mammals
Life Span: 20-50 years

Darrow is partially self-fertile and will set a modest crop without a companion, but yields increase meaningfully when a second Northern Highbush variety blooms nearby at the same time. Elliott or Chandler are compatible late-season companions whose bloom timing overlaps well with Darrow, facilitating consistent cross-pollination. Honeybees and native bumblebees are the primary pollinators; maintaining a diverse planting of flowering understory plants to support these insects through the season pays dividends at harvest. Plan for two or more compatible varieties within 100 feet for the best fruit set. Darrow’s bloom arrives late relative to other Northern Highbush cultivars, which reduces frost-damage risk in climates with unpredictable late-spring cold snaps—a practical advantage in the Upper Midwest and higher-elevation Mid-Atlantic sites.

Bloom Season: Early
Bloom Window: Late Apr - Mid May
Pollination Requirements: Partially self-fertile
Pollination Mechanism: Insect-pollinated (buzz/sonication pollination by bumblebees and native bees; honey bees also forage)
Flower Color: White with pink overtones; pink-kissed bell-shaped flowers
Ploidy: Hexaploid (2n = 6x = 72)

Darrow produces some of the largest berries found on a Northern Highbush cultivar—1 to 1¼ inches in diameter—with a firm texture that resists bruising during harvest and packing. The flavor profile is excellent: balanced sweetness with a pleasing slight acidity that gives the berries bright, clean dessert character without the cloying flatness that can affect some very-late cultivars. The firm skin holds well for fresh-market sales, extended shelf life in refrigerated storage, and shipping, making Darrow a commercial-quality option for direct-market and you-pick operations. At the table, Darrow berries excel fresh out of hand, in baked goods, and in preserves where the firm flesh holds up through processing. Ripening in late summer—after most Northern Highbush varieties have concluded—Darrow fills a genuine gap in the season and keeps loyal customers returning to the planting into August.

Ripening Season: Late
Harvest Window: Late Jul - Late Aug
Fruit Size: 1-1.25 inch
Flavor: Excellent; firm, slightly acidic, high dessert quality
Fruit Color: Dark blue to purple with dull blue-grey bloom coating
Fruit Texture: Firm
Bearing Habit: Annual bearer
Years to Bear: 2-3 years
Storage Life: 1-4 weeks refrigerated; 14+ days with proper precooling and cold storage at 32°F
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, baked goods (pies, muffins, cobblers), jams and preserves, smoothies, syrups, dried/frozen

Darrow carries resistance to both Mummy Berry (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi) and Botryosphaeria Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea)—two of the most economically damaging diseases in humid-climate blueberry production. Mummy Berry resistance reduces the need for protective fungicide applications during bloom, while stem blight resistance keeps canopy losses low even during wet summers. Resistance ratings for Anthracnose Fruit Rot (Colletotrichum acutatum), Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi), and Septoria Leaf Spot (Septoria albopunctata) have not been formally characterized for Darrow; managing drainage and airflow reduces Phytophthora risk substantially. On the pest side, Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) poses the greatest harvest-period threat; the late-ripening window concentrates SWD pressure—monitor weekly with baited traps and harvest promptly as fruit reaches full color. Blueberry Maggot (Rhagoletis mendax), Cranberry Fruitworm (Acrobasis vaccinii), and Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) require routine monitoring; exclusion netting and cultural practices (removing mummified fruit, cultivating under bushes) form the first line of defense before any intervention is considered.

Mummy Berry: Resistant
Botryosphaeria Stem Blight: Resistant
Anthracnose Fruit Rot: Moderately Susceptible
Phytophthora Root Rot: Moderately Resistant
Septoria Leaf Spot: Moderately Susceptible
Spotted Wing Drosophila: Moderately Susceptible
Blueberry Maggot: Moderately Susceptible
Cranberry Fruitworm: Moderately Susceptible
Plum Curculio: Moderately Susceptible

• Dial in soil pH early: Test and amend to 4.5–5.0 the season before planting — correcting pH in an established planting takes years. Retest annually and topdress with sulfur as needed.
• Pair with a late companion: Plant Elliott or Chandler within 50–100 feet to maximize cross-pollination; even one companion row lifts yield noticeably.
• Wait for true ripeness: Darrow berries develop full sweetness several days after they turn fully blue. Allow a few extra days before picking for noticeably better flavor.
• Monitor for SWD from color-break onward: Late-ripening fruit extends into peak SWD season. Install baited traps at first color break and harvest on a tight schedule to limit infestation windows.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital