Phenological dynamics and biometric characterization of introduced highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) cultivars under the agroecological conditions of Adjara, Western Georgia

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is becoming an increasingly important high-value berry crop in Western Georgia, particularly in Adjara, where humid subtropical conditions and expanding market opportunities support commercial production. Reliable introduction of new cultivars, however, requires locally validated information on phenological timing, ripening windows and vegetative performance. This study evaluated the phenological dynamics and biometric characteristics of three introduced cultivars, Legacy, Bluegold and Duke, in Kobuleti, Khelvachauri and Qeda municipalities during the 2024 growing season. Field records were systematized from the available primary dataset and processed by converting calendar dates into day-of-year values, calculating interval midpoints and preparing descriptive cultivar- and municipality-level summaries. Because the dataset contained one cultivar-by-location observation and no replicated plot-level measurements, inferential statistical testing was not applied. The results showed marked cultivar- and location-related differentiation.