Higgins
Cultivar Information
Flower type = Female
Berry color = Pink/Bronze
Year introduced = 1955
Variety protection = Unpatented
History
'Higgins' was released in 1955 by M. Murphy and B. Fry of the University of Georgia. 'Higgins' was selected from the cross 'Yuga' x 'White Male' pollinator.
Comments
In its time, 'Higgins' was a very important cultivar. 'Higgins' was the first cultivar to combine large berry size with good berry quality. However, 'Higgins' is an older cultivar and has been eclipsed by newer, better cultivars.
'Higgins' has a wet scar, is susceptible to fruit rots, has a late harvest date, and is not recommended for planting in either home or commercial orchards. However, the genetics of 'Higgins' lives on as it features prominently in the pedigree of many modern cultivars.
Cultivar Attributes in Tifton, GA Trials
| Cultivar | Vine vigor | Leaf disease | Berry rot | % Full crop | Harvest period | Ripening | % Dry scar |
| Higgins | high | moderate | moderate | 70% | late | uneven | 30% |
| Fry | medium | slight | slight | 70% | midseason | even | 30% |
| Supreme | medium | slight | none | 90% | midseason | uneven | 60% |