Have any of you had success with growing blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or any other "cool-weather" berry in the tropics. I have friends that are successfully growing blackberries and strawberries higher up in the mountains. I remember hearing of some blueberry cultivars having success in Hawaii.

What have your experiences been? Can you suggest any particular varieties or cultivars? Any tips for planting and care?

I have seen this in the Philippines....in a place called Baguio City....they grow strawberries there at high elevation.

Thanks @Sean. I'm already fairly confident about strawberries, first from experience (my family grew a couple of acres of strawberries in the USA when I was a kid) and second because I've seen them grown in Haiti before, also at high elevation.

What I'm less confident about is fruit that requires a certain amount of chill hours before it will blossom and bear fruit. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries fit that description, so do many fruit trees like apples, peaches, etc.

BUT... I know there are ways around the chill requirements with certain varieties. That's what I'm looking for here.

I can grow strawberries. I gave up on the low chill blueberries because of the severe rust issues in my area. It wasn't worth the hassle and the chemicals. I haven't tried anything else although I have a neighbor who has some sort of blackberry.

My temp range is 8C - 45C. Blackberries and peaches grow well here. I've failed with blueberries and blackcurrants but some of my neighbours have had limited success, so by no means impossible. Frosts are unheard of.

@Steve: We are at about 500m elevation, somewhere between 15 and 20 North Latitude, I believe, and the average daily highs and lows in our region barely fluctuate throughout the year. Our temperature range last year was about 16C - 37C (including nighttime lows). Our day time temperature hardly ever drops below 30C, so it may be a bit more challenging for us to get the same results. But I bet my friends that are higher up in Kenscoff, Haiti would have great successes.

@Su Ba: If rust wasn't a problem, do you think that the blueberries would have been successful? We plan to experiment with a cocktail of essential oils to deal with rust in a coffee program that I'm involved in. Maybe you could look into it. Here's a link to a Brazilian scientific study on treating rust with essential oils.

My bushes actually bloomed and produced fruit for two years. But each year a bout of rust moved through my area, defoliating the blueberry bushes. I didn't have the time or knowledge to deal with the rust issue, so I abandoned the idea of growing blueberries.

I wonder if the new primo cane blackberries might work? They produce on first year growth. Just a thought . I have no experience with such a warm climate.

Aloha,
Like Su Ba, I am on the Big Island, near Hilo at 1400'. Mulberries are growing here for us and I am planning to try some of the blueberries here as well. We also have the native raspberry, which is kind of bland in taste but does well, and the ever-to-be-feared Himalayan raspberry, which has some of the wickedest thorns of any plant I have seen.
David,
Hilo