Others may disagree with good reason but I tend to take the middle road. That is leave a light crop, enough for a good taste, and push the plants with fertilizer and water so you can leave a big crop next year.

Be aware that some varieties like Emerald tend to over-set. They need thinning even on a mature vigorous plant. So on these new plants you may need to remove 2/3 or more of the fruit.

The idea on a new plant is to not exhaust the plants reserves so much that it gets hit with stem blight or another malady. Some say remove the fruit so as not to stunt growth. While that has some merit, with proper culture and a long 7/8 growing season, these things grow 2-3ft a year.

You say they are still potted? You just put the pots in the ground? They are nice plants, let them fruit..some.

Sorry - I was unclear. They were still potted when I received them. They are now planted in the ground - without pots.

So if I remove 2/3 of the fruit, when is the best time to do so and do I just clip right at the flowers?

Thanks again!

neutralground:

You can thin some by removing some of the small thin crowded wood. After that knock off some of the biggest flower clusters. But from the looks of your plants, flowering already, the frost will likely do the thinning for you.

Thanks for the insight!

Any specific reason why my plants are flowering so soon?

Emerald blooms very early. It is suited outdoors only to the most frost free locations. Even in Florida growers need to use sprinklers to prevent frost injury. There are better adapted varieties for most zone 7/8 locations. If you need help selecting those varieties you'd do best posting again and giving your location. All 7/8 zones aren't equal.

In zone 8 Texas most outdoor varieties are rabbiteyes because they bloom later, in general, than southern highbush. There are later blooming southern highbush but mostly in the 500 or above chill hr class. Emerald is more like 200 chill hrs and in most locations it starts blooming in fall extending to early spring.

I've always removed the flowers on young potted nursery stock but but this year I'm doing it alittle different. Last spring I got a bunch of tiny tissue culture plugs and they grew very strong so I'm going to leave a very light crop on them this year. I pruned out all the small twiggy wood and any branches that grow in ward to the middle of the plant. From there I left only 2 fruit buds on the the tips of the remaining branches. Hopefully it's not a mistake? We shall see! It won't hurt my feelings if I lose few anyway cause I got too many as it is. Emerald is great plant but will need protection in your zone. I put up a PVC frame around mine and cover with plastic if I need too. It only takes a few min to assemble and then place a small propane heater in there with it. Here is recent pic of my Emerald and it's just about in full bloom now.
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How much fruit can expect from a Emerald this size? It's 6ft x 5ft and loaded with buds. I will thin it some but I know Emerald is in a class of its own production wise. It leafs out very strong and can handle huge crops. This will be my first real harvest on this plant. Does the 5 or 6 bud rule per branch still apply here to this variety???

Oh No! I'm in the Atlanta area, which I think is Zone 8, but used to be Zone 7. Not really sure,.

Well, I think I'd rather get some plants more suited for my area than have a special setup to overcome climate issues.

Thanks for all the info!

I have family in ATL area... blueberries do great in the GA clay, grow like weeds. Your local nursery should have good varieties for your area.