What does a blueberry look like?

The nature of the northern territory is not only harsh, but also rich in various natural gifts.One of them is blueberries, rich in vitamins and various beneficial substances. Despite the wild look of the plant, it has long been subjected to selective selection, which gave many different varieties.

Common blueberry, or marsh, is a perennial deciduous plant that visually represents a meter-long, branchy shrub. It has shoots of dark gray or brownish-brown color, cylindrical in shape, with upright stems and green young twigs.

The leaves of this plant in length reach 3 cm, to the touch they are dense and rigid, have an oval shape, are arranged alternately on the stem. The edges are solid, slightly bent downwards. Petioles - short and pubescent. Their color on the bush is uneven: at the top they can be light or dark green, and at the bottom - gray or bluish. The leaves are covered with a waxy bloom of a bluish tint. In the autumn season, their color changes to red, and closer to winter, they completely fall off.

Bluebell flowers bell-shaped with a jug of a nimbus, on short drooping pedicels, pale pink or white. Often arranged in pairs or in the amount of three pieces, rarely single. The arrangement of flowers is arranged in such a way that their corollas are directed downwards, and the edges have small teeth. The aroma is weak, unobtrusive and pleasant. Flowering occurs from May to June.

Blueberry fruit is a bluish-blue berry, covered with a bluish bloom that ripens from July to September. In shape, it resembles a slightly elongated ball with a thin skin. Inside is watery and edible flesh, in the cut - greenish. In diameter it reaches one and a half centimeters, and the weight reaches three grams. The taste of the berries are pleasant, sweet and sour, but without pronounced aroma.

Blueberries are used both fresh and in dried form. They make the most delicious jelly, tinctures, decoctions, and also close the jam, jams, prepare the marshmallow, mashed potatoes, and so on. Berries contain up to 10% of mono- and disaccharides, that is, carbohydrates, which makes them a dietary product. Moreover, it contains 1–2% of protein, fiber, organic substances with acidic properties and 0.5% of pectin. In 100 grams of this product such useful elements as Na, K, Ca, Mg, P and Fe, and vitamins are found: ascorbic acid, thiamine, nicotinic acid, bioflavonoids and keratin.

Blueberries are most often found on bolts, where the peat layer does not exceed 30 cm, in sparse forests (coniferous and deciduous), tundra (shrub and mountain) and thickets (cedar elfin wood and subalpine). Quite often, this plant grows in the neighborhood with a marsh stupid wild rosemary. Some experts believe that this neighborhood has an adverse effect on the fruits of blueberries: spores of wild rosemary fall on the plant, and the raid on berries can accumulate poisonous ether. After eating these berries, you may experience headache and other symptoms of "intoxication" (for example, dizziness, nausea, discoordination).

Based on the place of growth, we can conclude that the distribution area are: tundra, forest-tundra and forest zones; mountain-tundra, alpine and mountain-forest belts of the northern hemisphere; European part of the Russian Federation, Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, the Alpine zone of the Caucasus Mountains, Murmansk.

This species grows well and gives a good harvest in central Russia. It is characterized by high frost resistance and, accordingly, a small height. There are several popular varieties.

• "Northblyu". Cute meter shrub.One bush gives up to two kilograms of berries. They are large, dark in color and have excellent taste properties. Fruits ripen in late summer. This variety is able to withstand fairly low temperatures (down to -35 degrees).
• North Country. This culture can be planted for decorative purposes. The branches are powerful and strong. One shrub produces up to two kilograms of berries ripening from mid to late summer.

• "Chippev." Half meter or meter bush. The variety is more often used for harvest (2-3 kg from one bush), berries of a light shade, large. The fruits are characterized by a high sugar content and therefore are best suited for the preparation and preparation of desserts.
• "Northland". Meter powerful bush with spreading branches. Used as a productive, and ornamental plant. Berry picking begins in mid-summer. One plant produces up to 8 kg of medium-sized fruits with a dense texture and a very rich taste.
• Bluegold. The highest grade of undersized, reaching a maximum of one and a half meters. Fruits are sweet-sour, ripen early, but when it falls off quite quickly. The variety is resistant to frost, but requires regular pruning. Gardeners do not recommend mechanized berry picking.

Species are less resistant to frost, but produce large yields of large berries with high sugar content. Consider the main ones.

• "Bluecrop". According to experts, this is the most preferred variety. The bush reaches two meters in height, and from one bush it is possible to collect up to 10 kg of berries (medium, with a slightly tart flavor). Blueberries are characterized by unpretentiousness, painlessly tolerate the lack of watering, but with excess moisture may be affected by fungi.
• Berkeley. High (over two meters), spreading and strong-growing shrub. A distinctive feature in large leaves of light shade. This culture is easy to propagate: it is unpretentious and tolerates sudden changes in temperature. The fruits ripen by the end of summer, the berries are large, light blue in color, with a scar in the middle.

• "Elliot". Straight two-meter bushes, characterized by frost resistance, but at the same time poorly growing on too moist soil. Harvesting is carried out in the autumn, the fruit is a light blue color of medium size, long lasting freshness. To preserve and increase yields, periodic pruning is required.
• "Spartan". Two-meter bush, which begins to bear fruit in the middle of summer. Blueberries are disease resistant, giving berries with a slightly sour taste and delicate smell. One bush gives up to six kilograms of a crop.

• "Brigitta Blue". This variety ripens late - at the end of summer. The berries are dense, light blue in color, with a sour taste. 6 kg of a crop is collected from a bush, which keeps freshness for a long time and favorably transfers carriage.
• "Canadian Nectar". High two-meter bush, characterized by frost resistance, is not subject to the effects of disease. The berries are large, dark in color, with a high content of ascorbic acid.

These varieties are resistant to frost - they are specially bred for the northern regions.

• "Duke". The height of the shrub reaches one and a half meters, with straight and powerful branches. The harvest ripens quickly and must be harvested by hand. The taste of the fruit is tart, but pleasant, well tolerated transportation.

Two or three years after planting, fruit branches grow on the shoots, without bends in different directions from the main branch. In length, they usually do not exceed 13 cm.At the end of the growing season, buds of future flowers begin to appear on the fruit sprigs, which are visually larger than vegetative ones. On one branch is usually located from 5 to 6 buds.

A year later, in May, the buds bloom, and buds are formed. About 10 buds appear from one bud, after they bloom and turn white, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, the flowers resemble bells in appearance. Based on this, it can be calculated that from one fruit branch get up to 50 or more berries.

The blueberry looks spectacular throughout the season: in the spring it pleases the eyes with soft pink buds and fresh young leaves, in the summer with a scattering of flowers and ripe berries, in the fall with fiery scarlet leaves. Therefore, this plant without hesitation can be planted in a prominent place, since it is very interesting to observe its transformations.

Bushes will perfectly complement tall coniferous trees, or they will perfectly fulfill the role of a hedge along garden or park paths.

In addition to the decorative role, blueberries will also delight the owners of delicious and extremely useful berries.

In the next video you will find even more useful information about blueberries.