Rules for growing blueberries from seeds at home

Growing blueberry seedlings is much easier than messing with seeds. However, if there are no seedlings, nothing else remains. We have to pay them a lot of attention until the seedlings are stronger. To do this, it is worth more information about the rules of growing blueberries from seeds at home.

A distinctive feature of blueberry seed reproduction is the fact that the period from sowing to the first harvest may take several years. Berry belongs to the family of heather, for which the natural habitat are wetlands. Their pH level is extremely low.

The root system is practically devoid of hairs. It is extremely sensitive to variations in soil moisture. Blueberries can coexist with mycorrhizal fungi, which it shares with carbohydrates. Instead, it gets better absorption of water and mineral elements. Blueberry species have a lot. Some are relatively small growth, others reach a height of more than 1.5-2 m.

Modern varieties of berries, which are usually planted on the site, are hybrids. This is the reason for successful cultivation. The root system is skeletal and fouling. It starts growing at a temperature of +7 degrees. Under particularly comfortable conditions (+17 degrees), it increases by 1 mm per day.

This culture has a lot of useful qualities. Due to the content of antioxidants and the vitamin complex, it favorably affects visual acuity, the work of the digestive tract, reduces the manifestation of allergic reactions.

Planting material is nothing like small brown seeds. Seeds differ oval or roundish shape depending on the variety. They are taken out exclusively from ripe and large berries, which knead to the state of gruel. After that, they are washed, then dried and stored in a paper bag or immediately planted. Collected planting material can be used for 10 years.

In order to grow blueberries from seeds, they must be stratified. This word implies a simple, though not quick, procedure. It will need moss or wet sand. Planting material is placed there for 3 months and kept at a temperature of 3-5 degrees above zero.

Reproduction of blueberry seeds can be carried out in two ways. The term for sowing blueberry seeds is different and depends on the type of planting material. If it is just collected seeds, they are planted in August, and those that have undergone stratification are sown in spring.

You can remove dried seeds for the winter in the refrigerator. At a constant temperature of 0 ... + 5 degrees, they will continue until spring. They are sown in the top layer of soil, deepening inward by 1-1.5 cm. At the same time, the soil must be mulched with a mixture of peat, sawdust and leaves. The first shoots will appear in early May - early June.

Without feeding and watering, they can die. Sow them immediately to a permanent place.. It is impossible to use strongly germinated material for seedlings.

Seeds can be planted in a pot or box. The method of reproduction is simple: the seeds are scattered on the surface of the prepared soil. After that, sprinkle the top with a thin layer (up to 2 mm) of sand. If there is no sand, you can use sawdust. In this case, the thickness of the sprinkled layer on top will have to be increased by 2 mm. Both sawdust and sand must be moistened with a spray bottle and room temperature water.

After that, the pot or box should be covered with transparent plastic wrap or glass and put in a sunny place. Well, if it is warm. This will accelerate the germination of planting material.

In order to prevent the death of just appeared sprouts, it is worth considering a few important nuances:

• germinating seeds should be watered and aired;
• when mold appears on the soil surface, it should be treated with a fungicide;
• the glass or film is removed as soon as the seedlings appear (in 2 - 4 weeks from the time of sowing);
• transplantation is possible only when the first true leaves appear (these are 3 and 4 leaves after the first two);
• for rearing seedlings can be placed in a greenhouse. A permanent place (in open ground) bush can be replanted 2 years after planting.

When using a peat tablet, it is poured with 50 ml of water at room temperature. After it is increased 5 times in height while maintaining the diameter, the seeds of blueberry with perlite are placed in it. After that, it is placed in a pot with pre-prepared primer, sprinkled with sand on top. Then put on the lid of the pallet. Excess water will accumulate on the lid due to drainage.

The blueberry breeding method is suitable for garden varieties. You can grow it from the seeds of the following varieties:

• “Canadian Nectar” - tall blueberries with ripening berries in early August - mid-September;
• "Blue placer" - marsh variety with large berries, different sweet-sour taste;
• "Forest treasure" - shrub culture with long-term fruiting;

• “Blue Crop” - tall blueberries up to 2 m high, resistant to diseases, hardy;
• "Early Blue" - a variety that ripens in early June;
• "Patriot" - high-yielding and frost-resistant variety, ripening in the second half of July;
• “Elizabeth” is a late-fruiting berry, distinguished by frost resistance and good taste.

Growing blueberries at home requires proper soil preparation. If the type of soil in the area is close to swampy, the horizontal blueberry root system is able to quickly capture the space. The best soil for sowing blueberries is a mixture of sand and peat. In order to mulch the soil, you can use:

• rotted sawdust;
• humus;
• needles.

Chips and conifer branches are sprinkled on the bottom. On top add a mixture of peat with sand, rotted sawdust. You can add humus. When preparing the soil can not be used ashes. It reduces the acidity needed for proper growth and health of the bush. To feed the soil, you can use the infusion comfrey.

To make sure of germination or speed up the process of growing blueberries for seedlings, you can put the seeds on a damp cloth and hold them wet until germination. This method will allow to germinate the seeds of blueberry faster, if the landing time was missed. Some gardeners keep sachets of seeds in the refrigerator for stratification.

In the spring, when it is necessary to plant them, planting material is placed on the ground surface. Sometimes they are not sprinkled with sand at all. However, to plant properly is to comply with the technology. Greenhouse (ordinary plastic bowl) put on the window sill. Do not wait for shoots quickly. The maximum term of appearance is about 1 month.

Conditions for growing blueberries imply open terrain, sour soil, moderate soil moisture, proper trimming of the bush and planting according to all the rules. The size of the planting pit is approximately 60x60 cm. Before planting, the seedling is taken out of the container, fluffed up with peat, straightened curved roots. In the landing pit set vertically.

Blueberries need weeding.However, this should be done very carefully. Work sneaker in pristvolnyh circles should be extremely careful. This can hurt the root system.

For this berry, you can apply the soil, brought from a pine forest or marshland. Landing holes can be spilled with a solution:

• citric acid (3 tsp. per 10 liters of water);
• vinegar 9% (1 cup per 10 liters of water).

Blueberries like sunny places, otherwise the berries will be small and sour. In order to increase the yield, it is necessary to prune the bush. This should be done in late autumn, when the bushes shed their leaves.

Care for blueberry sprouts begins from the very sowing of seeds. While they are small, it is necessary to monitor the humidity of the soil. There are other nuances:

• Do not irrigate the soil with ice water;
• after planting in open ground, it is necessary to add nitrogen fertilizers to the soil, but organic matter is excluded;
• the aisle should be located at a distance of 2 m;
• in the spring should pour a layer of mulch to 10 cm using sawdust;
• trim the bush should be in early spring. Young bushes should remove small and diseased shoots;
• remove old shoots needed when the bush is 6 - 7 years;
• green cutting is carried out in July;
• for large berries, no more than 4 to 5 strong stems should be left on the bush;
• bushes can be fenced so that the crowns do not touch the ground: this increases the yield;
• care must be taken that the bushes do not close; this is reflected in the taste of berries and yield;
• in the period of ripening berries watering is a prerequisite for care.

To get the first harvest in the garden or in the garden, at least 2 years must pass from the moment of planting. Sometimes you have to try the first berries later. The term depends on the type of soil, temperature, climatic features of the region, the shade of the selected area. Sometimes gardeners say that the first berries can be removed from the bush after 4 years. The bush grows in different ways, which also depends on the care and the sun, which the blueberry loves.

So that the plant will long delight the owners of the site with ripe and tasty berries, It is worth taking note of a few tips:

• Coniferous sawdust will be the best and lasting fertilizer for the bush. It is necessary to pour them occasionally.
• You can not plant a bush where the water is always in abundance. From moisture will be blocked access of oxygen to the roots, the plant will die.
• The main diseases of the plant are associated with the soil. If the acidity is neutral, the leaves turn pale. To save the plant will help digging, removing the soil, filling up of peat and re-planting in place.
• It is better to plant the plant in the spring. Such plants are stronger, they are more adapted to the climatic conditions of the region.
• Berry does not like overheating of the soil. The land around the bush should be closed with sawdust or plant cranberries.
• It is necessary to monitor the acidity of the soil. The plant needs gray peat. This is moss, which is pre for several years.

Planting of seedlings can be carried out during the entire vegetative season up to the first frost. In spring this is possible when the soil warms up a little.

Sapling with an open root system can be planted in spring and autumn (in October) to a depth of 6 - 8 cm. You can not plant a plant in the valley. In heavy soil, the height of the pit should be smaller, with a larger diameter.

When planting, you can use high peat. It is mixed with earth in proportions of 1: 1. It will retain water and create the conditions necessary for chemical composition. You can add “cubic rot” to the planting pit (remnants of prey pine stumps of white color). They will help the blueberry roots to get the necessary nutrients from the soil.

What matters is the type of soil that varies in each region. If it is clay, you'll have to plant blueberries on raised ridges-ridges.If this is not done, after a rain on a flat surface, the roots will be blocked air access. Therefore, the plants rot. Black soil harms roots when overheated. It should be hidden from the sun.

Some gardeners when planting bushes in open ground for a permanent place apply a film. She was covered at the bottom of the landing pit.

Planting blueberries seeds is considered controversial event. Not always described blueberry breeding technology gives a 100% result. In some cases, it is not considered effective. Usually shoots appear well, but to create the desired level of humidity is not always obtained. Gardeners point out that waterlogging and dry soil are the main reasons why sprouts die.

For information on how to grow blueberries from seeds at home, see the following video.