Garden Blueberries: Planting and Care Guide

Garden blueberry is a shrub that can reach a height of 80-90 centimeters. Appreciate this plant for its blue berries with bluish bloom. People use the fruits of blueberry as a treat, as well as for therapeutic purposes. Berries and leaves of the plant favorably affect the blood-forming organs, lead to normal blood glucose levels in diabetes mellitus, normalize the organs of the gastrointestinal system, speed up metabolic processes and do an excellent job with a lack of vitamins and minerals.

Blueberry looks like blueberries, however, these are completely different berries. Blueberries have larger berries, and the juice contained in them has no color, whereas blueberries have a violet-red juice. The taste of blueberries and blueberries is also similar, but connoisseurs can distinguish it. Externally, the stems and shoots of blueberries have a darker color compared with blueberries.

Initially, blueberries were a wild-growing plant, which was first cultivated in the XIX century in Canada. Today there are already more than a hundred different types of selection varieties of garden blueberries. Varietal blueberries can be divided into 4 types by the size of a bush:

• undersized (dwarf) varieties;
• tall varieties for southern latitudes;
• tall varieties for northern latitudes;
• semi-tall varieties.

In addition to the size of the plant, blueberries are divided into species according to the rate of ripening of its berries, while the following varieties of varieties are distinguished:

• early ripe varieties - fruits ripen by the first decade of July: varieties "Duke", "Stanley", "Spartan", "Bluetta";
• mid-season varieties - berries ripen at the end of July: varieties "Rancos", "Patriot", "Nelson", "Bluebold";
• late ripening varieties - ripen in late August: varieties "Jersey", "Eliot", "Gorbert".

Blueberry garden varieties are different from their wild relatives. The height of many cultivated varieties reaches two meters; you will not find such large specimens in the wild. The plant comes from a genus called Vaccinium. This genus includes all known blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries. These berries have their differences, both external and the content of their valuable components. Tastes of all members of the Vaccinium genus are different from each other, therefore it is difficult to confuse them.

Breeding blueberry varieties significantly differ from wild-growing specimens even in their external structure. The blueberry bush has a strong, fibrous root system, its branches are quite strong, and have an erect orientation. The plant has bark that protects the branches and has a dark gray or brown shade. The leaves of garden specimens are several times larger than those of a wild-growing plant, although they are also located on the branches in the next order. Externally, they are smooth and oval-elongated, the length of the sheet, on average, reaches three centimeters. Many varieties of blueberries have leaves with a barely noticeable bloom of a waxy substance, sometimes it seems that they themselves have a bluish-green color.

Blueberries bloom in spring, in May. Flowers are clustered, each flower has five petals and a halo, in its structure resembling a jug. The color of the flowers is pale pink or white. Varietal blueberry berries are much larger than fruits when compared with wild relatives. The size of wild blueberries can reach up to 10-12 millimeters, and by weight the berries grow to one gram. Garden varieties are capable of producing berries weighing up to 25 grams.

Blueberry berries are covered with a thin skin that has a dark blue color with a blue waxy coating.Inside the whitish-green berry and contains many small seeds. An adult bush of a selective blueberry is able to produce yields of up to 6 kilograms per season.

Garden blueberries ripen depending on the place of its growth and, of course, on the variety. Weather and climate conditions significantly affect the yield of garden blueberries.

On the territory of Russia, they are successfully used as varieties suitable for northern latitudes, as well as varieties growing in warm climatic conditions. Garden blueberries of frost-resistant varieties can winter well enough in the conditions of a harsh Russian winter, and it also has time to ripen in not too hot and sunny summer, which is also not uncommon for Russia.

Breeders have developed particularly resistant varieties of blueberries that can winter in harsh climates in the Urals or Siberia, where sub-zero temperatures can reach 40-43 degrees. Of these varieties, I would particularly like to highlight “Taiga Beauty”, “Northland”, and “Blurs”.

But blueberries are growing not only in cold and cool areas. For example, in Belarus or the Rostov region, in Russia, the conditions for breeding blueberry breeding varieties are very favorable. In these areas, the climate is rather mild, there are no strong drops from minus to plus temperatures, fairly clear and sunny light days and moderate rainfall. And if in the central part of Russia preference is given to early and mid-ripening varieties, then in the southern latitudes, it is surely possible to use early, mid-ripening and late-ripening blueberry species.

For northern latitudes, winter-hardy stunted and semi-tall shrubs will be a good choice, and in the southern regions almost all varieties will feel good, especially their tall representatives. Southern latitudes, as a rule, have an acidic soil environment and are rich in black soil and humus, which is a favorable environment for the growth of blueberries.

Early and medium ripening varieties are best suited for climatic conditions of central Russia. They are able to give the maximum yield of berries before the onset of the first frost. Let's look at the most interesting varieties of selection garden blueberries.

• "Duke" - This is a tall culture, growing to two meters. A characteristic feature of the variety is that the plant is not very branched, so the berries do not obscure the foliage and they ripen evenly in a period of up to 45 days after the formation of the ovaries. It is not necessary to thin out such a bush annually, although it grows intensively. The yield of the variety “Duke” is quite high - its berries are large, up to 20 millimeters in size, an adult plant can bring up to 5-7 kilograms of berries annually. The skin of the fruit is thin, but they are able to tolerate transportation and storage. Inside the berry pulp is light, dense, it tastes sweetish-sour.

• "Taiga beauty" - is a medium shrub, reaches a height of 60 centimeters. The crown of the plant is slightly sprawling, the branches have a certain curvature. Young plant begins to bear fruit from the third year. The advantages of the variety are its frost resistance, therefore the “Taiga beauty” is recommended for planting even in areas of Siberia. The plant is able to endure sub-zero temperatures up to 43 degrees.The variety fructifies annually, its fruits are of medium size, up to 1 gram. An adult plant can bear up to two kilograms of berries annually. The taste of the berries is sweet and sour, they have no aroma. Berry looks rounded, with weak edges. The ripening of berries in this variety ends by the end of August.

• “Blue placer” - treats tall species, height of a bush reaches up to one meter. The crown of the shrub has a weak branching, the fruits ripen evenly. The variety “Blue placer” is recommended for northern latitudes, as it has good frost resistance. It has a very close relationship with wild blueberries, so it is considered the most valuable by the content of biologically active components. Resistance to pests and various types of diseases in the variety is average. The berries of a young plant appear for 3-4 years, the shape of the berries is pear-shaped, the color is dark blue with a greyish bloom. Each year, an adult plant can produce up to 1.5-2 kilograms of berries.

• "Yurkovskaya" - undersized variety, bush height reaches up to 30-40 centimeters. Crohn's has no strong branching. The plant endures low temperatures to minus 30 degrees. This variety has an increased disease resistance and good adaptive qualities. The fruits of the “Yurkovskaya” blueberries are asymmetrical, they do not have the aroma, but they are rather large, weighing up to 1.5 grams, with slightly pronounced faces. A feature of the variety is that the taste of the berries in this variety is much more tender than in other varieties of blueberries. The annual yield from an adult bush can be up to 1.5 kilograms.

• "Blue Ray" - This is a tall shrub that reaches 1.7-1.9 meters in height. Its branches are erect, and the crown loves branching at the expense of young shoots. Every year such a shrub needs thinning and removal of old branches. This variety of blueberry is created to grow in central Russia, but its frost resistance is quite high. Berries tightly and in large quantities sit on each bunch. The size of the berries in the variety “Blurey” is quite large and reaches up to 22 millimeters, each year an adult plant brings up to 7 kilograms of dark blue fruit with a bluish bloom. Ripening fruits early - from mid-July, they can be collected.

Cultivated varietal blueberries are not difficult to purchase in special garden nurseries and agricultural farms. Even through the system of trading platforms on the Internet, you can choose and order seedlings of garden blueberries from anywhere in our country and from abroad for home delivery. However, experienced agricultural technicians believe that it is best to purchase planting material from local producers, since young plants will adapt better in their usual climatic environment - such in which they were originally grown.

All domestic breeding varieties of blueberries are listed in the State Register. As a rule, modern agricultural enterprises have in their arsenal several varieties that they offer to the population of a particular region, taking into account climatic features. You will only have to decide on the choice of the most preferred variety for you.

Experienced gardeners who cultivate varietal blueberries on their plots for some years do not believe that any extra efforts or agrotechnical innovations are needed when caring for the plant. The most important and time-consuming step is the time of planting the seedling.It is at this point that many can make an annoying mistake, without taking into account the peculiarities of this fruit crop, as a result of getting abundant foliage instead of berries or completely losing the plant due to its death.

Let's take a closer look at all the most important aspects that need to be taken into account when planting a varietal blueberry seedling.

In order for the plant to settle down at the summer cottage, it is necessary to choose the most favorable place for it to land. Varietal blueberries need a well-warmed and sunlit place. In addition, it is important to remember that the plant does not tolerate the effects of the wind. The option of planting blueberries among tall trees for a plant is not suitable: due to the lack of ultraviolet radiation and nutrition, the bush may refuse, and the berries on it will be small and sour. It is possible to plant seedlings on open ground or in containers and bulk pots.

You can determine the acidity yourself using special kits that are sold in specialized garden outlets. But there are also old proven methods that farmers have used for more than one century: you need to look carefully at the plot and determine which weeds grow in abundance: if your soil is covered with a wetball, it means that the land is acidified, and if the sparrow has alkaline soil.

With the help of fresh leaves of black currant can also determine the acidity of the earth. To do this, pour a few leaves with hot water and let it brew until the solution cools. Then a lump of earth is placed in the resulting solution and if the soil is acidic, the liquid will be colored in red, and the color intensity will tell you about the degree of its acidity.

In addition, in winter, lowlands are usually exposed to frost. There is another significant limitation on choosing a blueberry planting site - since blueberries do not like compost, manure, humus, they do not need to be planted next to those plants that regularly need such top dressing.

Spring work in the country begins in early spring after the snow melts. This time is considered optimal for planting blueberries before the beginning of the active period of movement of the juices in the plant. It is necessary to wait for the time when the earth under the rays of the spring sun can be heated to 6-7 degrees - usually it happens in April, but in southern latitudes the snow melts in March.

Planting plants in early spring is needed so that the seedling can take root and settle down in a new place, and later - to survive the cold winter. Modern varieties of blueberries have good adaptive properties and resistance to sub-zero temperatures, so it became possible to plant the seedlings even in autumn from September to October.

Soil containing insufficient acidity for blueberries needs acidification. Before planting a seedling, the soil should be acidified by adding a solution prepared for the calculation of three liters of water and 1 teaspoon of citric or oxalic acid to the well for planting. For this purpose, suitable and colloidal sulfur, it is diluted at the rate of 60 grams per 10 liters of water.

To grow blueberries, the soil must be prepared: ideally, the plant feels very good on the peat-sand mixture. In the planting hole, claydite is first laid in a layer of about 15-20 centimeters, then the same level of crushed pine or fir bark is poured over the claydite.Thus, a drainage system is created that will drain excess water from the roots. A mixture prepared from sand, peat, pine needles, and spruce sawdust can already be poured onto the finished drainage layer.

In addition to preparing the soil mixture, the plant needs a sufficient amount of micronutrients - with their presence, the seedling is well accustomed and begins to bear fruit over time. Therefore, it is necessary to add potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in the ratio of 3: 2: 1 or special ready-made fertilizers, which in these proportions contain these components.

The root system of the garden blueberry is not prone to deep bedding in the soil, as much as possible it can spread to a depth of 30-35 centimeters, so the planting hole is deepened to a distance of 50 centimeters. In width, the rhizomes of a sapling will have enough area equal to 65x65 centimeters.

If you plan to plant several copies of a blueberry alongside, then between bushes it is necessary to make a distance of at least 1.0-1.2 meters, this is especially important for those varieties that have a well-developed crown branch. And those who plan to plant several rows of a certain number of bushes, you need to consider that the width between rows should be at least 2.5 meters. When planting, the root collar of the seedling is placed in the soil for 3-4 centimeters so that new cuttings of the roots and lower twigs can be formed.

To grow varietal blueberries, you need regular watering of seedlings, as the plant does not tolerate even a short period of drying of the soil. In the event that the winter was of little snow, and little precipitation falls in the spring, the blueberries should be watered every two days, and with the watering they also spray the top of the shrub. In the summer, varietal blueberries are watered twice a week. This should be done correctly, in two steps, in the early morning and in the late evening, when the activity of the sun is no longer so intense, and there is no danger of damaging the leaves by sunburn.

In addition to watering, plant care also consists in loosening the soil around the bush to a depth of 8-10 centimeters. It is possible to loosen the soil 2-3 times a month, not more often, so as not to overdry the earth bed. The soil in which the blueberry grows should always be under a layer of mulch, which during loosening does not need to be removed. Every 2-3 years a fresh portion of mulch is added under the shrub.

The plant requires regular feeding every year. It is best to make it during the growing season, when buds and new shoots are laid. Blueberries respond well when fed with potassium sulfate (40 grams), ammonium (100 grams), zinc, magnesium sulphate or superphosphate (100 grams). Fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen should be applied to the soil at least three times from spring to autumn - usually this May, June and August.

Phosphorus-containing drugs contribute in the summer and autumn. Zinc, magnesium and potassium is enough to make 1 time per year.

Without exception, varietal species of garden blueberries are susceptible to fungal diseases. Therefore, plants should be regularly inspected regularly, and cut off the affected branches and burn. Pruning a plant, even if it is completely healthy, should be carried out regularly, thereby updating its crown with young shoots. Weakened or frozen branches should be removed.Experienced gardeners have learned how to rejuvenate old blueberry bushes by grafting them using a new variety.

Vaccinating blueberries is a rather complicated but interesting activity. Its essence is as follows: in winter, as a rule, as early as December, annual young branches are selected, which are cut and stored in a cold room until spring. In January, the plant that is to be grafted is cut to a height of 40-50 centimeters, smearing the cuts with garden pitch. In March, vaccinations are carried out on the trimmed branches of previously harvested material. By the time of the growing season, the grafted plant produces new strong young shoots.

In the first year after planting, the plant spends all its strength on adaptation and rooting, getting used to new conditions. At this time, the root system grows and young shoots are formed. In the second year, the plant gradually enters into force and its branches become already stronger — they are less susceptible to freezing and are able to plant flower buds.

In the third year after the landing, the varietal blueberry begins active flowering, after which fruit ovaries are formed. Since the third year, blueberries can please you with the first berries. The yield from the bush will depend not only on the variety, but also on the development of the plant.

In order to yield high, blueberry bushes are updated annually by pruning. Do not make such an update only in the first three years after planting. Depending on the variety, the time to harvest will vary. Blueberries are ripening at the same time - harvesting can be done every week for a month. In the case when there is hot and sunny weather, berries can be picked more often - up to two or three times a week.

To determine the degree of ripeness of blueberries can be to the touch - in a ripe berry skin will be soft. Solid berries to collect does not make sense, since they are sour to the taste. It is necessary to wait some time for the berries on the branch to fill and ripen.

Growing varietal blueberries at their summer cottage has become commonplace for many amateur gardeners and professionals. Quite often, in our country, the cultivation of blueberries is considered as a business in which small private farms are engaged. This is understandable - there is always a demand for blueberries. According to reviews of those who have already tried to grow blueberries, as well as taking into account the reviews of this crop by experienced farmers, it can be concluded that the plant survives well, does not require any special attention and gives good yields with the right approach to growing. And it will also be useful to take the advice of specialists.

• Before you start planting blueberry seedlings at their permanent place, it is best to first prepare a detailed plan of the site in order to take into account all the nuances necessary for the successful growth and development of the plant. You need to choose places with sufficient access to sunlight, but well protected from the wind.
• Blueberries, as a rule, are resistant to winter frosts, but do not tolerate the first autumn frosts. For this reason, after harvesting, the bushes are covered with non-woven fabric or spruce fur branches.
• Shrubs of varietal blueberries very poorly tolerate top dressing with preparations containing elements of chlorine and lime, therefore their use must be abandoned.
• Manure, chicken droppings, compost can not be added to the soil mixture or as fertilizer - the plant dies from this.
• Before planting, an earthen clod of a seedling needs to be taken out of the shipping container and soaked.After that, the roots need to straighten, and only then the plant is placed in the planting hole.
• In the spring with the advent of the first foliage, the blueberry bush needs to be treated three times with a fungicidal agent. This should be done at intervals of 10 days for the prevention of disease and the attack of insect pests.

For more information on planting and caring for garden blueberries, see the following video.