How to grow blueberries at home?

Growing rules and characteristics of blueberries

Berries grow on bushes 1-2 m high. Shrubs can withstand winter frosts (down to -27-35 ° C), and spring buds are not afraid of frosts down to -6 ° C. If the air temperature in the area is below the specified one, insulate the bushes for cold seasons (wrap them with agrofibre, burlap).

Important: you cannot use plastic bags and film to insulate shrubs.

The first flowers on the plant appear at the end of May and are pollinated by insects. Fruits can be harvested in early July until the end of August. Cleaning is carried out in several stages, because garden blueberries ripen unevenly. The berries are easy to transport and can be stored for a long time.

Important: planting several varieties on one site will increase the yield of this berry.

Important: if you grow blueberries correctly and provide them with proper care, then mineral fertilizers will not be needed (but you can use them if you wish, since this will increase the yield).

How to plant blueberries correctly: choosing a place

Any variety grows well on acidic soils (sandy, sandy loam, peat bogs) and in a well-lit area. It is not always possible to provide such conditions for the shrub. Therefore, you can replace the "ideal environment" with a mixture of high-moor peat, needles, bark, cones, branches (in a ratio of 1 to 1) or use high-moor peat with 10% sand.

Important: you cannot add manure, humus, ash and chicken droppings to the substrate for growing blueberries.

Blueberries planting and care: how to prepare the soil

After preparing the substrate, you need to dig a hole with an area of ​​1 sq. m. and a depth of 0.1-0.2 m. Then put a formwork up to 30 cm high on the pit and fill it with a substrate, leaving 10 cm for mulching. After filling the pit, pour it with water (15-25 liters will be needed per 1 sq. M.).

Important: the outer walls must be protected from heating in the hot season, and this area should be insulated in winter.

Another option for preparing the soil: dig a hole 0.6 * 0.6 m (or 0.8 * 0.8 m) with a depth of 0.4 m.Place the film on the bottom and bend its edges by 10-20 cm. In the film, which laid on the bottom of the pit, cut out small holes with a knife. Fill the pit with a substrate so that the edges are raised, and a depression forms in the pit.

Planting blueberries: selection and preparation of the soil

Small blueberry seedlings are usually sold in containers. Therefore, before planting, the shrub must be put in water for half an hour and water the hole until the entire substrate becomes wet.

Important: to improve the adaptation process of the seedling, water the soil with a watering can, but in small doses. Then the plant will not dry out.

When the soil is moistened and the shrubbery is saturated with water, dig a hole that will be 2 times the size of the container with blueberries. Then remove the bush from the container (you can turn it over and gently shake it). In order for the course to grow quickly, gently knead and spread the roots before planting in open ground.

Important: for a young seedling, the depression in the substrate should be about 3 cm, and for a two-year-old plant - 5 cm.

Are blueberries already planted but growing poorly? The shrub can be saved! It is enough to dig a ring-shaped soil around the bush, and, without touching the roots, fill the formed space with the substrate.

How to water blueberries: water nutrition rules

In the first year of planting, water the blueberries near the roots (in the center of the pit) every 3-5 days. Regular care of a young plant will ensure high yields in the following seasons. From the second year of planting, water the shrub every 4-7 days. If it rains frequently, the frequency of watering can be reduced. For one bush, 20 liters of water is enough, and it is better to water it in the evening, before sunset. In dry weather, it is necessary to regularly spray the leaves and water the plant with a watering can.

Important: blueberries need water most of all during ripening and harvesting (mid and late summer), because in addition to fruiting, at this time the plant is preparing for the next year.

After harvesting, the shrub also requires watering, because in August-September shoots appear, which will give a new harvest in the new season. In mid-September, watering is reduced and stops during a cold snap.

Blueberry pruning and yield

In terms of its effectiveness, pruning is a key technique that affects plant growth. With its help, you can reduce or increase the yield. Pruning young shrubs (up to 2-4 years of age) creates a "skeleton" of the plant and its ability to hold a large number of ripe berries. And on young blueberries (before and after planting), it is necessary to remove all fruit buds. Leave only 4-5 of the largest and strongest branches on annual shoots. The next pruning can be done in the third year of planting. At this time, you need to remove small growths at the base of the bush, lying on the ground or diseased branches.

In plants from five years old, pruning can be different: if you remove a few branches, then the yield will be higher, the berries are smaller, with late ripening. To get large berries on bushes over 5 years old, you need to cut off branches older than this age. The degree of pruning should be adjusted based on the wishes of the volume of the crop, the timing of its collection and the size of the berries. In spreading bushes, cut off the lower weak branches, and in upright ones - medium branches.

Timing of pruning: early spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed.

Soil acidification

In order for blueberries to give a good harvest, the acidity of the soil should be in the range of 3.5-5 units. If it is impossible to determine the level of acidification, then the substrate for planting shrubs must be acidified. To maintain the pH level, acidification is required twice a year. The first is in the spring, after warming, and the second is during the harvest. In the intervals between these procedures, water the plant with acidified water every 1.5-2 weeks (for this, food acids are suitable: citric, sulfuric or acetic).

Dosage of acids for irrigation:

• lemon - 1 tablespoon;
• acetic (9%) - 150 ml;
• sulfuric - 10 drops.

To get seedlings, the shrub is propagated vegetatively. Most often, for the reproduction of blueberries, annual lignified cuttings, layering or ripe shoots, which are harvested from December to the end of March.

Growing delicious berries is easy. The plant requires special attention only in the first two years of life. The rest of the time, planting and care of blueberries does not require constant monitoring, takes place without any problems and provides the owner with the desired harvest volumes.

Blueberries are the closest relative of the well-known blueberries.... People previously believed that this berry caused a headache, and no one grew it. In the modern world, this opinion has been refuted, since its nutritional properties can give odds to popular berries.

Varietal blueberry

Benefit

Biologists from all over the world know the beneficial properties of blueberries. It contains a rich set of vitamins: B1, B2, PP, K and P, as well as the presence of ascorbic acid.Mineral salts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, sugar, pectins, fiber and much more.

All these elements have a positive effect on the human body:

• creates anti-inflammatory processes;
• acts as an anti-sclerotic and anti-sclerotic agent;
• activates choleretic and cardiotonic action.

In all biological manuals, experts talk about the amazing benefits of this berry.

Where to buy seeds or seedlings

You can buy blueberry seeds in any online store or on the market, the same is the case with seedlings. It is important to find varieties that are created with an eye to Russian conditions.

Gavrish: Blueberry Forest Treasure

Become familiar with the characteristics of the individual varieties and note the following characteristics:

1. ripening period;
2. the size of the berries;
3. frost resistance (30-40 ° C)

Choosing the right seeds or seedlings will help you grow a berry-rich bush and delight your family with fresh fruits or great juice.

How to grow seeds

It is worth sowing fresh seeds at the end of summer, stratified seeds in spring. For sowing, take regular flower pots or boxes, which should be filled with high-moor peat. Place the seed not deeply and sprinkle with sand for 2-3 mm. Then pour a little water.

Having done all this, place the seedlings in a warm place with good lighting and cover with glass. Water and ventilate the future plant. After 2-3 weeks, when the first shoots appear, remove the glass and continue to water.

When 4-6 small leaves appear, transplant the plant into a greenhouse, where you should constantly monitor its growth, water and fertilize with a solution of mineral fertilizers.

How to grow a seedling

A good seedling from seeds appears in 1.5-2 years. Now you should transplant it from the greenhouse into a permanent habitat in the open air.

Blueberries require acidic and loose soil for their good growth and fertility. A hole is dug, slightly larger than the size of the root system, and the plant is transferred there. Add a mixture of peat and coniferous sawdust instead of soil, this will help give the soil the necessary acidity. Water well. After watering, sprinkle again with a mixture of peat and sawdust so that the moisture does not evaporate.

Expert opinion

Blueberries are not a capricious plant, but there are two important aspects to be followed closely. All you have to do is water the plant abundantly, especially in dry years, and monitor the acidity of the soil. You can add acidity to the soil using the same coniferous sawdust and peat. For the first time, the plants should be pruned for 3 or 4 years. Don't forget about mineral fertilizers.

By following these tips, you can grow an amazing plant that will provide you with berries for a whole year.

Blueberries belong to the Heather family and are a distant relative of blueberries. Eating its berries in food is very beneficial for the body. The fruits of this plant are valued, for example, for the fact that they slow down the aging process, improve the activity of the nervous system, and contribute to the normalization of digestion processes. Of course, many gardeners would like to see this culture on their site. Therefore, further in the article, we will figure out in detail how to grow blueberries in the country.

What are the varieties

They started breeding this useful plant in 1908. To date, a huge number of blueberry varieties have been bred, which can be classified into several large groups:

• undersized;
• northern high;
• rabbit eye;
• southern high;
• semi-tall.

All these varieties are quite whimsical to care for and require careful adherence to planting technology. A summer resident who wondered how to grow blueberries on a site should know that northern tall varieties are best suited for central Russia. They are valued primarily for their fairly good yield and resistance to low temperatures.

The best northern tall varieties

Most often, blueberries can be seen in the gardens of the Moscow region and other regions of central Russia:

• Bluecrop.This medium-fruiting variety attracts gardeners primarily with its drought resistance, frost resistance and productivity. In addition, it is immune to disease. It is the blueberry variety Bluecrop that is the reference when creating any other.
• Elizabeth. The berries of this variety ripen rather late, but they differ in their simply wonderful taste. It is Elizabeth's blueberries that are usually recommended to summer residents for growing on their plots as a dessert.
• Patriot. This variety is good primarily for its high yield. Blueberry Patriot is tall and can produce up to 9 kg of fruit in one year.

Such varieties of this culture as Taiga Beauty, Canadian Nectar and Divnaya are excellent for the Urals and Siberia. All of these varieties are characterized by increased resistance to cold weather. The blueberry variety Blurey is also suitable for the northern regions of Russia.

How to choose a seat

In the wild, blueberries are known to grow in swampy and rather shady areas. However, the garden varieties of this plant do not like the close occurrence of groundwater and the lack of light. The blueberry area should be fairly dry. Groundwater in the place of cultivation of this crop should not approach the surface closer than 0.5 meters. This applies to most varieties. In a waterlogged area, blueberries Patriot, Blyukrop, Divnaya and others will feel unwell and may even die.

In the absence of sufficient lighting, blueberries stop fruiting. Therefore, it should be planted away from garden trees, solid fences and even berry bushes.

Where to get seedlings

A young blueberry bush for summer cottages can be purchased in a nursery or grown independently from seeds or cuttings. However, most often the seedlings of this cultivated plant are still purchased from farmers. The fact is that it is rather difficult to get blueberry bushes from seeds or cuttings on your own.

How to grow blueberries: planting dates

You can transfer the seedlings of this culture to a permanent place both in autumn and spring. The latter option is considered more preferable. The fact is that the root system of this plant develops rather slowly. This means that by winter, blueberries may simply not gain sufficient strength. As a result, the plant is likely to freeze by spring.

What should be the soil

Blueberries are one of the few garden plants that prefer acidic soil (pH 3.5 to 5). This culture does not take root on ordinary loam. The best solution would be to prepare a mixture of the following composition for this plant:

• 1 part of high-moor peat;
• 1 part of coniferous leaf litter;
• some chopped pine bark.

What is worth knowing

When wondering how to grow blueberries in the country, one important advice from experienced gardeners should be taken into account. No organic fertilizers should be used when planting blueberries. The same goes for ash. If this rule is neglected, the seedlings may simply not take root. It is completely useless to use organics on acidic soils. In addition, it, like ash, leaches the soil.

Preparatory activities

They plant blueberries on the site in pre-dug trenches or pits. So that later the garden alkaline earth does not mix with the acidic substrate prepared especially for this plant, the walls of the latter are often lined with moisture-permeable geotextiles. Of course, in this case, the pits and trenches must be of sufficient width. Sometimes blueberries are even planted in large tubs. The distance between the pits should not be less than 1.5 m.

The blueberry bush itself should be soaked in water for about 10 minutes before planting. Can be used for soaking and a solution of an agent that stimulates root formation.

Garden blueberries: planting on the site

After the pits for this culture are ready, the prepared soil mixture should be poured onto their bottom with a layer of about 20 cm.All the soil should be removed from the roots of the seedling.You can simply rinse it off with a stream of warm water. It is impossible to plant blueberries together with an earthen clod, since this plant cannot spread the roots on its own.

You need to install the seedling in the hole straight and exactly in the middle. Garden blueberries, which must be planted quickly, are better suited if their roots are neatly straightened out. It is necessary to fill up the bush carefully, trying not to damage anything. After planting, the root collar should remain on the surface.

The trunk circle of the plant should be immediately mulched with peat or coniferous leaf litter. Water the planted blueberries with water diluted in it with citric acid in the amount of 2 h / l per bucket at the rate of 5-7 liters per bush.

Plant care: basic activities

The blueberries planted on the site will subsequently have to:

• watering;
• weed;
• fertilize.

Also, the owners of the dacha will need to constantly monitor the level of soil acidity. In order to prevent a decrease in fruiting or even death of plants due to alkalization, you should definitely purchase a kit for checking the level of acidity of the soil in a specialized store.

How to water plants

Overdrying, as well as overmoistening strongly, blueberries should not be. In the first year after planting, this plant is usually watered once every two to three days (5-7 liters per bush). If the moistening procedure is carried out less frequently, the peat soil will turn into stone very quickly, and the plant will not be able to put new roots into it.

In subsequent years, blueberries can be watered once or twice a week. In this case, you should use slightly acidified (for example, vinegar 9%) settled warm water. Watering should be done from a hose with a spray. Otherwise, the soil under the plants may become overconsolidated. After each watering, the blueberry tree trunk should be loosened.

How to feed

Choose the right fertilizer for blueberries. They begin to feed her from the second year after planting. You need to apply fertilizer to the soil twice a season. Crops grown on acidic peat soils are usually deficient in macronutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and magnesium. To compensate for the deficiency of these substances, it is worth using complex fertilizers. This can be, for example, "Kemira universal", compositions intended for conifers, double superphosphate, etc.

Ashes for feeding plants during cultivation, as well as during planting, cannot be used categorically. Such fertilizer for blueberries as organic is never used.

How to determine which macronutrients are lacking in plants

The choice of fertilizer for blueberries should be based on what nutrients are lacking in the soil. The lack of certain macronutrients strongly affects, first of all, the appearance of plants. So, if blueberry leaves began to turn yellow and the formation of new shoots slowed down, it means that it does not have enough nitrogen. Necrotic spots indicate a lack of potassium. Plants with reddened leaf blades should be fed with a product containing a larger amount of magnesium, and with blue ones - boron.

Growing blueberry seedlings is much easier than messing around with seeds. However, if there are no seedlings, nothing else remains. You have to pay a lot of attention to them until the seedlings get stronger. To do this, you should familiarize yourself in more detail with the rules for growing blueberries from seeds at home.

Features of culture

A distinctive feature of seed propagation of blueberries is the fact that the period from sowing to the first harvest can take several years. The berry belongs to the Heather family, for which wetlands are their natural habitat. Their pH level is extremely low.

The root system is practically hairless. It is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in soil moisture. Blueberries can coexist with mycorrhizal fungi, with which they share carbohydrates. In return, she gets a better assimilation of water and minerals. There are many varieties of blueberries. Some are relatively small in stature, others reach a height of more than 1.5-2 m.

Modern berry varieties that are usually planted on the site are hybrids. This is what determines successful cultivation. The root system is skeletal and overgrown. She begins to grow at a temperature of +7 degrees. Under particularly comfortable conditions (+17 degrees), it increases by 1 mm per day.

This culture has many useful qualities. Due to the content of antioxidants and a complex of vitamins, it has a beneficial effect on visual acuity, the work of the digestive tract, and reduces the manifestation of allergic reactions.

Unlike other plants, blueberries are unable to move water and nutrients horizontally from one side to the other. For this reason, it must be watered from all sides.

What does the planting material look like?

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

Description of the breeding method

To grow blueberries from seeds, they must be stratified. By this word is meant a simple, though not quick procedure. For her you need moss or wet sand. Planting material is placed there for 3 months and kept at a temperature of 3-5 degrees above zero.

Blueberry seed propagation can be done in two ways. The time for sowing blueberry seeds is different and depends on the type of planting material. If these are just harvested seeds, they are planted in August, and those that have been stratified are sown in the spring.

Outside

You can put the dried seeds in the refrigerator for the winter. At a constant temperature of 0 ... + 5 degrees, they will remain until spring. They are sown into the top layer of the soil, deepening inward by 1-1.5 cm. In this case, it is imperative to mulch the soil 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.... Strongly germinated material cannot be used for seedlings.

Not every seed variety is able to adapt to spring soil, which should be warm at the time of planting. For this reason, blueberry seeds should not be planted in early spring.

In room

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

After that, the pot or box must be covered with transparent plastic wrap or glass and placed in a sunny place. It's good if it is warm. This will accelerate the germination of the planting material.

In order to prevent the death of the newly appeared sprouts, it is worth considering several important nuances:

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

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

Which varieties are suitable?

The breeding method for blueberries is suitable for garden varieties. It can be grown from the seeds of the following varieties:

• "Canadian Nectar" - tall blueberries with berries ripening in early August - mid September;
• "Blue Scattering" is a marsh grade with large berries that are distinguished by a sweet and sour taste;
• "Forest Treasure" - shrub culture with long-term fruiting;

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

Any of these varieties can be sown with seeds from ripe berries.

Soil preparation

Growing blueberries at home requires proper soil preparation. If the soil type on the site is close to swampy, the horizontal root system of blueberries is able to quickly take up space. The best soil for planting blueberries is a mixture of sand and peat. In order to mulch the soil, you can use:

• rotted sawdust;
• humus;
• needles.

Chips and branches of conifers are poured to the bottom. A mixture of peat with sand, rotted sawdust is added on top. You can add humus. Ash must not be used for soil preparation. It reduces the acidity required for proper growth and health of the bush. To feed the soil, you can use the comfrey infusion.

Germination

To ensure germination or to speed up the process of growing blueberries for seedlings, you can put the seeds on a damp cloth and keep them moist until germination. This method will allow blueberry seeds to germinate faster if planting time has been missed. Some gardeners keep seed bags in the refrigerator for stratification purposes.

In the spring, when it is necessary to plant them, the planting material is placed on the surface of the soil. Sometimes they are not sprinkled with sand at all. However, planting correctly means observing the technology. A greenhouse (an ordinary plastic bowl) is placed on the windowsill. Do not wait for shoots quickly. The maximum appearance period is about 1 month.

Agriculture

The conditions for growing blueberries include an open area, acidic soil, moderate soil moisture, proper pruning of the bush and planting according to all the rules. The size of the planting pit is approximately 60x60 cm. Before planting the seedling, it is taken out of the container, the peat lump is fluffed, and the bent roots are straightened. They are placed vertically in the landing pit.

Blueberries need weeding. However, this must be done very carefully. Working with a slipper in the near-trunk circles should be extremely careful. This can injure the root system.

Saplings are extremely sensitive to replanting. Until they take root, it is necessary to carefully monitor the water regime.

For this berry, you can use soil brought from a pine forest or swampy area. Planting holes can be spilled with a solution:

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

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

Care

Care for blueberry sprouts begins with the sowing of the seeds. While they are small, it is necessary to monitor the moisture content 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 nitrogenous fertilizers to the soil, but organic matter is excluded;
• row spacings should be located at a distance of 2 m;
• in the spring, sprinkle mulch with a layer of up to 10 cm using sawdust;
• the bush should be cut in early spring. In young bushes, small and diseased shoots should be removed;
• it is necessary to remove old shoots when the bush is 6 - 7 years old;
• green cuttings are carried out in July;
• to get large berries, you need to leave no more than 4 - 5 strong stems on the bush;
• you can fence the bushes so that the crowns do not touch the ground: this increases the yield;
• it is necessary to ensure that the bushes do not close; this is reflected in the taste of berries and yield;
• during the ripening period of berries, watering is a prerequisite for care.

How many years does it bear fruit?

To get the first crop in a garden plot or in a vegetable 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 regime, climatic features of the region, shade of the selected area. Sometimes gardeners note that the first berries can be removed from the bush after 4 years. The bush grows in different ways, which depends, among other things, on care and the sun, which blueberries love.

Useful tips from gardeners

So that the plant pleases the owners of the site for a long time with ripe and tasty berries, there are a few tips to take note of:

• The best and long-lasting fertilizer for the bush will be coniferous sawdust. You need to add them occasionally.
• You can not plant a bush where water is constantly in abundance. Moisture will cut off oxygen to the roots, and the plant will die.
• The main plant diseases are associated with the soil. If the acidity is neutral, the leaves turn pale. Digging, removing soil, adding peat and replanting will help to save the plant.
• Better to plant the plant in spring. Such plants are stronger, they are more adapted to the climatic conditions of the region.
• The berry does not like soil overheating. The land around the bush should be covered with sawdust or cranberries should be planted.
• It is necessary to monitor the acidity of the soil. The plant needs gray peat. It is a moss that has been melted for several years.

Growing seedlings

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

A seedling with an open root system can be planted in spring and autumn (October) to a depth of 6 - 8 cm. You cannot plant a plant in the lowlands. In heavy soil, the height of the hole should be smaller, while the diameter is larger.

When planting, you can use high-moor peat. It is mixed with earth in proportions of 1: 1. It will retain water and create the conditions necessary for its chemical composition. You can add "cubic rot" (the remains of rotten pine stumps of white color) to the planting hole. They will help the blueberry roots get the nutrients they need from the soil.

The type of soil matters, which differs in each region. If it is clayey, you will have to plant blueberries on raised ridges. If you do not do this, after rain on a flat surface, air will be blocked for the roots. Therefore, the plants will rot. Black soil damages roots when overheated. It should be hidden from the sun's rays.

Some gardeners, when planting bushes in open ground in a permanent place, use film. It is covered at the bottom of the landing pit.

However, for optimal conditions, it is necessary to make perforations in it. If the ground is sandy above and clay below, there is no need for a film.

Reviews

Planting blueberry seeds is considered controversial. The described blueberry breeding technology does not always give a 100% result. In some cases, it is not considered effective. Usually, seedlings appear well, but it is not always possible to create the desired level of moisture. Gardeners note 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 next video.