The best varieties of garden blueberries

Garden blueberries - planting and care

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How to plant blueberries in the garden?

Garden blueberry "Nelson" - Vaccinium corymbosum "Nelson"

Minimum temperatures -23.2 / -17.8

Growing garden blueberries

The variety is frost and drought-resistant.

Garden blueberry "Bluecrop" - Vaccinium corymbosum "Bluecrop"

Blueberries and types of garden blueberries

Of the complex fertilizers, only those that do not contain chlorine are needed, for example, these are piafoxan blue and "acyplex" (the latter is a salt for fertilizing marsh and coniferous plants). Usually they are added in 2 steps: first, in the period March-April, with the calculation of 30g / m² for young bushes and already 60g / m² for fruit-bearing ones; then at the beginning of June, here, respectively, 20 and 30gr / m².

Reproduction of annual garden blueberries

The shrub loves high humidity and partial shade, so it is advisable to plant it in appropriate places. The preparation of the soil is affected by its acidity. So, on light soils with pH

Lovers of garden blueberries know that this berry is a real storehouse of vitamins A, B1 and C. In addition, the fruits of this plant have excellent taste. They can be eaten both fresh and frozen. Jam, compotes, jams are made from blueberries. Dried berries are actively used in pharmaceuticals. However, planting and caring for garden blueberries is quite laborious and requires compliance with certain rules. Let's figure out which ones.

Buying blueberries for planting - don't be fooled

When buying a blueberry bush to grow in the garden, be careful. Blueberry seedlings are easily confused with blueberries. There are often cases when blueberries are slipped to the buyer instead of blueberries. These two bushes are very similar. If possible, it is better to dig a bush from friends or in the forest. Just remember that you need a young plant for planting. It should be dug out with a large clod of earth.

How to plant blueberries

Planting is best done in late summer or early autumn. Young bush blueberries are planted in loose and acidic soil. Before placing the plant in the ground, you must first water it with water mixed with food acid. Blueberries are planted in rows, the interval between which should be about 2 meters. The size of the pit for planting is 50 by 60 cm, the depth is about 50 cm. The clod of earth at the root of the plant must be wet, otherwise it will not take root and die.

The crown of trees is the best protection for berries from sunlight

During planting, it is necessary to loosen the soil on the root ball and gently spread the roots. After that, the pit is filled up, the soil is compacted with the feet and watering is performed. Old blueberries (over three years old) need pruning after planting. By shortening the stem to a height of 20-25 cm, you will help the green beauty to settle down in a new place.

Important! Never plant a blueberry bush under fruit trees. This plant does not accept organic fertilizers.

Blueberries do not tolerate direct sunlight. The crown of any deciduous tree, spruce or pine will be an excellent refuge for her. This berry bush is winter hardy. It easily tolerates frost and does not require any additional protection in winter.

Blueberry care

Blueberries are a capricious lady.When caring for this plant, you must:

• Water it regularly. As a rule, once a month is sufficient. It is necessary to add oxalic, acetic or citric acid to the water.

Water the blueberries once a month.

• Make sure that the ground under the bush 10-15 cm deep is always slightly damp;
• Mulch. This will help retain moisture. Foliage, needles, sawdust or bark are ideal for mulching. The thickness of the mulch layer should be at least 4-5 cm.

The most common mistakes

In an effort to provide their beauty with moisture, gardeners show remarkable efforts. Waterlogging leads to sad consequences. Too damp soil can destroy a healthy shrub in just a couple of days.

Another mistake is planting the plant in an open area with an abundance of sunlight. Drying out for this berry is no better than excessive waterlogging. Blueberries should be planted in the shade. If for some reason this cannot be done, be prepared for the fact that in the summer you will have to spray the bush with water 3-4 times a day, otherwise it will dry out.

How to properly trim

Pruning should be started at 3-4 years of age. A variety of bony growths can appear on blueberry bushes, which should be cut off. It is also worth freeing the berry from weak, unhealthy branches. Ideally, a blueberry bush should have 7-9 strong and healthy branches. In order for young and strong shoots to grow on the branches, old branches must be cut to 20 cm (after 4 years).

Multiple lateral shoots with buds should be completely removed. They produce small late-ripening berries. Bushes over 15 years old are subject to full stem pruning up to 20 cm from the ground. This clipping allows the plant to get, in the literal sense of the word, a second life. Correct and timely pruning will have the best effect on the fruiting of blueberries.

Old branches must be cut to a height of 20 cm

Some gardeners use the blueberry bush not only as a plant that produces tasty and healthy berries, but also as a decorative decoration for their site. They give the bushes any of the most bizarre shapes, adjusting them to the style of their garden.

Blueberry propagation

Breeding methods for blueberry bush:

• dividing the bush;
• seeds.

Seed propagation

Take a handful of ripe berries and mash them in your hands. Add plenty of water to the mixture. Stir. After stirring, berry residues and seeds will float to the surface, which turned out to be empty. Drain them with water and add clean again. Do this until the water becomes transparent. Remove the seeds remaining at the bottom of the bowl. Dry lightly and plant in pots or containers filled with peat.

Blueberry seeds

The first shoots should hatch in about a couple of weeks. It is better for seedlings to winter in a bright room with a temperature of 5-10 degrees. As soon as spring comes, the seedlings should be dived. Such bushes are planted only the next year.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Dig up the mother blueberry bush and divide it into equal parts. This should be done in the fall. It is important that approximately 5 healthy buds remain on each bush. Such "babies" are planted in the same way as two- and three-year-old plants.

Popular blueberry varieties

• Chandler is a one and a half meter bush with large berries.

Chandler variety

• Top Hut is a short plant with small but delicious berries.

Top Hut variety

• Spartan - reaches a height of 2 meters. It bears fruit with large blue berries.

Spartan variety

• Sunshine - Suitable for breeding in containers. The maximum height is 90 cm. A characteristic feature is abundant fruiting.

Sunshine variety

• Bluecrop is a bush about 1 meter high. Suitable for breeding in containers. The berries are large and sweet.

Bluecrop variety

Collect blueberries only after their color acquires a bluish-black tint. It is then that the fruits can be considered ripe.The fruiting period of blueberries is from mid-summer to autumn. By planting several different varieties, you can enjoy this berry for at least three months a year.

Video: tips for planting and caring for garden blueberries

Foreword

Why is common blueberry considered one of the best plants for planting in the country? Now we will consider the most famous and delicious varieties and hybrids of this plant and find the best option for ourselves.

Blueberry hybrids and their features

Modern breeding has gone very far and brought out hybrids that are many times superior to the taste and yield of an ordinary berry. It is also worth paying attention to its size, since 5 g is far from the limit. Here are the best blueberry hybrids and detailed descriptions of each of them.

1. Garden blueberry Top Hut represents a new stage in the "life" of this plant. This is the first blueberry-blueberry hybrid. The result is dwarf bushes that can be grown even on the balcony in a two-liter bottle. Often used for growing on verandas and for home decoration. The size of the berries is not very large, up to 4 grams, but they are distinguished by the extraordinary taste of blueberries and the smell of blueberries. Disease resistance is very high, practically not damaged by insects and pests.
2. Blingon. A hybrid of blueberries and lingonberries, which was bred in Sweden and this year has already begun to appear at some breeding enterprises in Russia. The first tests went well - bushes 80 centimeters high yielded 5 g of berries, and they grew in a temperate climatic zone. This hybrid is incredibly resistant to diseases - fungi will not take it, and insect pests will not affect it.
3. San Berry. One of the best hybrids in the United States. In Russia, it is grown only in the southern regions with high humidity. The hybrid is very whimsical to growing conditions. The soil must be acidic, mulched. In nature, it grows in coniferous forests, where precipitation reaches 1200 mm per year. The berries are large, 5 g each, grow in clusters of 6-9 pieces, bushes no more than 60 centimeters high. The plant is evergreen, leaves do not throw off for many years.

These were the best hybrids, and they have excellent palatability. Compared to old varieties, they have slightly larger berries, but their resistance to diseases and frost is much lower.

The best varieties, acclimatized in a temperate climatic zone

Good old varieties of blueberries that have been popular for many decades. They have good taste, are resistant to many diseases, and do not require special care. That is why every novice gardener prefers them.

1. Caucasian blueberries. One of the rarest plants in nature, it grows only in the Caucasus Mountains in a small strip, up to 10 kilometers wide. Berries can grow up to 4 g, and their taste has always been appreciated by summer residents. Special care is required for them: mandatory mulching of the soil, watering only with acidified water (2%), a secluded, windless place and a temperature not lower than -10 degrees (cover for the winter). The berries can be up to 14 mm in diameter and have a bluish color. The only variety that can grow up to 2 meters in height.
2. Garden blueberry. One of the most famous varieties that will provide you with a good berry harvest even in the "poorest" year. On the brush, 5-6 large berries weighing up to 4 grams are formed, on average, you can collect up to 0.5 kilograms from a bush, if you take good care of it, and also follow all the rules of watering. It grows on salted soil, it is advisable to add peat. It is imperative to mulch, since the root system will not tolerate drying out.
3. Common blueberry Sharp eye. Perhaps the most famous plant that was imported to all countries of the world and had a relatively high value.You can recognize the Sharp Eye by its characteristic oval shape and a fossa in the place of a flower. Common blueberry can be very large, depending on the load on 1 bush. The palatability is simply remarkable: up to 15% sugars, 0.9 mg of ascorbic acid. Bushes grow up to 60 centimeters in height, clusters form 4-6 berries.

If you want to plant tasty and aromatic berries that can be grown in a temperate climatic zone, then the varieties described above will be the perfect option for you. They have proven themselves well over many years of cultivation, they tolerate frosts well, a prolonged lack of moisture, and sudden changes in temperature.

Some helpful tips for growing blueberries

The plant is whimsical, in order to grow it, you need to create optimal conditions. A beginner summer resident can show this process difficult at first, but if you figure it out and know a few secrets, you can easily get a good harvest of these wonderful forest berries in your country house.

1. For planting, use partial shade, since in the forest this is the second or even the first tier and many more broad-leaved plants rise above it. Sunlight will burn the leaves, especially after summer rain and the ensuing heat.
2. A lot of moisture is a must. We water exactly like mulched strawberries, that is, the ground must be constantly wet and under mulch. It is desirable that the land is not covered with sawdust, as always, but under the needles. Then the acidity will be increased - this is very good for blueberries.
3. Salted water (1-2%). It stimulates the root system of the plant in the best way and nourishes it with the necessary minerals. If you want to get dense and large berries, you need to create the right microclimate.
4. Fertilize: Use organics as you would when fertilizing remontant raspberries. Humus is great. 200 grams per 1m2, you can add a little nitrogen to stimulate the plant to gain vegetative mass after transplanting - it will develop faster, strengthen in the ground.

If you follow all the recommendations, you will have a good harvest of berries, and their taste will certainly delight you.