How to save blueberries for the winter

How to acidify the soil under blueberries: the best acidifiers

Thus, if you want blueberries to bear fruit abundantly and not suffer from chlorosis, then the soil under it should always be acidic (3.5-5 pH), which means that you need to acidify it periodically.

The simplest and cheapest way to acidify the soil, most gardeners call the use of sulfur (you can buy the usual ground, granulated in garden stores or feed in veterinary pharmacies).

It is enough to add 50-100 grams of sulfur once every 1-2 years per 1 bush (the more accurate dosage depends on the initial acidity and type of soil).

Video: how to acidify blueberries with sulfur correctly - the best way

You can also acidify the soil under blueberries with the following compositions and solutions:

• apple cider vinegar (100 ml of 9% vinegar per 10 liters of water);
• citric acid (20-40 g per 10 l of water).

As for the frequency of introducing such fast acidifiers, as a rule, they are applied every 2-4 weeks, at least 2-4 times per season (Important! This does not apply to sulfur, it is applied 1-2 times every 2 years). Video: how to acidify blueberries - watering with electrolyte

Video: how to acidify blueberries - watering with electrolyte

Folk remedies and sour organic food

If you do not have the opportunity to purchase special acidic fertilizers or you are a supporter of organic matter, then you can acidify blueberries with the following fertilizers:

• Infusion of sour herbs. Cut the leaves and stems of the next sour crops as finely as possible (rhubarb, sorrel, oxalis or hare cabbage are suitable), fill with water and let it brew for 2-4 days, water at the root.
• A solution of lemon juice (2-3 lemons per 10 liters of water).

Also, as a very light acidic dressing, you can mulch blueberries with sour red or high peat, coniferous (spruce, pine) litter, rotted pine needles, bark.

Video: how to feed blueberries

Thus, now you know how to properly feed and acidify blueberries. Yes, this is not so simple, but the result is worth it.

Video: secrets of fertilizing and feeding blueberries

Cuttings

It is easier to propagate blueberries by cuttings than by layering. Cuttings are carried out using green and lignified shoots. Let's consider each method in more detail.

Green

The optimal period for the procedure is late June - early July. Suitable shoots should be green and have springy stems. For cutting cuttings, you must choose the most powerful shoots (6–12 cm). You can break them off manually.

Did you know? Blueberries are able to regulate blood sugar after being consumed. That is why doctors recommend it to diabetics.

Preparing the cutting involves the following steps:

• on the lower part of the cutting it is necessary to remove the exfoliated bark;
• leaves are also removed from the bottom;
• the stalk should be treated with any growth stimulant.

Lignified

It is easier to propagate blueberries with lignified shoots. The period of propagation by cuttings is early spring. It is necessary to choose last year's shoots with a diameter of 0.5-1.2 cm. If you choose thicker shoots, such cuttings may take root poorly. Shoots with a lot of buds are not suitable. When grafting, part of the buds will need to be removed, and this can negatively affect the result of reproduction.

The branches must be cut in winter. Further, they are kept until spring in a cool room in a container with sawdust and peat.

Important! One cutting should have at least 3 vegetative buds. Features of cutting lignified cuttings:

Features of cutting lignified cuttings:

• cut into a length of 10–12 cm;
• the lower cut must be made with a small slope under the kidney;
• the cut in the upper part is carried out above the kidney (1 cm higher);
• cuttings must be treated with a growth stimulant.

Rooting cuttings

Rooting of cuttings takes place in greenhouse conditions. They can be placed in beds or special containers with a height of at least 15 cm. It is better to root the cuttings in a substrate of peat and river sand. A couple of days before planting, the substrate must be sieved and watered. Blueberries need drainage, so be sure to do it in a planting spot.

It will be useful for you to read how many years after planting and how often blueberries bear fruit.

After planting the cuttings in the room, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° С

It is important that the substrate does not dry out, but it is also impossible to fill it with water. After a month, you will see that the root system begins to form in the cuttings.

3 months after planting, the greenhouse can be disassembled, the plant is left in the open air. Before winter, the soil is mulched with fallen leaves, sawdust and peat. In the spring, you can transplant to a permanent place.

Place the cuttings in the planting place so that 2 buds remain on the surface

Blueberries are also bred using berry seed. But this method is time consuming and requires a lot of time and effort. It is rarely used.

Ways to preserve strawberries for the winter

There are many ways to store blueberries. Among them, the following methods are distinguished:

• freezing;
• urinating in plain water;
• sugaring;
• making jam, preserves, marshmallows;
• drying in the oven.

Each of the techniques is discussed in detail below.

Freezing

The easiest way to preserve blueberries for a long time is by placing them in the freezer. Put the fruits in a polyethylene bag. First, wash the berries, dry them in a natural way

In order for blueberries to retain all the beneficial properties and not turn into gruel, it is important to place them in the freezer only completely dry. Do not wash it with tap water, it is better to use a deep container

This will help prevent damage to the thin skin.

Water soaking

An unusual method of storing blueberries is to soak them in water. Due to this technique, the berry remains fresh and healthy for about a year. It is necessary to prepare for soaking, because if the rules are violated, the fruits will deteriorate.

1. Pour the peeled and washed berries into glass jars.
2. Pour boiled water to the top, it should be cold.
3. Boil the soaked berries over low heat for about 10 minutes, if we are talking about 0.5 liter jars. Boil liter containers for 20 minutes.
4. Close cans tightly or roll up.
5. Place upside down so that the lids are free from germs.

Store soaked blueberries in a cool, dry place. A cellar or the upper compartments of the refrigerator compartment will do.

Candying

To cook blueberries in your own juice, you only need fruits and the same amount of sugar. Rinse them in water, wait until the liquid drains. After, cover with granulated sugar so that it completely covers the forest berry, leave for 1 day in a cool room. This method of saving blueberries allows you to preserve a maximum of vitamins than with heat treatment. For a day, the berries will start juice, soaked in sugar. You can add less of it if you want to feast on not sugary blueberries. The next day, pour the fruits into jars, close the lids.

In the form of jam

Blueberries are widely harvested for the winter in the form of jam. It is impossible to preserve all vitamins with this method, but it will be possible to enjoy a delicious dessert.

The principle of making homemade jam:

• sort out the berries, rinse, put on the bottom of the pan with 250 milliliters of water;
• put to boil, gradually add 850 grams of sugar to make a thick syrup;
• boil the mixture for 20 minutes;
• after, pour the jam over the jars, roll up and put upside down.

When the prepared mixture has cooled to room temperature, place the jars in the cellar or refrigerator.This is a classic blueberry jam recipe, but there are many more ways to make a delicious treat. Below is a recipe for a jam that takes 5 minutes to cook.

You will need the following products:

• 180 grams of bee nectar;
• 2 tablespoons of rum.

Rinse the berries, put the dry fruits to boil. While stirring constantly, add honey and a bag of gelatin. Cook until boiling, about 5 minutes from the appearance of bubbles over low heat. At the last moment, add rum, turn off the heat. A mixture with a gelling component should not be boiled a priori for a long time, since pectin then loses the properties of a thickener. It is possible not to add gelatin, but then the jam will not be thick.

Method 2.

The five-minute jam is cooked in a different way:

• in equal proportions, take berries, sprinkle with sugar and leave for a day;
• during this period, the crystals will dissolve, a sweetish syrup will appear.

Boil the mixture for 5 minutes. Due to its thick consistency, the jam can be used not only as an appetizer for tea, but also as a filling for baking.

Then the berry will have time to cook in 5 minutes, without significant loss of vitamins. Fill the prepared cans with the ready-made mixture, roll up with tin lids.

By drying

Blueberries can be prepared for the winter by drying. They use a special dryer for this, but a simple oven is also suitable.

1. Put the berries on a baking sheet in a thin layer, place in the oven.
2. Turn it on at a temperature of 40-50 degrees, leave the door ajar.
3. Constantly check the condition of the fruit, stir if necessary.
4. Dry for 1.5-2 hours, then another 1 hour at 60 degrees.

Store dried blueberries in an airtight container by placing them in a cellar or refrigerator. Can be eaten after 1 month.

Features of the berry

This healthy berry has an amazing taste and pleasant aroma. It helps to saturate the body with important vitamins and minerals. Blueberries are often used in medical practice. It is recommended to use it for pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. The fruit helps to maintain the health of the genitourinary organs and improve visual function.

This is a real elixir of youth, since the composition contains many antioxidants and other elements that contribute to the recovery of the body. The product is used after operations. It helps to increase blood clotting. In addition, blueberries help to reduce fever and help to cope with viral infections.

The maximum amount of useful elements is contained in fresh fruits. To extend the shelf life of berries, they should provide optimal conditions. It is permissible to keep them in the refrigerator. To increase shelf life, fruits can be frozen, ground with sugar, dried, or used to make jam.

Blueberry care

Watering

When growing blueberries, the main care is to control soil moisture as this plant requires a lot of moisture.

It is very important not to allow the soil to dry out. Until the blueberry seedling takes root, the ground must be constantly moist and daily watering must be maintained for several weeks.

Further, if the weather is dry, blueberries need to be watered twice a week and it is better to do this in the morning and evening. And in hot weather, it is also advisable to spray the bushes with cold water. In July-August, when the bushes bear fruit and lay flower buds for the future harvest, abundant watering is very necessary for blueberries. When caring for blueberries, one must take into account that although it is a very moisture-loving plant, excess moisture is also prohibited for it. Therefore, stagnant water should be avoided.

Loosening and mulching of the soil

Loosening of the soil is no less important in caring for blueberries, but it should not be forgotten that the root system lies at a depth of 20-40 cm, therefore, we should loosen the trunks to a depth of no more than 8-10 cm.
When growing blueberries during the growing season, it is advisable to mulch the trunk circles 2-3 times with a mixture of sawdust and rotted manure.

Make-up

Recharge in the care of blueberries plays a rather significant role. To improve growth and increase yield, it is good to fertilize blueberries with mineral fertilizers, while organic fertilizers are simply contraindicated for them. It is recommended to fertilize blueberries twice in the spring:

• The first time they feed blueberries when the buds swell;
• and the second time after 6-7 weeks.

Feeding blueberries should be started from the second year of cultivation:

• 1 tablespoon of complete mineral fertilizer is added to a two-year-old bush;
• for a three-year-old blueberry bush you need - 2 tablespoons;
• for a 4-year-old - 4 tablespoons;
• for a 5-year-old - 8 tablespoons;
• for 6 years and more - 16 tablespoons.

By the appearance of blueberries, it is very easy to determine what mineral elements it lacks at the moment. So, for example, if you are missing:

• phosphorus - the leaves are closely pressed against the stem and acquire a purple hue;
• potassium - the tips of the leaves die off, spots appear, the tops of young shoots turn black and die off;
• nitrogen - the growth of shoots slows down, old leaves become yellowish-green, and if the nitrogen deficiency is significant, then the whole bush looks yellowish-green, then a reddish tint appears on the leaves and the yield decreases, the berries become smaller;
• magnesium - the leaves have red edges, but at the same time, the green color remains near the midrib;
• calcium - the leaves are deformed, and their edges turn yellow;
• sulfur - the leaves acquire a yellowish-white color, and sometimes completely turn white.
• bora - the apical leaves acquire a blue color, yellowing appears between the veins of old leaves, the growth of shoots stops, and then they die off;
• gland - yellowing appears between the veins on young apical leaves, a network of green veins is formed against the background of the yellow color of the entire leaf;

Knowing these signs, you can most likely determine what elements the plant lacks and add them in a timely manner. Therefore, when growing blueberries, do not forget to additionally feed it with appropriate mineral fertilizers.

Pruning

Caring for blueberry bushes also involves pruning and rejuvenation. When growing blueberries, pruning at a young age is not recommended. It is possible only in early spring (before the buds swell) from non-fertile branches to cut out diseased parts, broken, creeping along the ground, weak and frozen branches.

But by the age of 10-12 the bush begins to shrink the berries and reduce the yield. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out anti-aging pruning of blueberries, which can be done in two ways:

1. We remove all old branches at once in one year. The disadvantage of this method is that there will be a significant yield loss within 2-3 years.
2. In the first year of pruning, we remove only part of the old branches, and leave the rest for fruiting. And then next year, when the young shoots grow, we remove the old ones.

Frozen blueberries: how to keep berries in the freezer

Blueberries are best consumed fresh, but since this berry does not tolerate long storage, you have to think about how to save it for the winter. Blueberries are used to make jam, make pasta and make homemade wine. But these preservation methods are not able to preserve most of the vitamins. Only freezing can cope with this task.

What kind of blueberry berry?

Blueberry is a shrub 30 to 50 centimeters tall. Some varieties can grow up to 1 meter in height.

The fruits of this plant are rather large, juicy, dark blue with a bluish bloom. The berries are large, up to 1.3 centimeters in diameter.

Blueberries are very healthy. It is indicated for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system and the digestive tract.The constant consumption of these fruits helps to relieve tension in the eye muscles and restore vision.

Watch the video from the channel "Chan Kazan" - Very useful berry Blueberry

The difference between blueberries and blueberries

Comparing these two berries, it will not be difficult to find differences between them. So:

• on a blueberry bush, the stem is woody almost to the very top;
• blueberry bush has light-colored stems;
• the receptacle for blueberries is even, and for blueberries, the line is not even, broken.
• the taste of blueberries is brighter, more pronounced;
• the juice secreted by blueberries is light, while blueberries are dark purple with a red tint.
• blueberry juice is very difficult to wash off, and blueberries do not stain your hands;
• the flesh of blueberries is pink-red, while that of blueberries has a greenish tint.

Preliminary preparation

Collect blueberries in dry, sunny weather. Since the berry is very vulnerable, the collection must be carried out carefully so as not to deform the fruit.

If you bought blueberries from a market or store, then rinse them with water before freezing. It is best to do this in a large container, rather than expose the berry to the pressure of tap water.

Dried blueberries on waffle or paper towels. The key to high-quality freezing is an absolutely dry product.

Whole berries

Berries are laid out in containers or trays in a layer of no more than 2 centimeters. In this form, the blueberries are sent to the freezer. It is advisable to set the "Super frost" mode on the freezer a couple of hours before. After 4 - 6 hours, the blueberries can be taken out and poured into a common bag or container. Freezing in this way allows you to freeze the berries in bulk.

Blueberries with sugar

Berries are laid out in containers and sprinkled with sugar one by one. The amount of sugar is taken according to your own taste, but experienced chefs advise using 3-4 tablespoons per pound of blueberries.

Blueberry puree for the winter

Pureed blueberries are a great way to freeze them. If you like to feel the structure of the berries in the dish, then you can grind the blueberries with an ordinary wooden crush. If you want to see a more homogeneous mass, then a blender can come to the rescue. It is recommended to add sugar to such a preparation. The amount depends on your taste, but you shouldn't add too much sand. For 1 kilogram, 200 - 250 grams will be enough.

Tanya Nikonova in her video will tell you how to make natural juice from blueberries or blueberries in a blender

Shelf life of blueberries in the freezer

Blueberries tolerate freezing very well, so the berries do not lose their taste and useful properties throughout the whole year in the freezer.

The optimum storage temperature for blueberries is -16… -18 ° C and below.

In order not to confuse blueberries with blueberries or, for example, with grated black currants, the workpiece must be marked. On the tag, you can indicate the type of berries, the method of freezing and the date of insertion into the chamber.

Features of storage of some species

How to protect the dessert from spoilage in winter, to protect it from negative influences? A moment that excites every hostess.

Cherry with seeds

The shelf life of the jam depends on an important factor - the place. Correct location of the finished product - refrigerator with a temperature of + 10 ° С

To increase the shelf life of cherry pitted jam, you need:

1. Open the jars of last year's dessert.
2. Pour the syrup into a separate container.
3. Remove seeds from berries.
4. Combine the fruits and liquid, bring to a boil over low heat, boil for a few minutes.

A low temperature will not do good for the berry dessert, and it can also damage the jar. Cellar conditions are suitable only if the temperature is kept at +10 ° C.

Apricot

Proper storage of apricot jam implies the following conditions. The most preferred location is a basement, cellar or refrigerator. If there are no suitable options, then you can make a fruit dessert by mixing berries and sugar in equal proportions.In this case, you need to put a little juice and zest of one lemon.

From pine cones

Healing pine cones dessert should be stored only in the correct container - glass jars, sterilized and completely dry. The best place is the refrigerator. You can use a dark and cold room without direct sunlight. The acceptable temperature for cone jam is 0-20 degrees and humidity up to 70%.

Black currant

Currant delicacy for 1-2 years can be stored at a temperature of + 6-12 degrees. Under room conditions, the shelf life is 1-3 years. The pantry will allow you to store the jam at a temperature not higher than +20 degrees. Storage of the product in a cellar is not recommended.

With gelatin

The addition of gelatin for accelerated hardening allows the jam to perfectly keep its shape and jelly-like consistency, even at room temperature. Therefore, there is no need to refrigerate. A cool place is suitable for storing berry delicacies - a cellar or basement.

Jars with a sweet mass prepared in this way will not explode.

Blueberries: growing and care

Blueberries are a very healthy berry. It contains a lot of potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron and phosphorus. It is rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, K and PP. When growing blueberries, grooming is especially important when the bushes are young, and weeds and drought are its worst enemies. We have described how to care for blueberries and some of the subtleties of growing in this article.

Fresh blueberries are tasty and healthy, contain vitamins and minerals. 100 grams of berries contain 0.81 g of potassium, 0.14 g of vitamin C, 0.01 g of iron. Blueberries are used medicinally. Blueberries have a healing effect on the kidneys, stimulate cardiac activity, improve vision, increase the secretion of gastric juice, are useful in diabetes and in dietary nutrition. The berries are suitable for freezing and, with this method of conservation, retain their dietary and medicinal properties. Jam, jelly, jams, juices are also made from them.

The blueberry bush looks quite decorative throughout the season - in spring (mid-May) during flowering, in summer during fruiting, and especially in autumn, when the foliage turns red. Therefore, you can plant blueberries as an ornamental plant and harvest delicious berries at the same time. Blueberries are quite long-term; in good conditions they bear fruit for up to 30 years.

How to store blueberries for the winter at home and store fresh blueberries

Fruits and berries

Blueberries are a summer berry that is a valuable source of vitamin C and contains virtually no carbohydrates. Harvesting is carried out at the end of summer, during the period of full ripeness of the fruit. Once harvested, fresh berries can be kept healthy for the winter in a variety of ways. In this article, we will tell you how to store blueberries and where it is best to do it.

• At room temperature, the berries will lie for a maximum of 3-4 days.
• You can keep blueberries in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
• Frozen berries can be stored for up to 12 months.

How to store fresh blueberries at home

When the berries are harvested, it is important to keep them fresh for as long as possible before processing. To do this, you should remember several important rules:

• blueberries are harvested only in dry weather;
• crumpled fruits are sorted before storage and processed immediately.

For storage, the harvested berries should be placed in a dark, dry, cool place. This can be a cellar, basement, storage room, bathroom with ventilation. The room temperature should not be higher than 10-15 ° С. In baskets, it can stand up to 2 days.

If you need to extend the shelf life, you can pour the berries onto a plastic bag in one layer and leave in this form indoors for 3-4 days. Be sure to go over it from time to time.

It is categorically impossible to wash the berries after harvesting until the time of harvesting. They have a white coating on them that keeps them fresh and whole.

How to store blueberries in the refrigerator

The most convenient and easiest way to store blueberries at home is to use a refrigerator. Most modern models have the ability to set the optimum temperature of 5 ° C in the refrigerator.

Sort the berries and gently pour into a plastic bowl. Remove leaves and insects, twigs, etc.

Place them on the middle shelf against the wall to keep them fresh for up to 7 days.

Crumpled fruits should be processed immediately, below we will give several ways on how to do this.

Storing blueberries at home can be organized in the following ways:

• freezing;
• drying;
• canning.

How to freeze blueberries

Blueberries perfectly tolerate freezing, they remain intact and retain all vitamins. In winter, it makes great compotes, yoghurts and smoothies.

Before freezing, the berries are thoroughly washed, then dried.

It is important that they are completely dry so that they do not stick together when frozen.

If the freezer has a special shelf for freezing berries, pour the blueberries on it in one layer. Set the temperature to -21 ° C and below and leave for 3-4 hours. Then carefully sort the portions into bags and store in the freezer.

You can also send sugar-grated blueberries to the freezer. The cooking process is very simple:

• wash and lightly dry the berries;
• add sugar (150-200 grams per 1 kilogram of blueberries);
• beat with a blender;
• packaged in disposable trays of such a volume that its contents can be used at a time;
• send to the freezer for 6-9 months.

The time that blueberries can be stored frozen is 12 months.

How to dry blueberries at home

For drying, you can use the following methods:

• on air;
• in the oven;
• in the dryer for fruits and vegetables.

The first method is the longest and requires very hot and dry weather, as well as the presence of a room where it is very hot, dry and dark. Ideal - an attic in a private house. To do this, dry berries are poured onto a baking sheet covered with baking paper in one layer. Then, constantly stirring, bring to an elastic state. This will take 3-4 days.

Dry properly in the oven like this:

• washed berries are poured onto a baking sheet on parchment in one layer;
• set the temperature to 50 ° C;
• dried with the door slightly closed for 4-5 hours, until the berries become wrinkled and elastic.

The best way to prepare dried blueberries for the winter is to use a special household drying. The berries are poured onto the net and, following the instructions, are dried.

Other ways to save blueberries for the winter

There are other cooking methods, how best to preserve tasty and healthy blueberries for the winter:

• cook jam;
• cook compote;
• make confiture.

Sterilized workpieces under iron lids can be stored at a temperature of 15-20 ° C for 6-9 months.

Useful properties of blueberries

Blueberries are extremely healthy berries. Blueberry increases concentration, has anti-inflammatory, anti-sclerotic, antipyretic, capillary-strengthening effect.

Recent studies have shown that blueberry leaves and berries can lower blood sugar levels. Mashed berries and blueberry juice are useful for enterocolitis, cystitis, gastritis with low acidity.

A decoction of the leaves is used as a mild laxative. It is also beneficial for diabetes, anemia, and heart disease. Sour blueberry drink is useful for colds, fever, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. Blueberry juice in the amount of 0.5 liters daily prevents age-related weakening of memory.

American (Canadian, tall) blueberries are generally highly frost-resistant. But low temperatures can be very harmful to young seedlings and some sensitive varieties. How are blueberries prepared for winter?

Caring for blueberries in the fall means getting them ready for winter.There are several ways to save it, they can be combined or applied separately. Learn how to cover blueberries for the winter and which varieties require frost protection.

We'll take a different path

And here again in front of me is a beautiful box from "Leroy Merlin" with garden blueberries, however, for some reason the variety is not indicated. Closed root system, plastic pot, weak but green shoots with leaves. And outside the window - the end of February. Winter! The peasants are resting! So, try number three!

Cold and darkness did not work twice, so it was decided to change tactics. I really don't know how to properly store the seedlings until it gets warmer. So many tips, all different.

I will share my plans, strategy and tactics. If any of you, dear like-minded people, based on your experience, understands what I am doing wrong again, stop me! Aim on the right path, while the bush turns green.