Blueberry. Secrets for planting and caring for a capricious beauty

Blueberries in the garden are a rather rare guest among Russians. Many people think that this culture is very whimsical to care for. In this article, we will figure out whether this is so: we will tell you how to plant blueberries in the garden, how to choose the right time and place for planting, how to care for it and what groups of varieties there are.

Blueberries in the garden: photo

Blueberries: description of the berry and features

Blueberry belongs to berry plants, to the Heather family. In shape, blueberry is a shrub plant. This culture prefers not a hot climate. The common people called the blueberry berry "heady" because they associated its use with a headache.
But they sinned in vain for blueberries, because the reason for feeling unwell was the proximity of another plant - wild rosemary. They can often be found growing side by side in swampy areas.

Blueberries have a well-developed root system. The bush can be of different shapes - upright or in the form of a cylinder. It can be different in height, but, as a rule, it reaches one meter. An adult plant has a brownish bark, new branches are usually green.
The leaves are small in size, about three centimeters long, rather dense in texture. Blueberries usually have a slightly elongated shape, can reach a length of ten to twelve millimeters. Depending on the variety and agricultural technology, the berries weigh differently, usually reaching 20 - 25 grams. Painted in a deep deep blue color, the surface is slightly covered with a whitish coating.
As for the yield of blueberries, success here greatly depends on the climatic conditions of the growth of your plant. In cool climates, you can get about ten kilograms from one bush. In the southern regions, the harvest will not exceed five to six kilograms. When choosing blueberry varieties, it is better to give preference to early and medium varieties so that the harvest has time to ripen before the onset of cold weather.

Blueberries in the garden: photo

The main groups of blueberry varieties

They began to grow blueberries back in the 18th century, and during this time, of course, many different varieties were obtained. They can be grouped into several groups:

• Low-growing varieties. These varieties are small in size, not spreading. The berries are usually medium in size.
• Tall Northern varieties. Possesses excellent resistance to low temperatures. It is late in terms of ripening.
• Tall Southern varieties. These varieties easily tolerate hot dry weather, get along well in the southern regions, where warm weather prevails. Varieties, as a rule, are not very whimsical in the care and selection of the soil.
• Semi-tall varieties. These varieties were obtained by mixing common blueberry varieties with tall ones.
• Rabbit eye. These varieties quickly adapt to soil and weather conditions, however, it is better to grow in areas with warm climates.

The most common and recommended group of varieties in our homeland is the Tall Northern varieties. They are different in terms of ripening: early ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. Often, the bushes have a spreading shape, which makes it mandatory to tie the branches.

Blueberries in the garden: growing berries

Unlike many crops, blueberries prefer planting in the spring rather than in the fall.This is due to the fact that during the summer time your seedlings have time to take root well, so you will most likely be able to enjoy the first harvest from next year.
In principle, blueberries can also be planted in the fall, before the frost sets in. But then it will be more difficult for your blueberries to root in cold winter soil.
When choosing a place for planting blueberries, give preference to well-lit areas with good protection from the winds. If the blueberry grows in the shade, then it will not be possible to get a good harvest: the berries will be small and sour.
There is one very important requirement for the composition of the soil. It must have a high pH! The level should be 3.5 - 4.5 units. To achieve these indicators, the land is usually mixed with peat and forest litter.

Unlike many crops, blueberries in the garden negatively perceive fertilized, fertile lands. It is also recommended to prepare the area for planting blueberries in a couple of years. The best options are a mixture of peat with sand, or loam with peat.
After preparing the soil, you can proceed directly to the planting itself.
First you need to dig holes for planting 60 cm wide and the same length. Do not forget that plants need a distance of at least one meter. And for spreading varieties, even more - about 120cm. Further, the surface of the pit needs to be slightly loosened and a mixture of coniferous litter, peat and sand is poured there. Do not forget that blueberries do not tolerate organic fertilizers, so it is better to add substances that will oxidize your soil (for example, colloidal sulfur).

After preparing your planting holes, you need to lower the plant, gently straighten the root system. The root collar should deepen by three centimeters. Next, you need to fill the holes with the remaining mixture and spill it thoroughly with warm water. It is better to additionally lay a layer of mulch made of straw, sawdust, peat.
If you have opted for an autumn planting of blueberries, do not forget to remove all weak and damaged branches before doing this. Only the first-order shoots should be left.

Blueberries: grooming outdoors

If you follow the tricky rules for caring for blueberries, then the first collection of berries may occur as early as the next year after planting in the ground. In general, blueberries are an unpretentious crop, but there are still some rules that are better to follow if you want a good yielding result.

• During the growing season, it is necessary to loosen the soil, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots of plants (depth no more than 8-10 cm). You may not need to remove the mulch, but make sure there are no weeds around. - You need to ensure that your blueberries are regularly watered (about twice a week, about ten liters per bush). Make sure that the soil is moist all the time, but do not overdo it, otherwise you can finish off rotting of the root system! Pay special attention to watering during the period of bud formation and ripening of berries. At this time, watering should be intensified and made more frequent. If the weather is very hot and dry, spray the bushes to avoid overheating.
• Remember that organic blueberries are strictly prohibited! Mineral fertilizers should be applied in the second year. This is usually done in the spring and fall.
• The crop is harvested, now you need to do pruning. Be sure to cut dry, broken, dead branches. If you see that the bush is too thick, carry out formative pruning. This will ensure that your plant receives the required amount of light and heat.
• In the 1st year, you need to periodically pinch blueberry shoots so that the root system and fruiting branches develop strong and strong.

About the main diseases and pests of blueberries

If insufficient attention is paid to correct agricultural practices, or unfavorable weather conditions contribute to it, then blueberries can be attacked by pests or pathogens.
But besides this, if there are other creatures that can damage your harvest. Oddly enough, but birds can become a frequent guest on your site. They, like you, are very fond of the sweet juicy blueberries. And if you are not ready to share the harvest with someone else, then we recommend that you cover the bushes with a mesh with a fine mesh, or use a scarecrow in the old fashioned way.

To scare off May beetles and beetles, which cause considerable harm to the branches of the plant, you can use insecticidal substances in a couple of stages, with an interval of ten to twelve days.
If there is too much rainfall or hot weather, then there is a risk of various diseases in your blueberries.
Diseases provoked by various fungi are well treated with drugs that contain copper. If your plant "caught" a disease of viral origin, then there is practically no chance of salvation. In this case, the best option is to get rid of the bushes that have been affected. Better to burn them away from your plantings.

Blueberries in the garden: photo

Outcomes

• Blueberries grow not only in the wild in swamps, but they can be successfully cultivated in their summer cottages. Blueberries come in a wide variety of varieties. They are distinguished by the timing of fruiting, by the climatic conditions of growth, the amount of harvest.
• Planting blueberries in the garden should be in a well-lit place, protected from the wind. Blueberries are demanding on the soil. It should be with a high acidity level.
• Blueberries can be planted both in autumn and spring. Preferred planting in the spring.
• The blueberry planting hole in the garden is usually 60 by 60 centimeters. The distance between the bushes depends on the selected variety (100 - 120cm).
• It is not so difficult to care for blueberries in the garden. Requires regular watering, loosening the soil and feeding. Does not tolerate organic fertilizers!
• Keep a close eye on the health of blueberries in your garden. They can be affected by diseases and pests. Take action in time. Cover your bushes from birds.