How long does it take blueberry bushes to produce fruit

Growing blueberries in the home garden

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Growing blueberries in the home garden

Quick facts about growing blueberries

Blueberries need full sun.
Blueberries require acidic soil.
Plant two or more varieties for successful pollination.
Plants won't have much fruit the first 2 to 3 years.
Harvest is bigger after 5 years.
Blueberry plants grow slowly and reach full size in 8 to 10 years.
Each winter, prune out old, weak and dead wood.

Many blueberry varieties grown in the Upper Midwest were bred for this climate by the University of Minnesota, making them right at home in the Minnesota home garden.

Blueberry leaves turn stunning shades of crimson and orange in autumn.

Blueberry plants grow slowly, and they may not seem to get much bigger from year to year. It takes a blueberry bush about 10 years to reach mature size, but this also means they will live a long, long time.

It will be 2 or 3 years before you start getting large harvests, but it is definitely worth the wait. The bushes are very attractive and will be a beautiful addition to your yard while you wait for fruit.

Care through the seasons

March—Prune bushes before new growth begins, after coldest weather has passed.
April, May—Plant new blueberry bushes.
May, June—Apply mulch for growing season.
July—Harvest.
July through September—Apply soil amendments.
September, October—Apply mulch for winter protection and enjoy fall color.
November, December—Put fencing around plants to keep out rabbits.

Preparing to plant

Blueberry plants require acidic soil (pH 4.0 to 5.0) that is well-drained, loose and high in organic matter. Most garden soils in Minnesota have higher pH and must be amended.

If pH is too high:

Growth of the plant is slowed.
Leaves discolor.
Plants may die.

Selecting plants

Blueberry plants are widely available at local and online nurseries. Be certain the plants you buy are winter hardy to your USDA zone (zone 3 or 4 in Minnesota).

If buying plants locally, find potted plants that are at least two or three years old.

Blueberry varieties for Minnesota

Variety	Plant size (h x w)	Hardiness (zone 4 to 3)	Avg yield (lbs/bush)	Description
Bluecrop	5 x 5 ft	Good to fair	3 to 12	Large, mild-sweet berries. Ripen mid-season
Chippewa (1996)	4.5 x 5 ft	Excellent to good	3 to 8 lbs	Medium-large, sky-blue berries. Firm texture, sweet flavor. Ripen mid-season.
Northblue (1983)	3 x 4 ft	Excellent to good	3 to 9 lbs	Large, dark blue, firm berries. Ripen mid-season.
Northcountry (1986)	2.5 x 4 ft	Very good to fair	3 to 5 lbs	Small-medium, sky-blue berries. Sweet, mild flavor. Ripen early.
Northland	4 x 4 ft	Excellent to good	3 to 12 lbs	Medium, mild flavored berries. Ripen mid-season.
Northsky (1983)	2 x 3 ft	Good to fair	1 to 5 lbs	Medium, sky-blue berries. Sweet and mild. Ripen mid-season.
Patriot	4.5 x 4 ft	Good to fair	3 to 12 lbs	Very large, tart berries. Ripen early.
Pink Popcorn™ (2014)	4 x 4 ft	Very good to good	3 to 5 lbs	Medium, cream to pink berries. Ripen early to mid-season. Self-pollinating.
Polaris (1996)	4 x 4 ft	Very good to good	3 to 8 lbs	Medium, firm, crisp berries. Intense flavor. Ripen early.
St. Cloud (1990)	5 x 4 ft	Very good to good	2 to 7 lbs	Medium, dark blue, firm berries. Sweet flavor, crisp texture. Ripen early.
Superior (2009)	5 x 4 ft	Very good to good	3 to 8 lbs	Medium, sweet-tart berries. Ripen late.

Print expanded content.

Planting

Blueberries grow best in full sun. Plants will tolerate partial shade, but too much shade causes plants to produce fewer blossoms and less fruit.

Managing pests and diseases

Insects and wildlife cause minimal damage to blueberries. Because of the acidic soil requirements of blueberries, you are much more likely to have nutritional issues than pest issues. This highlights how important correct diagnosis is in addressing issues.

Find help identifying common pest problems:

Use the online diagnostic tools What insect is this? and What's wrong with my plant?
Send a sample to the UMN Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.
Visit Ask a Master Gardener to share pictures and get advice.

How to keep your blueberry bushes healthy and productive

Emily S. Tepe, horticultural science researcher; Emily E. Hoover, Extension horticulturist; James Luby, professor of horticultural science; Annie Klodd and Marissa Schuh, Extension educators

Reviewed in 2020

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How Long Does it Take Blueberry Plants to Produce? | Home Guides

By Athena Hessong Updated November 28, 2018

Blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) will not produce as soon as you put them into the ground. There is a waiting period of years before the plant reaches maturity to produce a viable crop. The number of months you need to wait during the year for an established bush to produce berries will depend on the type of bush you have planted. Climate also plays a role in the amount of time it takes for these plants to produce berries. Blueberry bushes grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8.

Time to Maturity

A blueberry bush is at least two or three years old before it is mature and established enough to bear fruit. During the first one or two growing seasons, you should pull off any flowers that appear on the bush to encourage your blueberry plant to concentrate its growth on its foliage and root system.

Months to Fruiting

After your blueberry bush has become established, the time of year it bears fruit will depend on the type planted. Most early season varieties will be ready to pick in June, but you will have to wait until the July for mid-season or August for late-season berries. Your location makes a difference as to when your blueberries are ready for harvest. For instance, early season varieties should be ready for harvest in Sonoma County starting in May. Mid-season and late season blueberries will ripen during the summer months, usually with late-season harvests coming in July.

Chill Hours

The type of winter you had prior to the growing season will determine if your bushes produce fruit, as blueberries require a specific number of chill hours, which are temperatures above freezing but below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. These chill hours depend on whether you are growing Northern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) or Southern highbush, which include a number of hybrids. Northern highbush blueberries need more than 600 chill hours each year, but Southern highbush blueberries need only between 150 and 525 chill hours. If your blueberry bush does not experience enough chill hours, it will not produce blooms that can be pollinated.

Pollination

Highbush blueberry varieties do not require a second plant for pollination because they are self-fruitful, but if you want a large crop of blueberries, you should plant a second variety. You can plant an early season variety and a late season variety to cross-pollinate each other and produce two harvests for your blueberry bushes. The first crop will be from the early season bush and the second will come from the late-season bush. You could try 'Early Blue' or 'Duke' for early season varieties, and plant 'Late Blue' or 'Elliot' for late-season varieties as cross-pollinators.

References

University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension – Sacramento County: Growing Blueberries in the Sacramento Region
University of California Cooperative Extension Sonoma County: Growing Blueberries on the North Coast
University of Illinois Extension: Blueberries
Grow Organic.com Chill Hours: What Are They? How Do I Count Them? And Why Do My Fruit Trees Care?
Urban Harvest: Blueberries
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Blueberries in Your Garden

When do blueberries bear fruit after planting?

Garden blueberries - planting rules, cultivation and care, photos, reviews

Gardening centers offer summer residents a wide range of berry crops, including various varieties of blueberries. But not everyone knows how to grow it in a garden plot, so plants often die without having time to produce a crop. This crop is not that difficult to grow. If the soil is properly prepared, planting and caring for garden blueberries is possible in most regions of Russia and neighboring countries. nine0006

Singing seedlings
Requirements for the landing site
Preparation for landing
Planting process
When to plant (spring, autumn)
Growing and care
Watering
Autumn care
Winter care
Blueberry propagation
Diseases and pests
Reviews

Planting seedlings

Growing blueberries starts with the right choice and preparation of the site. This is of paramount importance not only for obtaining a crop, but also for the survival of the plant, especially in regions where the soil is neutral or alkaline.

Requirements for planting site

Garden blueberries need acidic soil for planting, they grow well on transitional or upland sphagnum peatlands, sandy loam enriched with rotted leaf litter. The pH level of the soil should be in the range of 3.5-4.5. nine0006

The best place for growing blueberries in a dacha is a place where garden or horticultural crops have not grown before, or where the soil has been fallow for at least 5 years. Otherwise, you will have to place the bushes in wide planting pits with a complete replacement of the substrate.

You can not plant a plant in lowlands, places where there is constant water. Blueberry is a marsh berry, but in nature it grows on bumps and hills that are not flooded even in spring or during heavy rains.

The soil must be:

loose,
permeable to water and air,
well-drained,
rich in organic matter.

The last requirement includes:

sour peat,
leaf rot,
plant residues, preferably coniferous trees,
but not animal products, bird waste or ordinary compost.

The bed should be sunny, blueberries will not bear fruit in the shade, although they will grow. The plant needs protection from the north wind. nine0006

Preparing for planting

After choosing a place, deep plowing (digging) of the soil is done, the roots of weeds are selected. Then the layout is carried out, since it is very important to plant blueberry seedlings correctly to obtain a full-fledged harvest:

Rows are arranged from north to south, providing maximum lighting.
Depending on the variety, 1.5-3 meters are left between the rows. Bushes should stand freely, not interfere with neighbors, tillage or care. nine0011
Holes are dug for low-growing plants at a distance of 60 cm, medium- and tall garden blueberry varieties are located 0.8-1.2 meters apart.

Planting hole dimensions:

diameter - 60-100 cm,

depth - 40-60 cm.

Blueberries can only be planted in high beds in soils that are stuck. Or first carry out measures to divert water. nine0006

If the soil is neutral, alkaline or heavy clay, the substrate will have to be completely changed. As a filler, you can use pure acid (red) peat or plant blueberries in a soil mixture of the following components:

any peat;
pine litter;
rotted leaves;
sulfur 40-60 g (for each plant).

Planting process

Pits are prepared at least 2-3 weeks before planting blueberries - the soil must have time to subside. The day before, they are poured with water so that the soil is saturated with moisture. nine0006

Important! 2-3-year-old container seedlings take root better. It is not recommended to buy blueberries with open roots - the mycorrhiza on them probably died, and the plant may not survive.

Important! For blueberries, fertilizers are not applied to the pit or during irrigation after planting.

When to plant (spring, autumn)

Container plants are placed on the site at any time except during the hot summer months. Landing is carried out, focusing on the climate. nine0006

Table. Terms of transplanting blueberries to another place depending on the region.

Regions	Translation periods
Southern	in the fall (heat may occur quickly, the plant will get sick or perish for a long time)
	Mredar	, submeconom autumn
Northern regions	In the spring, so that after transplanting the plant, before the onset of frost, not only rooting occurs, but also young twigs that appear later than the due date have time to get stronger

Cultivation and care

Blueberry care is not too complicated, but all the rules must be followed strictly. For regions where the soil does not meet the requirements of the plant, it is recommended to pay special attention to soil acidification.

Watering

The root circle should be constantly moist, but without stagnant water. In summer, garden blueberries are watered at least 2 times a week, spending 10 liters per adult bush.

In cool or rainy weather stop irrigation. nine0006

When the weather is hot and dry, watering alone is not enough. To cool the crown, the plant is poured from a watering can with a spray or a hose, at the peak of high temperatures - 2 times a day.

The irrigation regime should be especially carefully monitored in July-August, when the crop ripens on the bush and flower buds are laid at the same time. With a lack of moisture, the crop of the current and next year will suffer.

Soil acidification

This is an important element of care even on acidic soils - when water from a well or water supply is used for irrigation, the soil is leached. Depending on the pH level, once every 10-15 days, the plant is watered with an acidified liquid, spending a teaspoon of citric or oxalic acid per 3 liters. Instead, you can dilute 100 ml of table vinegar in a bucket of water. nine0006

Top dressing

Garden blueberries are undemanding to top dressing, as they grow naturally on poor soils. But the lack of nutrients will affect the yield and the general condition of the plant.

Fertilizers are applied 4 times per season:

in spring, when the buds swell - with nitrogen top dressing;
next 2 times with an interval of 4-5 weeks - a complete mineral complex;
in late summer or early autumn - phosphorus and potassium.

For garden blueberries, there are specialized fertilizers Florovit and Target. You can use cheaper ones designed for berry crops, following the instructions, taking into account the growth and age of the shrub.

Trace elements are better absorbed by plants when applied on the leaf. They are given no more than 1 time in 14 days. Feeding is stopped 2-3 weeks before harvest.

Important! Blueberries do not tolerate chlorine. It is impossible to make compost and organic fertilizers of animal origin - humus or bird droppings - into the soil. nine0006

Mulching

Blueberries, as a crop not well adapted to growing in garden plots, will be easier to care for if the soil is covered with a choice of:

needles;
bark;
sawdust;
straw;
rotted leaves.

A layer of mulch under the plant can be 5-15 cm. This will protect garden blueberries:

from early bud break in spring;
in summer - when the soil is overheated; nine0011
in winter against freezing;
retains moisture throughout the season, preventing weeds from germinating.

Pruning

Sanitary measures - removal of diseased, dry, broken branches on the plant is carried out regardless of the season. Formative pruning of blueberries is done in early spring, before the start of sap flow.

The first 4 years after planting, gardeners' efforts should be directed to the formation of a strong bush frame. All shoots, weak shoots or those lying on the soil are removed. nine0006

From the 5th year, the plant enters full fruiting, and the branches gradually age. The owners must decide what kind of crop they want to get:

for a small number of large berries, cut out all shoots older than 5 years;
to collect a lot of small fruits, leaves the branches of the 6-7th year.

In any case, each spring cut out on the plant:

growth of the current season, except for the 5 strongest shoots;
branches lying on the ground; nine0011
bush thickening shoots.

Autumn care

Autumn care for blueberries consists of the following measures: It is carried out during or after mass leaf fall, at a temperature of 2-3 °C.

Blueberries are fertilized in autumn with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in late summer or early autumn. This allows the wood to mature better.

Winter care

Low-growing and marsh blueberries are able to withstand minus 30-35 °C. Tall garden plants are not particularly resistant to low temperatures - most varieties tolerate -25 ° C, and plants freeze in snowless winters.

If there are only a few bushes in the garden, they can be bent to the ground, fixed, and then covered with white non-woven material, burlap, tied with spruce branches. On a large blueberry plantation, preparation for winter consists of the agrotechnical measures described in the previous chapter, as well as the mulching of the trunk circle. nine0006

To reduce the freezing of blueberries, you should choose varieties intended for cultivation in this region. And protect the plants from the prevailing winter winds.

Propagation of blueberries

There are 4 ways to breed a crop:

Seed is of interest only to breeders. It is long, difficult, new plants do not inherit varietal characteristics.
In early spring or autumn, dividing the bush.
Lignified and semi-lignified cuttings 10-15 cm long.
Layering.

Diseases and pests

Blueberries suffer from fungicide-treated diseases:

stem cancer;
leaf spot;
phomopsis;
gray mold;
moniliosis;
Physalosporosis.

The plant should be destroyed if:

dwarfing;
threading;
mosaics;
red annular or necrotic spotting. nine0011

Pests are controlled with insecticides. The plant is affected by:

caterpillars of the pine cocoon moth;
leaf rollers;
aphids;
shields.

Blueberry is not the easiest crop to grow, it requires acidic soil, frequent watering, regular soil acidification and pruning. But having paid enough attention to the plant, you can not only diversify the table, but also get a good income.

Reviews

Elena, Moscow

Two blueberry bushes have been growing in the dacha for 14 years. Planted in sour peat. It grows and bears fruit well, does not freeze.

Mykola, Zaporozhye

We have been trying to grow a bush for several years, but it does not work. Grows very slowly. We systematically acidify the soil, it does not help. With friends in the Moscow region, it grows well and bears fruit. I don't think our climate is too hot.

Alexander, Zhytomyr

Blueberries have been growing in the orchard for the third year, the harvest has already been harvested, a very tasty berry. When planting in a pit, peat was brought in, planted in partial shade under a tree. Grows well. nine0006

Valentina

We planted two blueberry bushes two years ago, seedlings in containers. The first year they took root, in the second they began to grow excellently, an increase of 40-50 cm. When planting, peat was introduced, the soil around the bushes was mulched with pine bark.

Alexey

It is very important to prepare a hole when planting. I bought excellent seedlings of three varieties in containers. I made a mistake, planted in black soil, a good fertile substrate, but not suitable. The bushes did not grow well. A neighbor in the country suggested what the problem could be. Transplanted into pits with a mixture of acidic peat, sand, rotted needles. Growth went great. Now they are bearing fruit. nine0006

Oleg Grigorievich

If you live in the south and want to plant blueberries, plant them in partial shade of trees, the heat will not affect you so much. When planting, be sure to put the substrate in the hole. Blueberries grow only on acidic soil, on neutral and alkaline - they will die or wither. For planting in the forest, I take rotted needles, add peat and sand. Periodically acidify the water when watering.

Source: https://dachnyeotvety.ru/golubika-sadovaya-posadka-vyraschivanie-i-uhod

How to grow garden blueberries correctly - planting and care tips

Before you buy tall garden blueberries, find out what are the characteristics of this plant, where and how to plant it and how to care for it so that the bushes grow large, strong and for many years pleased with a good harvest.

The beneficial properties of blueberries have been known for a long time. Moreover, all the miraculous properties of this plant are not purely "folk beliefs", but are confirmed by multiple scientific studies. Be sure to plant a few blueberry bushes in your garden if you want to be healthy, full of energy and live a long and happy life! nine0006

Regular consumption of blueberries (and it does not matter whether they grew in a swamp or in your garden) helps to slow down the aging process of the brain and rejuvenate the body as a whole. And thanks to a unique combination of organic acids, phenolic compounds and plant hormones, blueberries improve the functioning of the thyroid gland, protect against atherosclerosis and heart disease, have vasodilating, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, choleretic, diuretic and radioprotective effects. nine0006

But unlike most of the crops growing in our dacha, blueberries prefer acidic soil (pH 3.5-4.5). Therefore, the standard tips for planting and growing berry bushes in this case will not work, but, on the contrary, will lead to the death of the plant.

Tips on how to properly plant seedlings and take care of tall blueberries, so that the bushes take root well and quickly start growing, are shared by Becker specialists.

How to plant blueberries

Seedlings of this plant are usually sold in containers. Therefore, it does not matter when you plant blueberries - in spring, autumn or even summer - the planting instructions will be the same.

First of all, walk around your site and choose the sunniest place on it, located on a small hill, but at the same time protected from the cold north wind. Remember, shaded, poorly ventilated and low-lying areas with heavy soil are not suitable for blueberries.

If you want to get a good blueberry harvest every year, plant not one, but several different varieties of blueberries.

Now that you have decided on a location, you can start preparing the landing pits. Usually they are recommended to be made in the following sizes:

50x40 cm on light soil;
60-70×25-30 cm - on heavy soil (with obligatory 5-10 cm drainage layer).

Most suitable for blueberries are peaty, sandy and sandy loam soils. If the soil in your garden does not meet these parameters, fill the planting holes with a special soil mixture consisting of 5 parts of red high-moor peat, 2 parts of softwood sawdust and 1 part of sand. nine0006

Planting blueberry seedlings is not difficult, but it requires certain rules to be followed. The main one says: it is impossible to plant plants with tangled and bent inward roots! Therefore, shortly before planting, lower the seedlings (right in containers) for 10-15 minutes into the water, and then carefully remove them from the containers and carefully knead the intertwining roots with your hands. If you do not do this, but plant blueberry seedlings as they are, they will develop very poorly for the first few years, and then they will die altogether. nine0006

Place the blueberry seedlings in the hole in such a way that after filling with the substrate they are 5-6 cm deeper than they grew before. Form watering holes (holes) around the bushes and pour at least 5 liters of water into each of them. When the water is absorbed, mulch the near-stem circles with sawdust or litter of coniferous forests (layer thickness - 5-8 cm). This will prevent moisture from evaporating.

Miniature and low growing blueberries (such as Big Blue , Nord Blue , etc.) it is recommended to plant at a distance of 80 cm, medium and vigorous ( Blue Berry , Double , Duke , Lateblu , Elizabeth , etc.) - at a distance of 1.2-1 ,5 m. But they give such conflicting advice that an inexperienced gardener can completely get confused and “break wood”. Remember these simple rules and never make typical beginner mistakes that lead to the inevitable death of bushes. nine0006

Rule 1: Feed Blueberries Properly

Although blueberries are considered low soil fertility crops, they should be fertilized regularly with mineral fertilizers. Usually three such top dressings are carried out per season:

1st time - in early spring, when you notice that the buds have begun to swell on the plants;
2nd time - during flowering or immediately after;
3rd time - in the second half of June.

Any chlorine-free complex fertilizers (Florovit, Azofoska, Fertika Universal, etc.) are suitable for fertilizing garden blueberries. Based on the age of the plant, their dosage varies from 1 to 16 tbsp. for the season. nine0006

FEEDING SCHEME FOR BLUEBERRY BUSHES

If the soil in your area is slightly acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline, in addition to the main top dressing, apply ammonium sulfate twice a season (according to instructions).

When organic fertilizers (humus, compost, chicken manure, etc.) are applied, the mycorrhiza living on blueberry roots dies. As a result, plants stop absorbing moisture and nutrients from the soil and soon die. Therefore, in no case do not feed the bushes with organic matter! nine0006

Rule 2: Water your blueberry bushes regularly

Remember that this plant suffers greatly from both lack of moisture and its excess. The first weeks after planting, while the plants are still getting used to the new place of residence, make sure that the topsoil always remains moist. In the future, everything depends on the weather. If it is cool and rainy outside, the bushes can not be watered, but if the weather is warm and rain is not expected, water the blueberries every 3-4 days at the rate of 10 liters of water per adult bush. nine0006

July-August is the time not only for the active fruiting of blueberries, but also for the laying of buds for the next year's harvest. During this period, the bushes especially need regular watering. If this is neglected, you will not only miss part of this year's harvest, but also jeopardize next year's harvest.

To acidify the soil, water blueberries twice a month with a solution of citric acid (2 teaspoons per 3 liters of water) or 9% vinegar (150-200 ml per 10 liters of water).

And one more important point: in hot and dry weather, blueberry care should also include spraying the bushes. It is carried out during the peak of high temperatures (at 12-13 and at 15-16 hours). Do not ignore this technique, because. it helps reduce stress in plants and improves photosynthesis. nine0006

Rule 3. Cut blueberries in time

Pruning 2-5 year old bushes is to form a strong skeleton. At this stage, simply remove weak branches, as well as diseased, damaged and close to the ground shoots.

The best time to prune blueberries is in early spring, before the plants bud out.

Rule 4. Protect blueberry bushes from frost

Blueberry flowers can withstand frost down to -7°C, so during spring frosts you don't have to worry about plants. But it’s worth thinking about winter shelter. nine0006

In winter, high -growing garden blueberries are able to withstand frosts up to –30 ° C (and separate varieties such as Blue Berry , Nord Blue , Dabble , DUK , Giant Blue , , , , , down to –35°С). But that's assuming it's snowing. If the winter is snowless and frosty, freezing of the bushes cannot be avoided. To prevent this, cover your plantings for the winter with agrofiber, burlap or other breathable material (but not plastic wrap!) Or tie the bushes with spruce branches. nine0006

Also, high hilling of bushes (especially young ones) with peat, sawdust or spruce litter will not be superfluous. In the spring, as soon as the ground thaws, the mulch layer will need to be removed.

Growing blueberries is easy and very exciting. The main thing is to follow the rules described above and not to feed the bushes with organic fertilizers. And about which varieties are guaranteed to please you with a high yield of large and sweet berries, read on the website abekker. ru. Here you can also see photos and descriptions of varieties, as well as order your favorite plants by mail. nine0006

Becker guarantees the high quality of seedlings. We carefully select and package all plants shipped by mail, and offer a 90-day warranty on all planting material. If on the road the seedlings, bulbs or rhizomes suddenly dried up or died, you can contact our support service within 90 days to replace the product with a similar or another product of the same price. In this case, our company will cover all shipping and handling costs. nine0006

instructions

Thickets of tall blueberry bushes occupied large areas in North America even in pre-Columbian times. Indian tribes used sweet berries not only for food, but also for the treatment of many diseases, and first of all, to restore the visual acuity needed by hunters and warriors. nine0006

In the 1920s, Canadian breeders became interested in this berry. It was they who managed to bring out a number of large-fruited varieties with sweet and unusually tasty berries. In addition, they turned out to be very healing.

Entrepreneurial farmers began to grow this berry on large plantations and sell it abroad. The business turned out to be extremely profitable. Some entrepreneurs make millions of dollars on it!

Canadian garden blueberries are still considered the best. However, our breeders managed to get some truly unique varieties. nine0006

In this article we want to talk about some of the subtleties, without knowing which it is simply impossible to grow bush blueberries.

TO GROW BLUEBERRY, TAKE CARE OF THE SOIL!

Not very experienced fruit growers often complain that blueberries planted in the sun do not grow and bear fruit, although they water, fertilize, and loosen them. And it's all about the soil! It should be very acidic (pH 3.5 - 4), loose, well fertilized with rotted manure and chopped needles (pine or spruce). nine0006

Before planting, the earth is artificially acidified, but not with battery fluid, and not with concentrated vinegar. From such a “treat”, blueberry roots can simply “burn out”! As an acidifier, it is best to take citric acid (two tablespoons with top per bucket of water for one plant).

Planting pits are shed with this solution the day before planting seedlings, so as not to immediately burn the young root system. Blueberry bushes are planted at a distance of two to three meters from each other. Drainage is made from wet sawdust under the seedlings, and pine or spruce cones are also laid out in two rows on top. nine0006

IRRIGATION IS IMPORTANT IN GROWING BLUEBERRY

Bush blueberries are a terrible water drinker. If she does not have enough water, she will drop all the ovaries. Therefore, water it regularly and plentifully. In the heat, provide it with fine sprinkling of the entire plant as a whole. It should be as if shrouded in a water cloud.

But here, too, you need to know when to stop. Overwatering for blueberries is just as harmful as its lack. Moisture should never stand in puddles under the bushes, otherwise the access of oxygen and nutrients to the roots will stop. nine0006

To determine when and how often to water, keep an eye on the condition of the soil under the bushes. It should always be moist and loose.

WITHOUT FERTILIZER YOU CAN'T GROW BLUEBERRY

Acidic soils are important. But they must also be well fertilized. As soon as the snow cover turns into spring sonorous streams, feed all the blueberry bushes with a solution of urea (20 g per watering can of water for each). In mid-May, scatter half a bucket of compost into tree trunks and mix well with the ground. nine0006

Blueberries need phosphorus and potassium in autumn. Buy any complex autumn mineral fertilizer and feed the plants in accordance with the doses indicated on the package.

When you grow blueberries, you don't have to worry about buying expensive insecticides. Its dense, glossy leaves - they absolutely do not like it!

WHEN YOU GROW BLUEBERRY THEN THE BEST VARIETIES

Before offering you a variety, we test it on our experimental fields, we are interested in the results of studies of other research centers, compare, determine the growing areas, choose the most versatile with the best indicators. nine0006

We managed to create a wonderful collection of blueberries. Today we recommend the best varieties to you.

Growing blueberries in your garden is not difficult at all. Try it, and you will get berries that are unique in their content of vitamins and nutrients, even one handful of which can replace a whole bunch of expensive drugs! By the way. those gardeners who have been growing blueberries for a long time claim that they never complain about their eyesight and wear glasses only from the sun!

Source: https://sad-i-ogorod.ru/blog/kak-vyrastit-golubiku/

Garden blueberry: from planting to harvest

What do we know?

The conversation about blueberries leads to the fact that these berries are often confused due to their similarity. So how do you tell them apart?

Planting highbush blueberries

In case you have loam, spread a mixture of sand and high peat (1:3) into the planting hole.
If you have sour peat, add sand to the soil about 2-3 buckets per square meter. meter.
In soils poor in organic fertilizers, apply phosphorus, nitrogen, potash fertilizers 1:1:1. nine0011
If the soil is saturated with humus, apply the same fertilizer, only take the ratio of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen 3:2:1.

After fertilizing, carefully dig everything. The main thing in planting is not to dry the plant. And you can plant in the spring before the buds swell, you can in the fall. When planting blueberries, you need to cut off all weak branches, and healthy strong ones - cut to half the length. Post-planting pruning is not necessary for a young 2-year-old blueberry plant.

Natural conditions

It is amazing that a plant can survive temporary flooding, extreme heat, drought and even extreme cold. Given all of the above, we can conclude that most of all the plant belongs to the tundra. The most interesting thing is that you will not find this berry on good fertile soils and on warm slopes! She does not like too good conditions. However, if purposefully planted in normal soil and cared for, the plant will respond with a rich harvest and excellent growth.

Where does blueberry grow in Russia? Here it is found in the Caucasus, the Urals, Altai, Siberia, and the Far East. Most common in the middle tundra zone. nine0006

Highbush blueberry propagation

Propagation

Note that the plant is so unpretentious that it sometimes bears better on poor acidic soils than on rich ones. On scorched soils, it is blueberries that are best accepted.

This berry can be different. Creeping, it looks like a huge sheet. But blueberries in America look different. Here it grows almost to the height of a man and is a strong tree.

Researchers believe that of all modern fruit crops, blueberries were the last to be introduced into agricultural circulation. The berry is the result of crossing seedlings. The hybrid was obtained in the state of New Jersey in 1916 year. Selective methods have helped to invent different varieties of berries (for juice, pies, etc. ), increase their diameter, and also make them unpretentious.

Cultivation

When blueberries begin to bear fruit

Wild blueberries begin to flower and bear fruit annually at the age of 11-18 years. From one bush you can collect up to 200 g of berries. When grown in garden conditions, the plant begins to bear fruit for 4-5 years and produces up to 1 kg of berries per bush. nine0006

When garden blueberries bear fruit

Garden blueberries begin to bear fruit 2-4 years after planting. The terms of ripening of berries depend on the variety:

early ripe - July;
mid-season - July-August;
late - end of August and September.

Warning! Dates may vary slightly depending on weather conditions.

When the wild blueberries ripen

Features

A serious problem is that often the plant survives with the help of symbiosis with fungi. This interferes with cultivation. However, fungi can appear in moist soil where there is a lot of organic matter. On clean, good soil, they are unlikely to grow, so it is most logical to simply bring fungal spores from the territory where they have grown. To do this, it is enough to go to the forest, find a place with high humidity, but without swampiness. As a rule, in such an area there is a thick litter of a perennial layer of organic matter. nine0006

Blueberry care

Watering, loosening, mulching.

Loosen the soil a couple of times a season to a depth of about 8 cm.

However, be careful - frequent loosening can dry out your blueberries.

Mulch the soil under the bush, this will protect the roots from overheating in summer and freezing in winter. A layer of mulch about 12 cm, preferably coniferous sawdust, but peat and oak leaves can also be used. You can add a small amount of rotted manure to the mulch. Replenish the mulch every two or even three years. nine0006

Moisten the soil very carefully, do not flood this plant. If the water stagnates longer than 2 days, the plant may die. But it is impossible to overdry the soil when the berries ripen and flowers bloom. This is dangerous because the root system of blueberries is located in the upper layers of the earth.

If you sow green manure such as lupine or oats between rows, then protect the roots from freezing and fertilize the soil with them in spring.

Economic importance of blueberries

What are the useful properties of blueberries? For human health, it is of great importance, but more on that below. For now, let's talk about the economic significance of the plant. Edible berries are harvested to be consumed raw or processed. Fresh juice from blueberries is not stored for a long time, so it should be drunk immediately or canned. Berries are also used to make jam and wine. However, berries are rarely used alone. For a richer taste, they are combined with lingonberries, cranberries, blueberries, etc.

When and how blueberries are harvested

Advice! If the berries are supposed to be sold, then immediately after collection they must be placed in containers and cooled. Store in a cool dark place at a temperature not higher than + 2-5 ˚С.

Blueberry picking dates

Blueberry picking starts in August. In the Moscow region, the Middle lane, they begin to harvest already in the first decade of the month, in cold regions - from the second half of it. The berries on the bush ripen gradually, they are removed from the branches until the very frost. The fruits are harvested in several steps by hand or use a special comb (scoop). nine0006

Picking blueberries by hand

Blueberries are best picked without any equipment. The manual method of harvesting involves a minimum amount of damage to berries and branches. Its main drawback is low performance. When harvesting, the berry must be removed immediately directly into specially prepared containers, which are placed under the bunch. Hands should be washed well before collection.

Blueberry Picker

In small gardens or in the woods, a combed scoop is used to pick blueberries. This simple device allows you to speed up the process by 3-4 times. It can be bought or made. The branches pass freely through the teeth without being damaged, the berries, in turn, fall into the scoop. nine0006

For blueberry harvesting on an industrial scale, the mechanized method is more relevant. On large plantations, special equipment is used to collect, clean, sort and pack berries.

Blueberry: useful properties and contraindications

For diabetics, the plant is a real salvation, because it significantly lowers blood sugar levels. Dry berries are useful in dysentery; A decoction of the leaves is used as a laxative. An important beneficial property of blueberries is that it enhances metabolism. Due to the large amount of antioxidants, the berry resists the formation of cancer cells. nine0006

However, it is worth remembering about contraindications. If you eat too many blueberries, they can impair muscle function. Pregnant and lactating women should give up berries so as not to cause allergies or intoxication in the baby. With biliary dyskinesia, the use of berries is prohibited.

So we figured out where blueberries grow in Russia, how to grow them, and why they are useful. Remember that everything needs a measure.

Narrow-leaved blueberry

promising for amateur gardening

The height of an adult fruit-bearing bush is 0.5-0.7 m. Thanks to this morphological feature, they reliably hide in winter even with a relatively thin layer of snow and endure the most severe frosts without any problems.

Thus, one of the important positive qualities of angustifolia is a well-pronounced winter hardiness. It is in the northern latitudes, with their harsh weather conditions typical of the Russian climate, that she feels exceptionally comfortable, which compares favorably with other cultivated berries. nine0006

This plant is undemanding to soil conditions and can be successfully cultivated both on poor sands and sandy loams, and on raised peatlands with high acidity (PH - 2. 5-4.0). Loamy, and even more so clay soils are by no means suitable for its cultivation. The soil must necessarily have a loose structure, which provides good air and water permeability. Even a short-term (2-3 days) flooding of the site in spring or autumn is evidence of its unsuitability for narrow-leaved blueberries. nine0006

Blueberry angustifolia pronounced photophilous. Given this biological feature, it should be planted in an open area, well lit throughout the daylight hours. When planted under dense crowns of apple, pear, plum fruit trees, the growth rate and especially the yield are noticeably reduced, and the shoots deviate away from the shade.

The yield from one bush reaches more than one and a half kilograms. The shoots are so densely strewn with berries that it is more convenient to collect them with the help of special scoops. nine0006

Very important from a practical point of view characteristic feature of the species is early maturity. The first ripe berries appear already at the end of June, and in mid-July mass fruiting begins. The most significant sizes of fruits ripening in late June - early July. Their diameter reaches more than 1 cm, which significantly exceeds that of local wild-growing species - blueberries and swamp blueberries and approach the size of tall blueberries.

Of particular note is the stability of fruiting inherent in this berry plant. This is determined by the pronounced resistance of generative organs (buds and flowers) to late spring frosts, as well as the constant formation of new shoots and daughter bushes, compensating for the decrease in yield in older ones. The yield, having reached a certain level, subsequently does not decrease for many years, and all this time the cost of plant care is minimal. nine0006

Narrow-leaved blueberry is a new, promising berry species that has a number of undoubted advantages and deserves wide distribution in amateur gardening.

Source: http://dsad12.ru/yagody/kogda-sobirayut-golubiku.html

Anna

I cultivate gardens 🙂

Self-taught gardener from Tatarstan. I love blueberries!

Heading: Blueberry

Blueberry is a shrub with very sweet, slightly sour, tasty berries. The bush can grow up to 2 meters in height. The fruits are dark blue in color and round in shape, valued for their many benefits, especially for the brain and vision. Currently, many gardeners began to grow shrubs on their plots. How to achieve a good harvest and how many blueberries can be harvested from one bush, later in the article. nine0006

At what age does it begin to bear fruit

From the moment the plant is planted, fruits can appear only after three years, but by the age of 6 the bush will be able to produce up to about 10 kg of berries per season. This maximum yield can be maintained for 30 years with proper care of the plant. However, there may be situations when blueberries do not bear fruit at all. This suggests that the care of the plant was wrong.

One of the reasons for the lack of fruiting may be inappropriate soil acidity. To increase it, you can pour a little water around the bush with a solution of citric acid - two teaspoons per bucket of water. nine0006

There may be situations when the bush bears fruit, but the berries are small and tasteless. This problem may occur due to untimely pruning of branches and the resulting thickening of the bush.

How many times it bears fruit

Garden blueberry ripens once per season, but fruiting may be extended due to non-simultaneous ripening of berries. The fruits must be harvested as they ripen. Depending on the variety and ripening time, blueberries begin to ripen from the beginning of July to the third decade of August. As a rule, the berries of the first and second harvests are always larger and more juicy. Signs of fruit ripeness - they acquire a characteristic dark blue color and are easily separated from the brush with a dry separation. They are best consumed fresh. The subsequent collection is more correct to start up for processing. nine0006

Details of care for a good harvest

A good harvest of blueberries is possible only with proper and regular care, including watering, timely pruning and high-quality top dressing.

It is not recommended to prune blueberries at a young age, except for sanitary pruning, which removes dry, broken and frozen branches during the winter. However, in the future, there is a constant decrease in productivity. And by the age of 10-12, there is a need for anti-aging pruning. To this end, they begin to gradually remove old branches as new ones grow and enter the fruiting phase. nine0006

Watering is one of the main conditions for a good establishment of bushes. At a young age, it is necessary to constantly monitor that the soil is moistened. On especially hot days in the evening, it is also necessary to spray the bush with cold water. After picking berries, blueberries also need good moisture-charging watering. However, it is necessary to ensure that there is no stagnation of water, due to which rotting of the bush can occur.

Top dressing will accelerate the process of bush growth and fruit ripening. It is important from the second year of cultivation, and is carried out in the spring. They are fed twice during the season: the first time when the buds swell, and then after 6-7 weeks. nine0006

The scheme of fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is as follows:

for a two-year bush - 1 tbsp. l.;
three years old - 2 tbsp. l.;
four years old - 4 tbsp. l.;
five years old - 8 tbsp. l.;
six years old and older - 16 tbsp. l.

Fertilizers must be diluted in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Shelter for the winter is also important. Although blueberries tolerate frosts down to -20 ° C, however, this temperature will be fatal for young bushes.