Content
Tall blueberries or garden blueberries have gained popularity among gardeners more than currants. Its large berries are rich in valuable substances; they are widely used in alternative medicine. It is not difficult to plant and grow this deciduous shrub on your site, but it has its own characteristics.
Benefits of growing tall blueberries
A shrub of tall blueberry reaches 2 m in height. Its erect shoots tolerate temperature drops well, bloom and bear fruit abundantly. Large blueberries - up to 25 g. The yield of tall varieties is stable and reaches 10 kg per bush.
The berry tolerates transportation well, it is in demand on the market. Jams, compotes, jams and drying are made from it. In any form, the valuable qualities of the berries are preserved.
Benefits of tall blueberries
Blueberry is an excellent honey plant, attracts beneficial insects to the garden and serves as a pollinator for other plants. For planting it does not need swampy soil, it grows well and develops on any loose and fertile soil. The shrub develops well in open sunny areas, practically does not get sick and is not affected by pests.
Tall blueberries are grown mainly on an industrial scale, since unpretentious shrubs do not require special care and costs.
Another advantage is its tendency to shoot shoots. You do not need to spend money on new seedlings, because it is very easy to propagate the shrub yourself. Within a few years the plantation will be replenished with young plants.
However, it must be remembered that early cultivated varieties need to be grown in the middle lane and in the north of Russia. It is these plants that will be able to give a bountiful harvest in difficult climatic conditions. There is no such problem in the south of the country.
Features of fruiting
Almost all varieties of tall blueberries bear fruit on last year's shoots, which is why it is so important to preserve them in winter. If the branches are frozen, then they are cut off quite a bit. The shrub recovers quickly. However, with a severe defeat, you will have to forget about the harvest.
The young shrub begins to bear fruit in the 3rd year of cultivation, however, the maximum yield is harvested in the 5-6th year.
Many hybrid varieties are self-pollinated. They do not need insects, the formation of fruits does not depend on weather conditions. However, in order to increase the number of fruits, experienced gardeners practice joint planting of crops of different varieties with the same flowering period.
How to propagate tall blueberries
Tall blueberries reproduce in different ways:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- root shoots;
- dividing the bush.
However, seed reproduction is difficult, the seedlings are grown for 2 years in greenhouse conditions, after which they are transferred to the garden. Such a plant begins to bear fruit in the 7-8th year after planting.
The simplest and most affordable ways of breeding blueberries are cuttings and planting root shoots. The seedling will begin to bear fruit in the 4th year of cultivation.
The best varieties of tall blueberries
For regions with a difficult climate, varieties of tall blueberries are presented, which are distinguished by the most delicious harvest. These are early varieties that any gardener can handle.
Bluecrop
The tall blueberry variety Bluecrop with a 50-year history has already managed to establish itself among gardeners only on the positive side. The shrub is absolutely unpretentious. He is not afraid of frosts (he winters well at temperatures down to -30 ° C), hot sun, diseases and pests. With proper care, ripe berries do not fall off the branches, do not crack, do not lose their taste during transportation.
Patriot
Tall blueberries of the Patriot variety are valued for their delicate berry taste, which is especially felt immediately after harvest. The fruits stay on the branches for a long time, do not deteriorate.
The shrub is frost-resistant, well resists the main diseases: late blight of fruits and leaves, apical rot of fruits. Fruiting of the variety begins in the second half of summer.
Elizabeth
The tall blueberry variety Elizabeth is popular for its large berries, which can reach up to 2.5 cm. The fruits are red-blue, firm, tasty, well transported, but completely unsuitable for long-term storage. In the middle lane, sometimes they do not have time to ripen on the branches.
The shrub propagates well by cuttings, but grows poorly on sandy soil. The variety is completely self-fertile, the yield is 5-6 kg per bush. To get more berries, you need to plant other varieties of blueberries.
North Blue
Blueberry Nord Blue is very hardy. The variety cannot be called especially tall. Its height reaches 1-1.5 m. The description indicates that the shrub winters well at -40 ° C, but gardeners continue to additionally cover the root zone if the frost falls below -30 ° C.
The yield of the variety is stable, but not very large. The bush gives an average of 3 kg of berries.
Bonus
Bonus - one of the large-fruited varieties of tall blueberries. Its berry reaches 3 cm in diameter. The fruit tastes sweet, with a dense skin, which makes it easy to transport. The berries are perfectly stored in freezing and do not lose their qualities.
A variety with high resistance to frost and disease, it bears fruit steadily. Productivity - up to 8 kg.
Goldtraube 71
Blueberry Goldtraube belongs to tall varieties of increased winter hardiness. Its shoots tolerate temperatures as low as -35 ° C. This is the main benefit of blueberries.
The variety is self-pollinated, bears fruit stably. Up to 3 kg of fruits are harvested from the bush per season. The berries are medium in size, sweet and sour, more suitable for processing.
Blues
Blueberries ripen very early compared to other tall varieties. The first berries can be tasted in mid-June. Fruiting is not stretched, up to 70% of the crop is harvested at a time. The culture of the variety is interesting in industrial cultivation. The berries are easy to pick mechanically, they do not spoil or crack.
Productivity per bush - up to 6 kg, average winter hardiness, good disease resistance.
Putte
The variety bears fruit with small berries, the diameter of which does not exceed 1.5 cm. However, they are very aromatic and tasty. In addition, there are a lot of berries on one plant. The average yield per bush is up to 6 kg.
Brigitte
Brigitte blueberries bear medium-sized berries with a sweet and sour taste. But the crop does not crumble or crack, it is well transported. No more than 4 kg of fruits are harvested from a bush per season. Low frost resistance, the bush suffers from spring return frosts.
Boniface
The Boniface variety belongs to frost-resistant varieties. The shoots and root system of the shrub tolerate temperatures of -37 ° C well. At the same time, flower buds practically do not suffer. The plant bears fruit steadily, the berries are sweet, but only 3 kg are harvested per season.
Erliblu
This variety bears fruit in small berries, but there are a lot of them on one plant. A shrub for industrial cultivation, as manual assembly is difficult. The berry is sweet, well transported and sticks to the branches.
Elliot
The variety bears fruit abundantly, it is possible to collect up to 8 kg of berries from the bush. The fruits are sweet and sour, aromatic. The taste is highly dependent on weather conditions. The skin of the blueberry is dense, does not crack, but the berry falls off the branches when ripe.
Toro
Tall blueberry with high productivity. With normal care, the number of berries reaches 10 kg per bush. Fruiting increases with the age of the plant. The fruits are tasty, aromatic, with dense pulp, well tolerated long-distance transportation.
Chandler
A variety with medium frost resistance. The lower temperature threshold is -24 ... -28 ° С. The fruits are large, but the taste is sour. The skin is thin, berries are not suitable for transportation. They are consumed fresh or processed immediately. Fruiting is extended, which allows harvesting as it ripens.
Blue Ray
Blueberries of this variety tolerate frosts down to -34 ° C, while bearing fruit well. Berries of Blurs are large, tasty, there are a lot of them on one plant. They do not ripen at the same time. The yield is above average. However, blueberries are more often consumed fresh, they are not suitable for transportation.
North Country
A bush of medium vigor, bears fruit with small berries. The yield is only 1.5-3 kg per plant. A variety for industrial cultivation, since it is difficult to pick small berries by hand. The taste of blueberries is excellent.
Planting and caring for tall blueberries
Growing garden blueberries is not a hassle. It is enough to properly plant a shrub to enjoy a delicious berry every year.
Recommended timing
You can plant tall blueberries in early spring or autumn. The second option is suitable for regions with a mild climate. But in central Russia, experienced gardeners recommend not postponing planting blueberries until autumn. It is carried out in the spring, while the buds have not yet blossomed. During the season, the shrub will get stronger, grow up and successfully endure winter frosts.
Site selection and soil preparation for tall blueberries
Tall blueberries are grown in well-lit areas. In the shade, the berry becomes small, does not have time to ripen. The fruiting of the bush decreases, in some cases it stops completely.
The southern side of the site is allocated for planting, well protected from drafts and cold winds.
The shrub is unpretentious to the soil, but it does not tolerate the neighborhood with other crops. For several years before planting, it is better to keep the land fallow.
Before planting, the site is dug up, mineral fertilizers are added. To give the soil looseness, sawdust is added.
How to properly plant tall blueberries in spring or autumn
Planting in spring is not much different from autumn. You need to choose the right seedling. It is better to purchase seedlings with a closed root system. They take root well.
This shrub cannot be planted by transshipment. Before planting, blueberry seedlings are soaked in water to completely free them from an earthen clod and spread the roots. The plant will not be able to unroll the roots in the ground on its own. The root system is very fragile.
The size of the landing pit is standard - 60 x 60 cm.In this case, the depth of the hole reaches half a meter. If several plants are to be planted, then up to 1.5 m are left between them.At least 3.5 m recede between the rows.
The bottom of the pit is filled with a nutrient substrate mixed with sawdust, pine needles and sulfur. During planting, the root collar is buried 3 cm. The roots are straightened, the remaining voids are filled with soil.
Rules for growing tall blueberries
Tall blueberries do not need special care, but some nuances should be taken into account when growing. The shrub is demanding on soil moisture, so watering is an important part of care.
Watering and feeding schedule
Watering tall blueberries should be abundant, the soil should always remain moist. However, all moisture should be absorbed in 2 days. Otherwise, a fungus will develop on the roots, which will cause rot. It is considered correct to water the blueberries 2 times a week. You need to be especially attentive to soil moisture during the fruiting period. If there is not enough moisture, then the flower buds will not have time to prepare for next year.
In a period of extreme heat, the bushes are not only watered, but also sprayed. This will help keep the plant from overheating.
There is no need to feed blueberries. However, mineral fertilizers can be applied, especially if the soil is not nutritious enough. In spring, they are fed with nitrogen complexes - up to 90 g per plant. In this case, the rate is divided by 2 times. The first time is fertilized in early May, then - in the first decade of June.
After that, until the fall, potash dressings are applied at the rate of 100 g per bush. They are also divided several times.
Loosening and mulching the soil
You need to loosen the soil around the bush a couple of times a season. Frequent loosening dries up the soil, which is unacceptable for blueberries. The root system will lack moisture.
It is important to remember that blueberry roots are superficial, so careless loosening can injure them. The tool is not buried more than 8 cm.
To provide oxygen access to the roots, but to avoid frequent loosening, you need to mulch the soil surface with sawdust or other organic mulch. The layer needs to be updated several times during the season. This will create the necessary growing conditions for tall blueberries and reduce the number of waterings.
Pruning features
Blueberry pruning is very important. The shrub quickly grows old and grows overgrown, so you need to remove unnecessary shoots in time. In the spring, after the buds swell, they cut out all the branches affected by diseases, broken and thickening the bush. Last year's shoots are pruned just a little to stimulate growth. The bulk of the crop will develop on them. In the summer, all root shoots are cut out. In autumn, bushes over 5 years old rejuvenate. For this, 3-5 young shoots are left, and the rest are cut out completely.
How to prepare tall blueberries for winter
Many varieties of tall blueberries winter well in the open field and do not require additional shelter. But young plants or recently planted ones need to be protected from the upcoming frost. To do this, they are well spud and covered with spruce branches or a layer of dry foliage, the soil is pre-mulched to a height of 12-15 cm.
Pests and diseases of tall blueberries
If you take proper care of blueberries, then the bushes grow strong and healthy, they are well resistant to major diseases. But preventive treatments in early spring and after harvesting will not hurt. They will prevent the appearance of:
- leaf spots;
- botrytis;
- moniliosis of fruits;
- late blight;
- root rot.
Fighting diseases is difficult, so it is better to spray the bushes with Bordeaux liquid. The treatments are repeated at intervals of 2-3 weeks. If not carried out, the blueberries may die.
Blueberry pests are annoying:
- crunchy;
- May beetles;
- caterpillars;
- aphid;
- shield.
Birds also damage blueberries. In order to prevent pests from breeding, blueberries are treated with insecticides. Actellik has proven itself especially well.
Conclusion
Highbush blueberry is a useful berry, which you can grow on your own. It is enough to choose the right variety and comply with all the conditions of agricultural technology.
