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Growing blueberries from seeds is a laborious task. However, if it is not possible to purchase seedlings for planting, then this option will be the most optimal. In the process of growing, the planting material will have to devote a lot of time until the seedlings are fully strengthened. It is for this reason that it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the rules for growing blueberry seeds at home and further care.
Is it possible to grow blueberries from seeds
Growing blueberries from seeds at home is possible, however, you can face a number of significant problems. Since the culture belongs to the Heather family, it is recommended to take into account the fact that blueberries grow mainly on wetlands.
As a result of the complete absence of hairs in the root system, blueberries exhibit a high level of sensitivity to fluctuations in soil moisture. Mycorrhizal fungi, with which carbohydrates are exchanged, can be considered as neighbors. All this contributes to the fact that blueberries receive the mineral elements necessary for growth and development, and they begin to absorb water much better.
For planting, you can choose a large number of blueberry species. The existing varieties differ among themselves not only in terms of fruiting and taste, but also in height, which can vary from 1.5 to 2 m.
What blueberry seeds look like
The planting material is a small brownish seed. Depending on which blueberry variety was chosen, the shape of the seeds may vary. They can be oval or round. Planting material is extracted from ripe fruits, while it is recommended to choose the largest berries. Ripe blueberries are kneaded in a small container to a state of gruel, after which the seeds are thoroughly washed and allowed to dry. After the seeds are prepared, they can be planted immediately or sent for further storage in a paper bag. Harvested blueberry seeds can be stored for up to 10 years.
What varieties of blueberries can be grown from seeds
Many varieties can be used to grow blueberries from seed at home. If we consider the most popular varieties, then there are 7 options.
Canadian Nectar is a tall variety, you can start harvesting in early August, fruiting lasts until the second half of September.
Blue scattering is a variety of marsh blueberries, distinguished by very large fruits, sweet and sour taste.
Forest Treasure - Blueberry's distinctive feature is its long fruiting period.
Bluecrop - the culture of this variety is capable of growing up to 2 m in height, has a high level of resistance to many types of diseases characteristic of it, is able to withstand low temperature conditions, so that cultivation is possible in all regions of Russia.
Earley Blue - the ripening process of the first fruits begins in early June.
Patriot - blueberry has a high yield level, excellent taste, withstands low temperature conditions, the ripening process takes place in the second half of July.
Elizabeth is a variety with a late fruiting period, ripe fruits have excellent taste, which attracts many gardeners.
All of these varieties can be sown with seeds obtained from ripe blueberries.
How to plant blueberry seeds
Before planting blueberry seeds, it is advisable to know in advance what time to do it. It is also worth taking into account agrotechnical standards, preparing the soil, containers, planting material and only after that start working.
Recommended timing
Sowing blueberry seeds, if fresh, is recommended at the end of summer. In the event that the planting material is stratified, then it is best to plant it in the spring season. Sometimes blueberry seeds are planted outside immediately. In this case, the work is carried out immediately after the snow has melted and the soil is completely ready for the development of new plants. The planting depth is about 1-1.5 cm.
Selection of containers and soil preparation
Before you start growing blueberries at home, you need to properly prepare the soil. In the event that on the selected plot of land the soil is close to swampy, then the horizontal roots of the culture will quickly capture all the available space. Many experienced gardeners recommend using a mixture of sand and peat for planting.
For mulching the soil, you can use:
- rotted sawdust;
- humus;
- needles.
For growing crops at home, disposable or peat cups are perfect. In the process of growing on a land plot, you will need to prepare holes, at the bottom of which there must be wood chips, if necessary, you can add a small amount of humus. If there is a close occurrence of groundwater, then a drainage layer must be provided.
Seed preparation
Before starting to grow blueberries from seeds, it is recommended to first make sure that they are germinating or to germinate beforehand, which will further speed up the growing process. To do this, you need to take a clean cloth, moisten it with water, and gently wrap the blueberry seeds. Leave until the planting material begins to germinate. This method allows seeds to germinate very quickly. This is especially true if the recommended disembarkation dates have been missed.
In the springtime, when planting dates are right, blueberry seeds are placed on the surface of the soil. Often they are not even sprinkled with sand. The first shoots can be seen after 30 days. Some gardeners use special rooters, on the basis of which they prepare solutions and place seeds in them for a certain period of time to improve germination.
Landing algorithm
It is necessary to plant blueberry seeds in prepared containers filled with nutritious soil. The planting material is carefully laid out on the surface of the soil in a container, making a small distance between the seeds, and then covered with a small amount of sand. At first, watering should be moderate, but frequent. It is recommended to ensure that the seeds do not float during the irrigation process.
How to grow blueberries from seeds
Containers with seeds should be in a warm place with good lighting, while they will need to be covered with glass. After a few weeks, the first shoots can be seen.
Creation of an optimal microclimate
After you have managed to germinate blueberry seeds, you should take care of the ideal development conditions. For mulching you will need:
- sawdust;
- bark;
- dry leaves;
- sour peat.
It is important to understand that for the normal growth of a culture, the acidity level should be about 3.7-4.8. To achieve the required indicator, you can use acetic or citric acid.
In addition, for planting seedlings, a sunny area must be chosen, protected from strong gusts of wind. If you plant blueberry seeds in partial shade, then you should not rely on a good harvest and high taste in the future.
Experienced gardeners say that it is best to plant several varieties of blueberries on the land at once. This is primarily due to the fact that you can not only get a good harvest, but also immediately provide the crop with excellent pollination.
Watering and feeding schedule
When growing blueberries from seeds at home, it is worth not only choosing the right planting site and preparing the seeds, but also applying fertilizers during the growth process, and providing a high-quality irrigation system. This will directly affect not only the growth rate of blueberries, but also the taste of ripe fruits, the level of yield.
Regardless of where exactly the seeds were planted - in a greenhouse or in the open field, watering must be regular and abundant. In order for moisture to remain in the soil as long as possible, it is recommended to mulch the soil. For these purposes, peat or sawdust is perfect. The mulch layer should be about 5 cm.
As a top dressing, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers. For these purposes, you will need to purchase top dressing "Kemira Universal" and dissolve 1 tbsp. l. preparation in 10 liters of water. For 1 sq. m it is necessary to spend about 1 liter of prepared feeding. After the procedure, if the solution gets on the foliage, it must be immediately washed off with clean water.
When to transplant seed-grown blueberries
As soon as the first shoots appear from the planted crop seeds, it is recommended to immediately remove the glass that covered the plantings. As a rule, this happens 2-4 weeks after sowing the planting material. They are engaged in transplanting after 3 to 4 true leaves appear on the seedlings. For growing seedlings, if possible, they are placed in a greenhouse, where they continue to take care of them - to water, apply fertilizers, loosen the soil, remove weeds, and prevent the occurrence of diseases. They are transplanted to a permanent place of growth after the seedlings are 2 years old.
Conclusion
It is quite possible to grow blueberries from seeds; a large number of varieties can be used for these purposes. However, do not forget that you can also face a number of problems, as a result of which it is recommended that you first familiarize yourself with the agrotechnical standards and the available care nuances. We can grow seedlings at home or plant them directly in open ground after preliminary germination.
