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Blueberry Blueberry was bred in 1952 in the USA. The selection involved old tall hybrids and forest forms. In mass production, the variety has been used since 1977. In Our Country, blueberries are only gaining popularity. The Bluejay variety is not yet included in the State Register of the Federation, which includes verified representatives of different cultures.
Blueberry blueberry description
According to the description of the Blueberry blueberry variety, it forms a powerful bush 1,5–2 m high. The shoots of the plant are erect, strong and thick. Young leaves are green, becoming lighter with age. Flowering culture takes place in the second decade of May.
The Bluedzhey variety tolerates frosts well, is not very susceptible to fungal diseases. Decorative varietal qualities are rated at an average level. In summer, the bush stands out with abundant greenery, and in autumn the leaves acquire yellow-red hues.
The frost resistance of the hybrid is about -34 … -28 ° С. This allows the plant to endure winters under light cover. The variety is suitable for cultivation in most regions of Our Country, from the middle lane to Siberia.
Features of fruiting
To get a high yield, it is recommended to plant at least two varieties of blueberries. Due to cross-pollination, the number of hybrid ovaries increases. For the Bluejay variety, the best pollinators are Bluegold, Patriot, River, Stanley, Northland.
Blueberry blueberries bring a crop in the middle terms. The first fruits ripen in mid-July. In the first wave of fruiting, up to 70% of the crop is removed. The remaining berries are harvested over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
The berries of the Bluedzhey variety are quite dense, ripen in loose clusters. They are light blue in color and waxy. The size of the fruit is 18 – 22 mm, weight – up to 2,2 g. In industrial cultivation, it is convenient to harvest the crop in a mechanized way.
From the bush, from 3,6 to 6 kg of fruits are harvested. They are tasty and fragrant, do not crack, tolerate transportation and long-term storage well.
Berries are used fresh as a dessert, added to yoghurts, muesli, cocktails. For the winter, blueberries are dried or frozen. Jams, jams, compotes are prepared from fruits.
Advantages and disadvantages
According to the description of the variety and photo, Blueberry blueberries have a number of advantages:
- presentation and transportability of berries;
- good taste;
- high yield;
- resistance to cold and diseases.
Bluejay Disadvantages:
- exactingness to the composition of the soil;
- the need for constant care.
Features of reproduction
Blueberry blueberries are propagated by vegetative methods: root offspring, dividing the bush or cuttings. To obtain root offspring, young shoots with a rhizome 5–6 cm long are separated from the bush. When transplanting, the blueberry bush can be divided into parts and new seedlings can be obtained.
The Bluedzhey variety is also propagated by cuttings. In late autumn, the most powerful shoots are selected and cut off. Get cuttings 10-15 cm long, which are kept at a temperature of no more than 5 ° C for a month. Then they are planted in a substrate of peat and sand in a ratio of 1:3. For two years, the cuttings are watered and fed. Fortified plants are planted in a permanent place.
Planting and care
When growing blueberries, Bluejay varieties adhere to planting dates. First, prepare the beds and improve the composition of the soil. When landing, follow the sequence of work.
Recommended dates
Blueberry blueberries are planted in late fall or spring. In the southern regions, work is carried out in October-November. The plant has time to take root on the site before the onset of cold weather. In the middle lane and cool climates, planting is transferred to the middle – the end of May, when the soil warms up.
Site selection and soil preparation
Blueberries prefer sunny areas. In the shade, the yield of the bush decreases and the quality of the berries deteriorates. Plants require loose, breathable soil with an acidic pH of 3,5 – 4,5. In heavy clay soil, bushes grow slowly. A pH indicator is used to determine the level of acidity.
To prepare the soil for Blueberry blueberries, a hole 0,5 m deep and 1×1 m in size is prepared in the selected area. It is filled with acidic peat, bark or rotted needles from the nearest forest. Good results are obtained when planting blueberries in a substrate consisting only of rotted sawdust.
Landing algorithm
The order of planting Blueberry blueberry varieties:
- Dig a hole for seedlings. 80 cm is left between plants. When planting blueberries in several rows, 2 m is kept between them.
- If the soil is clayey, broken brick or crushed stone is placed on the bottom. Layer thickness – from 10 to 15 cm.
- The previously prepared substrate is poured into the pit. A small ridge is formed on the surface.
- The bush is planted at the top of the ridge.
- The soil is watered, mulched with peat or sawdust.
Cultivation and care
In the process of growing blueberries, Bluejay varieties provide care. The plant is watered and fed. Particular attention is paid to the choice of fertilizers. In early spring, the bush is cut, in the fall they must be prepared for wintering.
Watering Schedule
After watering, moisture should not stagnate in the soil for a long time. In this case, the plant needs abundant moisture. Blueberry blueberries are watered every 3 days in the morning or evening. A bucket of water is brought under the bush.
When flowering and fruiting the Blueberry blueberry variety, the irrigation regime is especially important. If there is not enough moisture, then the quality of the fruit will deteriorate, and the bush will not be able to form flower buds by the next season. In drought, the blueberry bush is sprayed with warm water when there is no direct sunlight.
Top dressing schedule
For Blueberry blueberries, choose the right fertilizers. If the soil is not acidic enough, then the appearance of the plants changes: the leaves turn red, the yield drops, the taste of the berries is lost. As a result, the bush stops developing, has an oppressed appearance and may die.
To acidify the soil under Blueberry blueberries, the following fertilizers are chosen:
- ammonium sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate or Nitroammophoska in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water;
- oxalic acid: ½ tsp on a large bucket of water;
- spraying over the ground 1 – 2 tbsp. l. colloidal sulfur;
- citric acid: 3 tbsp. l. for 5 liters of water;
- 100 ml of 9% vinegar per bucket of water;
- potassium sulfate: 40 g per 10 l of water;
- 10 ml of battery electrolyte per 10 liters of water;
- florovit or other complex fertilizer for blueberries.
Nitrogen fertilizers are applied at the beginning of sap flow, later – in the first days of May and June. In summer and autumn, add 50 g of superphosphate and 15 g of magnesium sulfate per bush.
Trimming
The blueberry blueberry is described as a tall bush. Pruning helps regulate its growth and yield. When the bush reaches the age of 4 years, 4-5 strong shoots are chosen from it. The remaining branches are removed. In adult plants, in early spring, old shoots and root shoots are cut off at the root.
Preparation for winter
In late autumn, the blueberry bush is spudded, humus or peat is poured into the near-stem circle. If the winters in the region are cold, then the shoots are lowered to the ground and fastened with metal brackets. Spruce branches are thrown on top. A good way to insulate is to install a frame and cover it with a non-woven fabric.
Pests and diseases
In case of violation of agricultural technology, the blueberry of the Bluedzhey variety becomes vulnerable to attack by pests and diseases. In spring, the leaves and flowers of plants are eaten by the larvae of the May beetle, leafworms, silkworms, and aphids. To protect plantings, insecticides Spark, Karbofos, Aktellik are used.
High humidity causes fungal diseases: gray rot, monoliosis, white spot. Topaz, Fundazol, Bordeaux liquid are effective against diseases. Processing is carried out with an interval of 7 – 10 days. 3 weeks before harvesting the berries, they switch to safer folk remedies: an infusion on onion peel or wood ash.
Conclusion
Blueberry blueberries are a great way to get to know this culture. The variety will require special conditions: good lighting, acidic soil, compliance with the rules of watering and feeding. Blueberry blueberries will thank hardworking gardeners with a good harvest of berries.