Contents
Planting and caring for garden blueberries is a process that requires a very careful approach. Growing blueberries is not easy, but if successful, the plant will regularly delight with delicious sweet berries.
General description of garden blueberries
Garden blueberries are a small shrub, the height of a blueberry bush is a maximum of 1 m. The plant is valued for its blue edible berries with a bluish bloom.
What do blueberries love?
Under natural conditions, blueberries grow throughout the western part of Our Country, in Siberia and the Urals. Most often it can be found in coniferous forests and on the outskirts of swamps. Therefore, the plant prefers moist soils and lightly shaded areas with sufficient lighting.
The shrub is very undemanding to the composition of the soil – it can successfully grow even on poor soil, as long as it is slightly acidified. The plant also needs protection from strong winds – in winter it can easily die in strong drafts in open areas.
How garden blueberries bloom
Blueberries usually bloom in the third year after planting. The plant produces small white flowers, drooping to the ground, in the form of pitchers, with a pinkish tint. The flowers are collected in inflorescences of 5-12 pieces each, usually located on the tops of the stems. Flowering continues from late May to mid-June.
What year does blueberries bear fruit after planting
For the first time, the crop can be harvested 4-5 years after planting. Blue berries with a bluish bloom, collected in small brushes, appear in July-September, but stay on the branches after ripening for only about 2 weeks, and after that they begin to crumble.
Secrets of growing blueberries
It is quite possible to grow blueberries in a summer cottage, but it is more difficult to get a quality harvest from it. In order for the bushes of the plant not to die in the first few years, to successfully develop and bear fruit, it is necessary to follow the basic rules of cultivation. Namely:
- water the plant more often, the shrub does not like too waterlogged soil, however, it does not tolerate dry soil very well, so the ground at the roots should always be wet;
- plant bushes at a distance from each other, the root system of the plant is branched, if you place the bushes close to each other, they will grow poorly;
- monitor the level of soil acidity – the plant loves at least 4 pH.
Also, the advice of experienced gardeners on caring for blueberries in the spring is recommended to monitor good drainage of the soil. If the water in the roots of the shrub stagnates, the plant will not be able to develop normally.
What can you plant blueberries next to?
Neighbors in the area for the plant must be selected based on the requirements for the soil. In particular, you can successfully grow next to blueberries:
- lingonberries and cranberries;
- rhododendrons and hydrangeas;
- eternal;
- heather cultures.
But raspberries, gooseberries and currants will turn out to be bad neighbors for blueberries. They prefer alkaline soil and, accordingly, they will not be able to get along with berry bushes in one area.
Is it possible to plant blueberries next to thuja
Coniferous trees, including thuja, are considered to be bad neighbors for other plants in the garden. However, in the case of blueberries, everything is the opposite, she feels pretty good next to the thuja. The reason is the same plant requirements for soil, and thuja and fruit shrubs love acidic soils, so they can grow side by side without problems.
A few tips on what to plant between rows of blueberries
It is customary to plant blueberries in rows with wide intervals – this allows the bushes to actively develop without interfering with each other.
So that at the same time there is no ugly unoccupied space on the site, it is customary to plant mainly perennial grasses between the rows of shrubs. First of all, they allow you to maintain the decorativeness of the garden, and, in addition, they can serve as a natural mulch layer in the autumn period, after withering.
Photos and reviews on planting and caring for garden blueberries also suggest planting juniper and rhododendron, hydrangeas between rows of blueberries. These plants have a superficial root system, do not take too much moisture from the fruit shrub and do not rise high above the ground, respectively, the shading from them is negligible.
How to save blueberry seedlings for planting
Garden shrub seedlings are best bought in the spring, shortly before planting in the ground. However, it also happens that planting material is acquired in autumn or early winter. In this case, the question arises of preserving seedlings before the start of the growing season.
- If the root system of the seedlings is closed, then for the winter it is best to transplant it from a purchased container into a larger pot. It is best to use acidic peat as a nutrient medium; the seedling should be transferred to a new container with an old earthen clod. Until spring, the pot with the plant must be left in a well-lit, but cool place.
- If the root system of the seedling is open, then during the winter months it must be constantly moistened so that the roots of the plant do not dry out. Usually, a seedling with open roots is wrapped in wet newspapers and covered with a plastic bag, after which it is put in the refrigerator. Regularly newspapers need to be changed to new ones, preventing drying out.
At a low positive temperature in the refrigerator, open seedlings can start growing. However, it is still not recommended to place such planting material in pots.
How to plant blueberries seedlings in spring
Planting blueberries in the spring with seedlings is a crucial step in growing a plant. Particular attention should be paid to the timing of landing and the creation of seats.
The most important rule is that you must adhere to a proven landing pattern. Since the root system of the plant grows in breadth, the bushes of the plant must be planted at least 1-1,5 m apart. The distance between rows should be 1,5 m or 2 m.
When to plant blueberries in spring
Bushes of garden blueberries are usually planted in early spring, even before active vegetation begins. It is best to wait until the snow melts and the ground warms up to about 5 ° C.
However, these recommendations concern mainly the South of Our Country and the middle zone. But in the Urals, in Siberia and in the north-west of the country, a plant should be planted no earlier than at the beginning of May, the soil in these regions warms up much more slowly.
Is it possible to plant blueberries in summer
Theoretically, it is possible to plant a garden shrub in the summer. Moreover, for the Urals and Siberia, it is often recommended to use just such a landing so that return frosts do not exactly destroy the young bushes of the plant.
However, summer landing should be carried out in moderately warm and cloudy weather, and not in the midst of the heat.
Where to plant blueberries
Many gardeners mistakenly place shrub plantings in heavily shaded and even swampy areas of the garden, trying to create the most “natural” conditions for the plant. This is a mistake; when cultivating blueberries in the country, the plant makes different demands on its habitat.
So, it is necessary to plant blueberries in areas with sufficient lighting – if you place it in a dense shade, the bushes will not wither, but they will not be able to bear fruit either. Also, the soil at the roots of the plant cannot be waterlogged – the shrub does not tolerate waterlogging, the earth should only be moderately moist.
Pit preparation for planting blueberries
In order for garden blueberries to grow healthy and bear fruit in their summer cottage, it is necessary to properly prepare the planting pit.
- In a well-lit or slightly shaded area, they dig several holes with a depth of about 45 cm and a diameter of at least 90 cm. The roots of the plant do not go deep into the ground, but in the horizontal plane of space they need a lot.
- Suitable drainage is arranged in the holes – chips of pine bark are laid on the bottom, which will ensure good air exchange and water drainage, and at the same time acidify the soil. The drainage layer should be approximately 5 cm.
- High-acidity peat is poured on top of the drainage layer; it will form the basis of the soil. Peat can be mixed with a small amount of fine sand or rotted sawdust.
- A little ordinary soil is added to the peat, it should not be heavy, loamy soil is ideal for the plant.
If desired, for garden blueberries, you can dig not only planting pits, but also trenches, in which case the shrub will also serve as a hedge. To equip the trench, they dig a long hole about 1 m deep in the right place and, according to the standard scheme, equip drainage in it and pour soil.
How to plant garden blueberries in spring
Before planting a plant in the ground, it is necessary, first of all, to prepare a seedling. To do this, it is pulled out of the pot with the root system closed or from the bag if the system is open, and the roots are carefully examined.
A seedling with open roots is enough to briefly put in a container of water. If the roots are in the ground, then you need to assess their condition. If they braid the earthen lump very tightly, then the roots can be slightly stirred up without injuring, so that garden blueberries take root faster in a new place. Before planting, such a seedling is also recommended to be soaked in water.
The landing algorithm itself looks like this:
- in the prepared holes make small indentations according to the size of the seedlings;
- plants are placed in the wells with or without an earthen clod and, if necessary, the roots are carefully straightened;
- garden blueberries should be slightly below the edge of the hole, after which the roots can be completely covered with earth;
- the ground around the planted bush will need to be crushed, and then watered and mulched abundantly.
After planting a blueberry in a summer cottage, it is recommended to cut it slightly and remove the fruit buds so that the plant can use its resources to grow roots and green mass.
How to grow blueberries in the country or on the site
Caring for blueberries in spring and summer is quite simple – it is important to follow the most basic rules. If the place for the shrub is chosen correctly, then garden blueberries will quickly take root and begin active growth, and will soon be able to please with fruiting.
How to water blueberries
Often it is especially important to water blueberries in the first time after planting, it is necessary that the water soaks not only the soil nearby, but also a dense earthen ball at the roots. The soil under the bushes of the plant should always be moist, and the appearance of new shoots will indicate the successful engraftment of seedlings.
Caring for blueberries in the summer involves watering at least twice or thrice a week, in extreme heat and, especially during fruiting, daily. It is also very useful to spray garden blueberry bushes – but this should be done early in the morning or in the evening, when the bright sun has already left the site.
Soil mulching
The soil around garden blueberry plantings must be mulched. Mulch prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, improves the acidic composition of the soil.
For mulching garden blueberries are well suited:
- sawdust and crushed bark;
- peat and sand;
- leaves, hay and straw.
However, you need to be aware of some of the nuances. Mulching blueberries with sawdust and bark is not recommended in the spring, as they will reduce the nitrogen content in the soil. Hay and straw can only be used on light soils, if blueberries grow on loam, then such a mulch will make the soil too heavy and contribute to waterlogging.
The thickness of the mulch layer should be about 10 cm, and the mulch should be laid out within a radius of at least 1 m from the bush in all directions. For the first time, blueberries are mulched immediately after planting, but later, when laying the mulch layer again, its density can be reduced to 5 cm.
Feeding and pruning rules
For healthy development, garden blueberries need top dressing with minerals – nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. It is recommended to introduce it from 2 years after planting, before that the bushes have enough nutrients originally contained in the soil. Fertilize garden blueberries with complex dressings, mainly in the spring, after the growing season begins.
From the age of 3, a garden plant requires regular pruning, mainly sanitary, during which weak and diseased branches of the plant are removed. Pruning is carried out in early spring before bud break. When cutting shrubs, it is necessary to cut not only weak and dry branches, but also small growths located near the ground, as well as thick branches in the middle of the bush.
Pests and diseases
Blueberries are quite resistant to garden pests and are rarely affected by insects. However, in the spring, May beetles and beetles, which eat leaves and flowers, can be dangerous for her. Sometimes scale insects, aphids, leafworms and pine silkworm caterpillars settle on the leaves of the shrub.
To get rid of pests, it is recommended to use insecticidal agents – such as Aktellik or Karbofos. It is best not to wait for insect damage, but to treat the plants prophylactically – spraying should be carried out in early spring and after fruiting.
As for fungal diseases, garden blueberries most often suffer from the following diseases:
- gray rot;
- double and white spotting;
- stem cancer and drying of branches;
- physalsporosis.
Almost always, diseases appear due to waterlogging of the soil, so it is necessary to carefully monitor the frequency of watering the plant. If ailments nevertheless appear, the plant must be treated with fungicidal preparations, for example, Fundazol or Topaz. It is recommended to carry out annual spring and autumn treatments with Bordeaux liquid for prevention purposes – in the fall, garden blueberries should be sprayed after harvesting.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for garden blueberries are associated with certain difficulties. But if you follow the basic rules of care and follow the special secrets of growing, then the fruit shrub will be able to please you with a bountiful harvest a few years after planting.
