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Northland blueberries are among the cultivars that are grown in large volumes in Canada and the United States. However, with the provision of good conditions and simple but proper care, it will grow excellently in our plantation or garden plot, for a long time delighting with a generous harvest of delicious vitamin berries.
History of breeding
The name of the blueberry variety Northland (“Northland”) translated from English means “Northern Land”. It was obtained at the University of Michigan (USA) as part of a program to develop the most frost-resistant varieties of this crop for cultivation on an industrial scale.
Work on it was carried out by S. Johnston and J. Moulton since 1948. Scientists managed to cross the tall Berkeley blueberries with 19-H (a hybrid of the undersized blueberries and the seedling of the Pioneer variety).
Northland was the result of their labors in 1952. Officially, this blueberry variety was introduced into cultivation in 1967.
Description of berry culture
Northland blueberries are valued not only for their frost resistance, high yields and excellent taste of berries. Thanks to its decorative appearance, the plant of this variety looks very impressive on the site in spring, autumn and summer, which gives the landscape designer a luxurious excuse to show imagination.
General idea of the variety
Blueberry cultivar Northland refers to undersized. On average, the height of the bush is about 1–1,2 m, but at the same time it is powerful and sprawling. As a rule, it gives a lot of shoots, often very dense.
The root system of plants of this variety, like blueberries in general, is superficial, fibrous. The absence of root hairs is characteristic.
Blueberry shoots Northland are even, straight. They remain green throughout the year. The branches of an adult plant of this variety are flexible and able to withstand large masses of snow.
Northland blueberry leaves are oblong, smooth, with a slightly glossy surface. In summer their color is bright green, in autumn they become fiery red. The length of the leaf blade is about 3 cm.
The inflorescences of this blueberry variety are small, five-toothed, bell-shaped. They are painted in pale pink color.
Berries
Northland blueberries are round, dense, medium in size (up to 1,6 cm). Their skin is not rough, light blue in color, with a slight bluish bloom. The scar on its surface is dry, medium or small.
The taste of Northland blueberries is sweet, pleasant, with a delicate aroma, very reminiscent of a wild “relative”. The variety was given a high tasting score – 4,0 (on a five-point scale).
Characterization
Blueberry Northland is characterized by a number of strengths that distinguish it from other horticultural varieties of this crop.
Main advantages
The frost resistance of this variety is one of its main advantages. According to American sources, Northland blueberries can easily withstand winter temperatures drop to -35 degrees. Its flowers are able to withstand light frosts. Bred for the northern United States and Canada, this variety is excellent for cultivation in cold regions with harsh climates.
Caring for Northland blueberries will not seem difficult even to a novice gardener. The main features that should be taken into account are maintaining the necessary moisture and acidity of the soil, as well as proper feeding of plants of this variety.
Unfortunately, Norland blueberries are not drought tolerant. She feels the lack of moisture very sharply, so it is extremely important to observe the correct watering regimen.
Northland blueberries are strongly recommended for industrial processing. Its berries are well stored and transported. This variety of blueberries has proven itself well on plantations where manual harvesting is practiced. However, berries can also be harvested mechanically.
Flowering period and ripening period
Blueberry Northland blooms in late spring, abundantly and for quite a long time (approximately 3 weeks).
In terms of fruit ripening, the variety belongs to medium-early: the berries begin to ripen from mid-July. This process occurs gradually and usually stretches until the beginning of August.
Yield indicators, fruiting terms
Blueberry Northland is able to bear fruit already in the second year of life.
This variety is famous for its regular, very high yield. On average, 4-5 kg of berries can be collected from a bush, the maximum amount is 8 kg.
Scope of berries
The purpose of Northland blueberries is universal. Its fruits are very tasty fresh, various preparations (jams, marmalades, marmalades, compotes) and sweet desserts (jelly, marshmallow) are excellently obtained from them. In addition, the berries are perfectly stored dry and frozen.
Disease and pest resistance
The Northland blueberry variety is distinguished by good resistance to pests and a number of diseases, in particular, to the berry mummification virus. However, this culture can still suffer from gray mold, stem cancer, physalosporosis and moniliosis.
Most often, Northland blueberries are harmed by aphids, bud mites and flower beetles.
In addition, birds like to feast on fragrant sweet berries of this variety. To combat them, it is advised to attach strips of a polymer film to the twigs of blueberry bushes, which repel birds with shine and rustling in the wind, or multi-colored fabric ribbons.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Obviously, some of the disadvantages that the Northland blueberry variety is endowed with, fade against the general background of its inherent advantages:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| High winter hardiness and resistance to low temperatures | Weak drought tolerance |
| Early fruit ripening | Increased sensitivity to wind and drafts |
| low bush | Often there is a need to destroy the entire bush in case of its illness. |
| Sweet, delicious berries | High demands on soil acidity |
| High and stable yields | Slow breeding rates |
| Lack of care | |
| Good pest and disease resistance | |
| decorative appearance |
Rules of landing
In order for blueberries to take root and feel good on the site, it is necessary to plant them correctly.
Recommended dates
It is possible to plant Northland blueberries in the ground in early spring and early autumn. But experienced gardeners still recommend the first option: then, by the onset of cold weather, the bush will have time to get used to the new conditions and will get stronger.
Choosing the right place
The plot in the garden where the Northland blueberry is planned to be placed should be open and generously illuminated by the sun: this variety practically does not bear fruit in the shade. In this case, the place must be reliably protected from drafts.
Do not plant a Northland blueberry bush near fruit trees. The berries will be sour, as they will not be able to gain the proper amount of sugar.
Soil Preparation
Northland blueberries are very sensitive to soil. Optimal for her will be a light, humus-rich substrate – moist, but well-drained.
An ideal option that combines all of the above qualities is peat (high or transitional), as well as mixtures based on it.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
It is advisable to buy varietal blueberry seedlings, including Northland, in proven places: special nurseries or at exhibition sites. Biennial young plants with a closed root system and a shoot length of 35 to 50 cm take root best of all.
Before planting in the ground, a container with a seedling of this variety is advised to be placed in a container of water for half an hour. This procedure will help gently straighten the roots.
Algorithm and landing scheme
Northland blueberries are planted in this way:
- dig a landing hole about 0,5 m deep and 50–60 cm long and wide;
- a layer of drainage (gravel or sand) is laid on the bottom;
- fill the hole with a mixture of peat, soil, coniferous litter and humus;
- gently lower the seedling, straightening its root system, sprinkle with ready-made soil mixture;
- mulch the soil with peat, sawdust, tree bark or pine nut shells (a layer of 5–10 cm);
- water the plant with water – possibly with the addition of citric acid (40 g per 10 l).
Holes for planting Northland blueberries should be located at a distance of 1,5 m. The distance between the rows of bushes of this variety should be 2–2,5 m.
How to plant blueberries in the ground and care for them, you can learn from the video:
Culture aftercare
Blueberry variety Northland is unpretentious in terms of care. However, there are certain nuances that should be taken into account so that the plant does not hurt and gives stable yields.
Necessary activities
Watering Northland blueberries is advised regularly (about 1 time per week, during the fruiting period more often – 1 time in 4-5 days). Approximate norm: 1 bucket of water per adult plant. It should be divided into 2 doses – in the morning and in the evening.
Top dressing of Northland blueberries should be carried out with mineral (nitrogen-containing) or complex fertilizers in three stages:
- at the beginning of sap flow (half of the annual rate);
- another quarter is applied at the time of flowering;
- the rest is added during the ovary of the crop.
The necessary procedures for the care of Northland blueberries include loosening the soil. It is carried out several times during the season. In this case, it should be borne in mind that the roots of the plant are located close to the surface – accordingly, the soil should be loosened carefully, without going deeper into the ground by more than 10 cm.
An important technique that helps to suppress the growth of weeds, retain moisture and enrich the soil with organic matter is mulching. The layer of mulch under the bushes of this blueberry variety can be within 5 cm. As such, you can use cut grass, peat or chopped tree bark.
shrub pruning
Regular and proper pruning of Northland blueberries is the key to its health and productivity.
For sanitary purposes, this procedure is carried out in the spring, starting from the age of 2-4 years old bushes. It helps to form a strong skeleton of the plant and serves as a prevention of branch fractures during the fruiting period under the weight of berries.
In summer and autumn, by pruning, they get rid of dried and diseased twigs.
In annuals of this variety, it is recommended to remove flowers in the spring.
Preparation for winter
Northland is a hardy blueberry variety. However, in regions where low temperatures can last for a long time, in winter it will need shelter.
As such, burlap, spunbond, or any other breathable material stretched over a base of pegs or arcs is used.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The most common diseases that Northland blueberries can suffer from are:
| Disease | Manifestations | Control and prevention measures |
| stem cancer | The appearance of reddish spots on the leaves and bark, which quickly darken and increase in size. The stems are starting to dry out. | Affected organs must be cut out and burned. Treatment with fungicides (Topsin, Fundazol). For prevention, avoid waterlogging the soil and excess nitrogen fertilizers. |
| Gray mold | Infected organs (branches, leaves, fruits) first acquire a brown or reddish color, then turn gray and quickly die. | |
| Physalosporosis | Small swollen reddish spots appearing on young branches. The following year, extensive wounds form on the shoots, contributing to their death. | Pruning and burning affected branches. Spraying with Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol, Topsin |
| Moniliasis | Fungus infestation of flowers, leaves, and branches that begin to look like frost damage. Fruits affected by moniliosis are mummified | Treatment of plants with Bordeaux liquid after harvest |
There are not so many pests that interfere with this blueberry variety. The most common of them:
| Pest | Appearance and activity | Control and prevention measures |
| aphid | Colonies of small insects on shoots and young leaves at the bottom of plants. Carrier of a number of viral diseases (stalk cancer). Affected organs are deformed | Effective treatment with insecticides (Karate, Calypso, Aktellik) |
| The Mite | Tiny (0,2 cm) white insect with 4 long legs. Winters in leaf axils. Starting from spring, settles on leaves, buds, flowers. It feeds on plant sap. Galls form on the bark, which become the focus of viruses | Treatment before bud break with iron sulphate, Nitrofen, KZM preparations |
| Cvetod | A small (0,4 cm) dark beetle, the body of which is covered with brown specks. The adult damages the kidneys. The larvae feed on the stamens and pistils of flowers, secrete mucus, which prevents the buds from opening. Flowers dry and fall off | Processing of soil and blueberry leaves with Fufan, Intravir. Periodically shaking and collecting insects from branches |
Conclusion
The Northland blueberry is a hardy, low-growing, high-yielding variety of this crop, bred in the USA. Due to a number of positive qualities, it is deservedly popular with our gardeners. In general, Northland is an unpretentious variety, but its care and cultivation on the site require certain knowledge and skills in order for blueberries to take root well, decorate the garden and please with yields.