Contents
Small dark purple garden blueberries are good for vitamin C, rich in natural vitamins and antioxidants. Growing blueberries in a garden or summer cottage has features associated with the characteristic features of the culture. Caring for blueberries in the fall is important for continued growth and a stable harvest.
When to Plant Blueberries: Spring or Fall
Wild blueberry bushes grow mainly in areas where a temperate cold climate prevails. In garden plots, it is grown in single bushes or entire plantations, if size permits. With proper planting and following the rules of care, the bushes begin to bear fruit steadily in the 2nd – 3rd year of existence.
The timing of planting blueberry seedlings depends on the characteristic features of the shrub culture. The tree trunk extends up to 1,2 m, the fibrous root system does not have hairs that help trees and shrubs get nutrition from the soil, so the formation of the aerial part of the plant is slow.
In order for the bush to take root and take root, garden blueberries can be planted on the site in autumn or spring. The time for planting is chosen taking into account that the tree adapts before the onset of frost. In the spring, blueberries are planted only before the buds swell on the branches. Many gardeners believe that planting garden blueberries in autumn is preferable to spring because they do not have to take care of the bushes during the spring-summer period, when insects are common on the site that interfere with the adaptation of the bushes and contribute to the transmission of diseases.
How to plant blueberries in autumn
Planting blueberries in the fall is associated with subsequent pre-winter preparation. This means that it is necessary to correctly calculate the period so that there is enough time for preparation and adaptation. In autumn, blueberry seedlings are planted, which are grown from an adult bush over the winter, or seedlings in flowerpots.
Recommended dates
For planting garden blueberries in autumn, warm days are chosen during the second half of September – the first half of October. The calculation of the timing depends on the climatic features of the region. Before the onset of sub-zero temperatures should remain about 30 days. This period will be enough for the rooting and adaptation of culture.
Site selection and soil preparation
Blueberries grow in garden plots where the bushes get enough sunlight. In addition, when choosing a site, the following rules are observed:
- exclude places with through winds;
- choose flat territories;
- avoid places with high groundwater, so that the root system of the plant is not in constant moisture;
- take into account that there are no plantings of tall fruit and berry trees next to blueberries, which can shade berry bushes with their crowns.
Acidic soils are suitable for planting blueberries. Soil acidity indicators should be in the range of 3,5 to 4,5 ph. Loose and light soils are suitable for blueberries, this allows moisture to be absorbed faster and contributes to the active development of a fibrous root system.
Soil preparation for blueberries depends on the initial composition.
Type of soil | Prepare |
Light loam with groundwater at a depth of about 2 m | Planting holes are dug 60 cm wide and 40 cm deep. |
Heavy clay soil | They dig a 10-centimeter hole, cover it with sand, peat and sawdust, plant the seedling on the formed mound so that the root system is buried to the level of the ground surface. The bush is mulched with a high layer of sawdust. |
Sand and peat | They dig a hole 1 m wide, 50 cm deep, cover it with a layer of nutrient acidic mixture (peat, sawdust, needles, sand), then place the seedling, cover it with the remaining soil. |
To increase the acidity of the soil in any area, acidification techniques are independently used. For this, additives of dry sulfur powder or a solution of oxalic or citric acids are used.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Planting material for planting in the fall is purchased from specialized nurseries. The best option is considered 2 – 3-year-old bushes. At the same time, berry varieties are chosen that take into account the characteristics of the climatic zone. For Siberia and the Urals, varieties are chosen that are able to tolerate low temperatures. Branches of seedlings should be strong and healthy, without damage and stains.
Container seedlings cover the roots from inspection, so they are specially prepared for planting. The container is shed a few hours before planting, then a clod of earth is carefully pulled out. The root system of blueberries may sag inward during development due to the flexibility of the roots. When planting, the roots are straightened so that they are directed down and freely located along the planting hole.
How to properly plant blueberries in the fall
Planting blueberries in the fall is followed by special care associated with the season, as well as preparation for winter. The speed of adaptation depends on whether the landing was made correctly.
For a medium-sized seedling, they dig a hole measuring 50 by 50 cm. On garden lands that are prone to active acidification, a special planting method is chosen using a 200-liter plastic barrel. It is laid on the bottom of the landing pit, covered with a layer of drainage. It can take from 10 to 20 cm. Then a small layer of the nutrient mixture is poured.
The seedling is installed in the center of the planting hole, filled with prepared nutrient soil mixture and rammed. About 1 m is left between the bushes, the roots most often grow in breadth, so they need a lot of space. Between rows, the distance is extended to 5 m.
After watering the berry bushes, it is recommended to mulch the soil around. For mulch, acidic materials are chosen: acidic peat, coniferous bark, rotted coniferous sawdust. Mulch protects the soil from freezing, moisture loss and prevents the spread of weeds.
How to care for blueberries in autumn
When planting berries in the fall, caring for bushes before winter takes less time than spring-summer care. During this period, it is necessary to take care of the correct watering and fertilizing of the plant.
The top layer of soil during the adaptation period should be moderately moist. The amount of moisture consumed directly depends on the autumn weather. On rainy and cloudy days, the soil should not be additionally watered so as not to overmoisten the roots.
Dry weather requires weekly watering, about 10 liters of water for each planted bush.
In autumn, potassium sulfate or potassium nitrate is added to the soil. Liquid solutions are not suitable for fertilizer. The complexes are applied with dry granules and dug up with soil. In autumn, blueberries are not advised to fertilize with nitrogen-containing mixtures, they are suitable for spring top dressing.
In addition, an important agricultural technique for caring for blueberries in the fall is the complete pruning of planted bushes:
- weak and damaged branches are cut out completely;
- strong and healthy branches are cut in half.
How to cover blueberries for the winter
In winter, blueberries are covered from freezing. Varieties of the hybridized type, which are created for regions with sub-zero temperatures, are also covered to avoid the loss of garden blueberry bushes.
Preparation for winter begins in the fall after landing and includes several successive stages:
- Watering. Pre-winter watering of blueberries is plentiful. It activates the spring bookmark of the kidneys. Abundant autumn watering is the entire amount of moisture that will nourish the shrub in winter.
- Mulch. If after planting the soil is not mulched, then this must be done in preparation for winter. Mulch acts as a heat and moisture store for the soil. Given the peculiarity of the development of the root system of blueberries, mulch also helps keep the roots from freezing.
- Soil acidification. If after planting there is a suspicion of a decrease in the acidity of the soil, then it is additionally acidified in a warm autumn. With the onset of rainy and cold early autumn, acidification is shifted to the spring period.
- Pruning. The blueberry bush is pruned in autumn without regrets. In spring, thawed branches will begin to grow actively, and in winter they will not be able to freeze through with proper and timely pruning.
For winter shelter, burlap or agrofibre is used. The material of the additional shelter must be dense, but breathable, so that rotting does not start inside the shelter.
Cropped bushes are wrapped with material, tied with nylon threads and secured with additional oppression.
Adult bushes begin to bend to the ground in advance so that the branches bend well and do not break after tying. When the branches lie freely on the ground, they are covered, tied and additional holders are laid. Small heavy boards, bricks are suitable for this.
When snow falls, collected snowdrifts are additionally applied to the sheltered bushes. They will become a natural protective layer against freezing. On this care for blueberries in winter can be considered over.
In the spring, the snow is removed before the melting begins. Then they begin to remove additional shelters so that the shrub is not covered with condensate at positive temperatures.
What mistakes gardeners often make when sheltering blueberries for the winter
Beginners and experienced gardeners are not protected from typical mistakes when growing a berry crop. Many people wonder when it is better to plant blueberries: in spring or autumn, what to do when planting in autumn, whether the bush will have time to adapt before frost. A mistake is the statement of novice gardeners: “If we plant blueberries in the fall, then they do not require any care.” This is a common misconception.
Typical mistakes that can be encountered on the way of growing blueberries:
- Excess moisture. Abundant pre-winter watering should not bring the soil to a swampy state. If the water does not have time to soak in before the temperature drops, then in winter the blueberry bush will freeze.
- Too much acid. During autumn soil acidification, an increased acid content leads to an increase in soil acidity. This negatively affects wintering and harms the further development of the bush.
- Loosening. Pre-winter loosening should not be deeper than 3 cm. Deeper digging of the soil can harm the root system, which is close to the surface of the crop.
Conclusion
Caring for blueberries in the fall is a complex of agricultural practices. Their further adaptation depends on how the autumn plantings of seedlings went. Shelter for the winter and pre-winter care of adult bushes helps to save shrubs without loss and prepare them for spring budding.
