How to grow blueberries from seeds at home. Rules for growing blueberries from seeds at home. The best northern tall varieties

From seeds it is easier and more reliable than transplanting seedlings. However, not everyone wants to wait a long time for the harvest. First of all, blueberry seeds need to be selected from a variety of berry options. Choose the most ripe, tasty and large berries. After that, they are prepared for landing as follows.

  1. The berries are dried and put in a refrigerator or underground for the winter, providing a constant temperature from 0 to +5.
  2. In the spring, as soon as it thaws upper layer soil, seeds are sown to a depth of 1-1.5 cm.
  3. The place with seeds must be mulched with a mixture of peat, sawdust and leaves.
  4. In late May or early June, the first shoots appear. They need to be watered and fed regularly.

It is necessary to carry out sowing with seeds immediately based on the constant placement of bushes. If their germination rate is low, sow new plants every spring. However, if you select and prepare the seeds yourself, then usually the germination rate is high, since the seed material is fresh. If you have to buy seeds, then take them in small lots from different sellers.

You can check the seeds for germination before planting. Place them on a cloth, dampen it with water, and keep the seeds moist until they begin to sprout.

It is necessary to plant as soon as it becomes clear which seeds are alive. Too strongly germinated seeds may not have time to adapt in the soil. There is one negative side to such germination - the seeds need to be planted in warm soil. This means that the landing must be made no longer in early spring, but only during the period when the soil finally thaws and everything begins to grow.

How to transplant blueberry seedlings (video)

Blueberry seedlings and where to get them

They are planted in open ground 2-3 years after sowing. Three year olds are the best option to form future plantations.

There are 3 options for obtaining planting material: grow yourself in a greenhouse from seeds, buy ready-made seedlings in multiplats (see photo), dig up wild bushes in nature. The optimality of such actions is determined by the capabilities and needs of gardeners.

Wild blueberry seedlings are more tolerant but yield much less. When growing seedlings at home, you can use the ability of blueberries to root renewal. Under natural conditions of growth on the moss cover of swamps, this plant quickly captures space with the help of horizontally spreading roots.

In the spring, when blueberry leaves begin to bloom, young shoots from the roots will also appear. They can be easily separated from mother plant and transplant to a new location. This must be done as early as possible. It is not advisable to carry out such a transplant in the fall, because the roots may not have time to grow back. But such an escape, together with the root, can be transplanted into a pot and sent for wintering in a dark, cool place. In February-March, the future seedling is transferred to a warm, bright room. After the buds swell in such a bush, it can be planted in open ground.

All of these are cheap and effective ways formation of blueberry plantations. However, if you want to have large bushes with bunches of berries like grapes, you need to buy varietal seedlings.

Popular varieties and their properties

Blueberries are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. It grows in the taiga, tundra and mountains. Despite the ability to grow even in permafrost conditions, it is quite possible to grow it in fertile cultivated soil.

The cultivation of blueberries under cultural conditions was first started in Canada and the United States of America. Now there are about 20 different varieties this plant. Each nursery with blueberry plantations specializes in certain varieties, occupying its own specific niche in the market.

Among all the varietal diversity, the following options can be distinguished.

  • Blue Crop. This is the most spectacular and popular variety in America. Its bush reaches a height of almost 2 meters. The berries are tasty and very large - up to 20 mm in diameter. The variety is mid-season. Berries ripen from late July to early August. Despite its large size and high yield, the variety has good frost resistance.
  • Blue Ray. This variety does not have such a high bush as the Blue Crop blueberry. However, his bush is distinguished by power and branching. Blue Ray blueberries grow up to 2 cm in length, have a small scar and a characteristic tart taste. Reviews about the yield of this variety are the most flattering - up to 6 kg per season from a bush. At the same time, the ripening of berries occurs in early August almost simultaneously.

  • Airlie Blue. The popularity of this variety is due to the ability to produce berries before anyone else. Owners of blueberries of this variety manage to harvest at the end of June. The disadvantages of this variety are the low height of the bush and the unsuitability of the berries for transportation. It also loses in yield - it gives only 4-7 kg of berries per season.
  • Durrow. A nursery specializing in this variety is counting on spectacular blue large berries. However, the size of the fruits is usually accompanied by a decrease in tolerance. In the Darrow variety, this is manifested in the fact that in cold summer the berries do not always ripen. This variety should be chosen by those who are going to breed blueberries in the comfortable conditions of a long and warm summer.

Blueberries: sowing seeds (video)

There are more and more varieties of blueberries every year. Each cattery strives to bring out something special. The main efforts of such genetic and breeding searches are aimed at increasing the yield due to the size of each berry or their number per bush. So for those who have not yet solved the problem of "how to grow a blueberry plantation" for themselves, there is an extensive field for finding the best options.

K category: Useful gardener

Cultivation of blueberries

Blueberry culture originated in the United States at the beginning of this century due to selection the best forms in wild thickets of blueberry tall, as well as from crossing it with American species of low blueberry and southern blueberry. Since the 1920s, this culture has penetrated Canada, Holland, Poland and other European countries. There are now over ten thousand hectares of blueberries in North America. The number of cultivated varieties has become more than 50.

I got acquainted with the blueberry culture in 1984 in the Main Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences in Moscow. From there I brought some seeds of varieties; Blackzhrop, Marketkas, Berkeley and Coville. Of these, I managed to grow nine seedlings that began to bloom in 1988; now they bear fruit every year.

So far, blueberries will have to be propagated only by sowing seeds, since it is very difficult to carry out vegetative propagation in an amateur garden. It is possible that the seedlings will not retain all the qualities of the original varieties. But there may be completely new positive qualities.

My seedlings bear round and bulbous berries, weighing up to three grams. Many branches bend down to the ground under the weight of the crop. The berries sit tightly - up to 30 pieces in a bunch.

Ripening begins in early August, but on some bushes the berries ripen only in October. Ripe berries are dark blue with a waxy coating. Their flesh is dense, green, does not flow when cut. The seeds are very small and flat. To taste, the berries of some bushes resemble blueberries, while others are much sweeter. They are very tasty and fragrant. Stored without spoiling for two weeks.

I have been preparing for sowing since mid-December. I place blueberry seeds in a saucer on a wet sheet of filter paper, under which I put cotton wool. I put the saucer in the refrigerator so that the temperature around the seeds is plus three to four degrees. For three weeks of stratification, I follow the seeds: they must not be overdried, and they must not be waterlogged. If they become moldy, they should be washed immediately with a solution of potassium permanganate and transferred to clean, damp paper. On the 18-25th day, blueberry seeds begin to germinate.

When the seed peel comes off the cotyledons, I transfer the seedlings to the pick box. I fill it with a mixture of four parts of pure peat, two parts of humus and one part of river sand. For each liter jar of this mixture, I add one teaspoon of sulfur (sulphurous). I sift the entire mixture through a metal mesh, which makes this mixture looser. If possible, I add to the mixture of coniferous humus taken in the forest from under pine trees.

For sowing I use wooden box, 15 cm high, covered from the sides with polyethylene film. I plant the seedlings in grooves 0.5 cm deep. I leave a distance of 5 cm between the grooves. Between the seedlings in the groove - 2.5 cm.

I install the box in a pan with water, the level of which should be slightly higher than the bottom of the box. From above I cover the box with transparent glass and keep it in the room in the light, but not under the direct rays of the sun. It is useful to give blueberries additional electric lighting in the evenings.

I water the soil with a spray bottle. I add a little potassium permanganate to the irrigation water.

Lagging behind in development, not germinated seeds, I also transfer them to the grooves, but do not bury them in the soil. They germinate slowly and root themselves.

On warm days of spring, I transfer the box to the garden bed. During the first summer, seedlings grow a little longer than an ordinary match. The next winter, I leave them in a box buried to the brim in the soil of the ridge. During the second summer, the seedlings grow there up to 20 cm in height. I transplant them to permanent places in the garden only in the spring of the third year.

To do this, I dig a trench 100 wide and 30 cm deep in the garden. I fill it with a mixture of sour peat (two parts) and humus (one part). For each running meter trenches I bring 200 g of sulfur. I also bring a crushed mass of old rotten stumps of aspen, birch or oak into the trench. I mulch the top of the trench sawdust.

I plant blueberry seedlings in a trench at distances of 100 cm from one another. Over the summer, they reach 60 cm in height and bush well. For the winter, I bend their tops to the soil.

In the fourth year of life, seedlings reach a meter height. Seedlings bloom in the fifth year of growth, and a significant harvest of berries is given only from the sixth year of growth.

Before each winter, I bend their branches to the surface of the trench, which ensures the normal overwintering of the bushes under the snow. In the future, according to the literature, with the help of periodic rejuvenating pruning, the normal fruiting of bushes can be maintained for 20-30 years or more.
As a liquid fertilizer, I apply solutions of ammonium sulphate, superphosphate for blueberries: one tablespoon per 10 liters of water, as well as ordinary slurry - at least two to three times in spring and early summer.

It is very important to constantly remember that blueberries can only live normally in acidic soil conditions: with acidity values ​​​​from 3.8 to 4.8. Blueberries are very photophilous and always require moist soil. The latter is provided by periodic mulching of the trench surface with sawdust, fallen pine needles, and fallen oak leaves. Do not apply fresh manure under blueberries. It is impossible to lime the soil next to its bushes.

V. Groznov

Cultivation of blueberries

Growing blueberry seedlings is much easier than fiddling with seeds. However, if there are no seedlings, nothing else remains. We have to pay a lot of attention to them until the seedlings get stronger. To do this, you should familiarize yourself in more detail with the rules for growing blueberries from seeds at home.



Culture Features

Distinctive feature Propagation of blueberries by seeds is the fact that the period from sowing to the first harvest can take several years. The berry belongs to the Heather family, for which wetlands are the natural habitat. Their pH level is extremely low.

The root system is practically devoid of hairs. It is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in soil moisture. Blueberries can coexist with mycorrhizal fungi, with which they share carbohydrates. In return, she gets better absorption of water and mineral elements. There are many varieties of blueberries. Some are relatively small in stature, while others reach a height of more than 1.5-2 m.

Modern varieties of berries that are usually planted on the site are hybrids. This is the key to successful cultivation. The root system is skeletal and overgrowing. It starts growing at a temperature of +7 degrees. Under especially comfortable conditions (+17 degrees), it increases by 1 mm per day.



Useful qualities this culture has a lot. Due to the content of antioxidants and a complex of vitamins, it has a positive effect on visual acuity, the functioning of the digestive tract, and reduces the manifestation of allergic reactions.

Unlike other plants, blueberries are unable to move water and nutrients horizontally from one side to the other. For this reason, it must be watered from all sides.



What does the planting material look like?

Planting material is nothing more than small brown seeds. The seeds are oval or round in shape, depending on the variety. They are taken out exclusively from ripe and large berries, which are kneaded to a state of gruel. After that, they are washed, then dried and stored in a paper bag or planted immediately. Assembled planting material can be used for 10 years.





Description of the method of reproduction

To grow blueberries from seeds, they must be stratified. This word refers to a simple, although not a quick procedure. For her, you need moss or wet sand. Planting material is placed there for 3 months and kept at a temperature of 3-5 degrees above zero.

Reproduction of blueberries by seeds can be done in two ways. The term for sowing blueberries with seeds is different and depends on the type of planting material. If these are freshly harvested seeds, they are planted in August, and those that have undergone stratification are sown in the spring.



On the street

You can put the dried seeds in the refrigerator for the winter. At a constant temperature of 0 ... + 5 degrees, they will remain until spring. They are sown in the top layer of soil, deepening inward by 1-1.5 cm. In this case, it is imperative to mulch the soil with a mixture of peat, sawdust and leaves. The first sprouts will appear in early May - early June.

Without feeding and watering, they can die. They need to be sown immediately. permanent place . Do not use heavily germinated material for seedlings.

Not every seed variety is able to adapt to spring soil, which should be warm at the time of planting. For this reason, blueberry seeds should not be planted in early spring.

In room

Seeds can be planted in a pot or box. The propagation method is simple: the seeds are scattered on the surface of the prepared soil. After that, a thin layer (up to 2 mm) of sand is sprinkled on top. If there is no sand, you can use sawdust. In this case, the thickness of the layer sprinkled on top will have to be increased by 2 mm. Both sawdust and sand need to be moistened with a spray bottle and water at room temperature.

After that, the pot or box should be covered with transparent plastic wrap or glass and placed in a sunny place. It's good if it's warm. This will speed up the germination of planting material.



In order to prevent the death of newly appeared sprouts, it is worth considering several important nuances:

  • the substrate with germinating seeds should be watered and ventilated;
  • when mold appears on the surface of the soil, it must be treated with a fungicide;
  • glass or film is removed as soon as shoots appear (after 2 to 4 weeks from the moment of sowing);
  • transplantation is possible only when the first true leaves appear (these are 3 and 4 leaves after the first two);
  • for growing seedlings can be placed in a greenhouse. A bush can be transplanted to a permanent place (in open ground) 2 years after planting.



When using a peat tablet, it is poured with 50 ml of water at room temperature. After it increases 5 times in height while maintaining the diameter, blueberry seeds with perlite are placed in it. After that, it is placed in a pot with soil prepared in advance, sprinkled with sand on top. Then put on the lid of the pallet. Excess water will accumulate on the lid due to drainage.



What varieties are suitable?

The breeding method of blueberries is suitable for garden varieties. It can be grown from the seeds of the following varieties:

  • "Canadian nectar" - tall blueberries with berries ripening in early August - mid-September;
  • "Blue placer" - marsh variety with large berries, distinguished by a sweet and sour taste;
  • "Forest Treasure" - shrub culture with long-term fruiting;

"Canadian Nectar"

"Blue Scatter"

"Forest Treasure"

  • "Blue Crop" - tall blueberries up to 2 m high, disease resistant, frost-resistant;
  • "Early Blue" - a variety ripening in early June;
  • "Patriot" is a high-yielding and frost-resistant variety that ripens in the second half of July;
  • "Elizabeth" is a berry of late fruiting, characterized by frost resistance and good taste.

"Blue Crop"

"Airlie Blue"

"Patriot"

"Elizabeth"

Any of these varieties can be sown with seeds from ripe berries.

Soil preparation

Growing blueberries at home requires proper preparation soil. If the type of soil in the area is close to swampy, the horizontal blueberry root system can quickly capture the space. The best soil for sowing blueberries - a mixture of sand and peat. In order to mulch the soil, you can use:

  • rotted sawdust;
  • humus;
  • needles.

Chips and branches of conifers are poured to the bottom. Top add a mixture of peat with sand, rotted sawdust. You can add humus. When preparing the soil, ash should not be used. It reduces the acidity necessary for the proper growth and health of the bush. To fertilize the soil, you can use comfrey infusion.



Germination

To verify germination or speed up the process of growing blueberries for seedlings, you can put the seeds on a damp cloth and keep moist until germination. This method will allow blueberry seeds to germinate faster if planting time has been missed. Some growers store seed bags in the refrigerator for stratification purposes.

In the spring, when it is necessary to plant them, planting material is placed on the surface of the soil. Sometimes they are not covered with sand at all. However, planting correctly means following the technology. A greenhouse (an ordinary plastic bowl) is placed on the windowsill. Do not wait for seedlings quickly. The maximum period of appearance is about 1 month.



agriculture

Conditions for growing blueberries include open areas, acidic soil, moderate soil moisture, proper pruning of the bush and planting according to all the rules. The size of the planting pit is approximately 60x60 cm. Before planting, the seedling is taken out of the container, fluffed up with a clod of peat, straightened the bent roots. They are placed vertically in the landing pit.

Blueberries need weeding. However, this must be done very carefully. Work with a slipper in trunk circles should be extremely careful. This can damage the root system.

Seedlings are extremely sensitive to transplantation. Until they take root, it is necessary to carefully monitor the water regime.



For this berry, you can use soil brought from a pine forest or marshland. Landing pits can be spilled with a solution:

  • citric acid (3 tsp per 10 liters of water);
  • vinegar 9% (1 cup per 10 liters of water).

Blueberries love sunny places, otherwise the berries will be small and sour. In order to increase productivity, it is necessary to cut the bush. This should be done in late autumn, when the bushes shed their leaves.



Care

Caring for blueberry sprouts begins with the sowing of seeds. While they are small, it is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the soil. There are other nuances:

  • do not irrigate the soil with ice water;
  • after planting in open ground, it is necessary to add nitrogenous fertilizers to the soil, but organic matter is excluded;
  • row spacing should be at a distance of 2 m;
  • in the spring it is necessary to add mulch with a layer of up to 10 cm, using sawdust;
  • cut the bush should be in early spring. In young bushes, small and diseased shoots should be removed;
  • it is necessary to remove old shoots when the bush is 6 - 7 years old;
  • green cuttings are carried out in July;
  • to get large berries, you need to leave no more than 4 - 5 strong stems on the bush;
  • bushes can be fenced so that the crowns do not touch the ground: this increases productivity;
  • it is necessary to ensure that the bushes do not close; this is reflected in the taste of berries and productivity;
  • during the period of ripening berries, watering is a prerequisite for care.







After how many years does it bear fruit?

To get the first harvest on garden plot or in the garden, at least 2 years must pass from the moment of planting. Sometimes you have to try the first berries later. The term depends on the type of soil, temperature regime, climatic features of the region, shading of the selected area. Sometimes gardeners note that the first berries can be removed from the bush after 4 years. The bush grows in different ways, which also depends on the care and sun that blueberries love.



In order for the plant to please the owners of the site with ripe and tasty berries for a long time, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • The best and long-lasting fertilizer for the bush will be coniferous sawdust. You need to sprinkle them occasionally.
  • You can not plant a bush where water is constantly in excess. From moisture, the access of oxygen to the roots will be blocked, the plant will die.
  • The main plant diseases are associated with the soil. If the acidity is neutral, the leaves turn pale. Digging up, removing the soil, adding peat and re-planting will help save the plant.
  • It is better to plant the plant in the spring. Such plants are stronger, they are more adapted to the climatic conditions of the region.
  • The berry does not like overheating of the soil. The ground around the bush should be covered with sawdust or planted with cranberries.
  • It is necessary to monitor the acidity of the soil. The plant needs gray peat. This is moss that has rotted for several years.



When planting, you can use riding peat. It is mixed with the earth in proportions of 1: 1. It will retain water and create the conditions necessary for chemical composition. You can add "cubic rot" (the remains of rotten pine stumps) to the planting pit. white color). They will help ensure that the blueberry roots receive the necessary nutrients from the soil.

Soil type matters, which varies from region to region. If it is clay, you will have to plant blueberries on raised ridges. If this is not done, after rain on a flat surface, air will be blocked for the roots. Therefore, the plants will rot. Black soil harms the roots when overheated. It must be hidden from the sun.



Some gardeners, when planting bushes in open ground, use a film for a permanent place. It is covered at the bottom of the landing pit.

However, for optimal conditions, it is necessary to make perforation in it. If the ground is sandy on top and clay below, there is no need for a film.



ABOUT useful properties blueberries can be talked about for a long time, to describe its healing effect on the body, it would take a whole treatise. How could I resist and not try to acquire such a wonderful plant ?!

Unfortunately, it is not possible to buy blueberry seedlings in our village, there are no nurseries nearby. The only garden center in the neighboring regional city, frankly, does not indulge in an assortment of plants. But how could that stop me?

I picked two types garden blueberries, paying attention to frost resistance, taste and ripening time: Bluecrop (Bluecrop) and Blue Ray (Blue Ray). Knowing that blueberries love acidic soil, in the fall I prepared a bed for her. And in the spring, these seedlings were handed over to me by relatives from Moscow (once a week a commercial bus leaves directly from the village to the capital).

To my great regret, none of the seedlings survived. Either the unusually early onset of the heat did not give them a chance to take root, or the negligent producer transplanted them into containers right before the sale (when I took out the earthen clod from the container, the substrate completely crumbled from the roots).

The disappointment was so strong that for several years I did not want to think about repeating the experience. And the children made me remember this) Recently, by some miracle, fresh blueberries were brought to our supermarket in small plastic containers. The girls liked its taste so much that I dared to try to get blueberries in my garden again. Only now I decided to grow it from seeds. Of course, the first harvest will have to wait more than one year, but how interesting it is to participate in the growing process!

We took seeds from the largest blueberries. They prepared them for landing in the same way as they did.

Soil was prepared for sowing: 1 part of peat, 1 part of sand, 1 part of soil for seedlings. Dry seeds were sown on the surface and then the soil in the container was moistened from the sprayer. Soil moisture is very important point, here the main thing is to find a golden mean. That is, do not leave it dry and do not overmoisten. I did this: I spray, take 10-15 minutes to soak, then carefully check with my finger somewhere in the corner where there are no seeds. After the soil was soaked, I put a regular plastic bag on the container and sent the blueberry seeds to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

In order for them to germinate, they need stratification at a temperature of 1-5°C for 90 days. While they are stratified, they do not need light or oxygen. Once a week I take them out and check if the soil is dry. When the stratification period is over, I will take them out and then the blueberry seeds will germinate at room temperature. Until seedlings emerge, the plastic bag will remain on the container.

If the experiment on growing blueberries from seeds is successful, my joy will know no bounds! It’s a pity that there is almost no practical experience, only theory, but for me good advice would not interfere. Friends, if you can help, suggest - write, I will be glad to friendly support!

And it is a distant relative of blueberries. Eating its berries in food is very beneficial for the body. The fruits of this plant are valued, for example, for slowing down the aging process, improving the activity of the nervous system, and contributing to the normalization of digestion processes. Of course, many gardeners would like to see this culture on their site. Therefore, later in the article we will deal in detail with how to grow blueberries in the country.

What are the varieties

to select this useful plant began in 1908. To date, a huge number of blueberry varieties have been bred, which can be classified into several large groups:

  • undersized;
  • northern high;
  • rabbit eye;
  • southern high;
  • semi-tall.

All these varieties are rather whimsical in care and require careful adherence to planting technology. A summer resident who wondered how to grow blueberries on a plot should know that for middle lane Russia is best suited for its northern tall varieties. They are valued primarily for a fairly good yield and resistance to low temperatures.

The best northern tall varieties

Most often in the gardens of the Moscow region and other regions of central Russia you can see blueberries:

  • Bluecrop. This variety of medium fruiting period attracts gardeners primarily for its drought resistance, frost resistance and productivity. In addition, it is distinguished by immunity to diseases. It is the blueberry variety Bluecrop that is the reference when creating any others.
  • Elizabeth. The berries of this variety ripen rather late, but they differ in simply wonderful taste. It is usually recommended to summer residents for growing on their plots as a dessert.
  • Patriot. This variety is good primarily for its high yield. Blueberry Patriot is tall and can produce up to 9 kg of fruit in one year.

For the Urals and Siberia, such varieties of this culture as Taiga Beauty, Canadian Nectar and Divnaya are excellent. All these varieties are characterized by increased resistance to cold. Not bad for the northern regions of Russia, the Blueberry variety is also suitable.

How to choose a seat

In the wild, blueberries are known to grow in swampy and rather shady areas. However, garden varieties of this plant of close occurrence ground water and do not like the lack of light. A plot for blueberries should be chosen quite dry. Groundwater in the place where this crop is grown should not come closer to the surface than 0.5 meters. This applies to most varieties. In a waterlogged area, blueberries Patriot, Bluecrop, Divnaya and others will not feel well and may even die.

In the absence of sufficient lighting, blueberries stop fruiting. Therefore, it should be planted away from garden trees, solid fences and even

Where to get seedlings

A young blueberry bush for summer cottages can be purchased at a nursery or grown independently from seeds or cuttings. However, most often, seedlings of this cultivated plant are still purchased from farmers. The fact is that getting blueberry bushes from seeds or cuttings on your own is quite difficult.

How to grow blueberries: planting dates

It is possible to transfer seedlings of this crop to a permanent place both in autumn and in spring. The latter option is considered more preferable. The fact is that the root system of this plant develops rather slowly. And this means that by winter, blueberries may simply not gain sufficient strength. As a result, by spring, the plant is likely to freeze.

What should be the soil

Blueberry is one of the few garden plants that prefer acidic soil (with a pH level of 3.5 to 5). On ordinary loam, this culture does not take root. best solution will prepare for this plant a mixture of the following composition:

  • 1 part high-moor peat;
  • 1 part of coniferous leaf litter;
  • some crushed pine bark.

What is worth knowing

When wondering how to grow blueberries in the country, one important advice from experienced gardeners should be taken into account. No organic fertilizers should be used when planting blueberries. The same goes for ash. If this rule is neglected, seedlings may simply not take root. It is completely useless to use organic matter on acidic soils. In addition, it, like ash, leaches the soil.

Preparatory activities

Blueberries are planted on the site in pre-dug trenches or pits. In order to subsequently not mix garden alkaline soil with an acidic substrate prepared specifically for this plant, the walls of the latter are often lined with moisture-permeable geotextiles. Of course, in this case, the pits and trenches must be of sufficient width. Sometimes blueberries are planted even simply in large tubs. The distance between the pits should not be less than 1.5 m.

The blueberry bush itself should be soaked in water for about 10 minutes before planting. You can use for soaking and a solution of a root-stimulating agent.

landing on site

After the pits for this crop are ready, the prepared soil mixture should be poured on their bottom with a layer of about 20 cm. All the earth should be removed from the roots of the seedling. You can simply wash it off with warm water. It is impossible to plant blueberries together with an earthen clod, since this plant cannot straighten its roots on its own.

You need to install the seedling in the pit straight and exactly in the middle. Garden blueberries, which should be planted quickly, will be better accepted if their roots are neatly straightened. You need to fill the bush carefully, trying not to damage anything. After planting, the root neck should remain on the surface.

Plants should be immediately mulched with peat or coniferous leaf litter. Planted blueberries are watered with water with citric acid diluted in it in an amount of 2 tsp per bucket at the rate of 5-7 liters per bush.

Plant care: basic activities

The blueberries planted on the site will subsequently have to:

  • water;
  • weed;
  • fertilize.

Also, the owners of the cottage will need to constantly monitor the level of soil acidity. In order to prevent a decrease in fruiting or even death of plants due to alkalization, it is imperative to purchase a kit in a specialized store to check the level of soil acidity.

How to water plants

It is impossible to overdry, as well as strongly overmoisten, blueberries. In the first year after planting, this plant is usually watered once every two or three days (5-7 liters per bush). If the moistening procedure is carried out less frequently, the peat soil will harden very quickly, and the plant will not be able to put new roots into it.

In subsequent years, blueberries can be watered once or twice a week. In this case, slightly acidified (for example, 9% vinegar) settled warm water should be used. Watering should be done from a hose with a sprayer. Otherwise, the soil under the plants may overcompact. After each watering, the near-stem circle of blueberries should be loosened.

How to feed

Fertilizer for blueberries should be chosen correctly. They begin to feed her from the second year after planting. Fertilizers need to be applied to the soil twice a season. Grown on acidic peat soils crops are usually deficient in macronutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and magnesium. To make up for the deficiency of these substances, it is worth using complex fertilizers. This can be, for example, "Kemira wagon", compositions intended for conifers, double superphosphate, etc.

Ash for plant nutrition during cultivation, as well as during planting, should not be used categorically. Such fertilizer for blueberries as organic is never used.

How to determine which macronutrients plants lack

Choosing fertilizers for blueberries should be based on which nutrients lacking in the soil. The lack of certain macronutrients greatly affects, first of all, appearance plants. So, if blueberry leaves began to turn yellow and the formation of new shoots slowed down, it means that it lacks nitrogen. Necrotic spots indicate a lack of potassium. Plants with reddened leaf blades should be fed with a product containing large quantity magnesium, and with blue - boron.

Blueberries are especially useful and delicious berry, therefore, a large number of gardeners willingly agree to plant one in their garden. by the most in a simple way to do this is to use seedlings. In order not to buy them, you can sow the seeds.

Blueberry Features

As the description of blueberries in the scientific literature makes clear, the plant belongs to the Heather family. The optimum environment for this plant is a marsh environment with a low pH.

The blueberry bush begins to bear fruit in about 3-4 years from the moment of planting. The plant has many varieties that differ in height, size and taste of berries, flowering and fruiting period. The bush begins to grow as soon as the air temperature rises to 7 degrees Celsius. If the street is more than 18 degrees with a plus sign, during the period of active growth, it can increase by 1 mm in just one night.

The root system of the culture can be skeletal and overgrowing. The plant is resistant to frost, but very sensitive to fluctuations in soil moisture.

Growing blueberries at home

On a note: Blueberries are distinguished by a high content of useful trace elements (iron, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium), vitamins (groups B, E, P, C, A). That is why blueberries are often recommended for various diseases of the blood, digestive, urinary, vascular systems.

What does blueberry planting material look like

Answering the question: what do all blueberry seeds look like, it is worth saying that outwardly they are very similar to buckwheat, however, they are very small in size. They have the same uneven, round or oval shape. The seeds are different brown. Breeding of the plant can only take place if the seeds themselves are ripe. Therefore, they are taken out of overripe berries, the flesh of which is more like gruel. Planting material (seeds) is lightly washed and dried in a natural way.

Important! Their shelf life is 10 years. For long-term storage, blueberry seeds are placed in paper bags.

Reproduction methods

Blueberry seeds can be planted immediately after harvest and proper preparation, in August. You can also use stratification technology. This is a simple procedure aimed at the most successful preparation of seeds for planting. Planting material should be placed in a container filled with wet sand or moss. So the seeds are aged for 3 months at a temperature of 3-5 degrees Celsius. Stratified seeds can be planted in the spring.

On the street

As soon as the snow melts on the street, and the earth is ready for the birth of new plants, blueberry seeds can be sown. If such a gardener collected in August-September last year, then they can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to +5 ℃. They are planted immediately in a permanent place, to a depth of about 1-1.5 cm. You can count on the appearance of sprouts as early as May-June.

First blueberry sprouts

Important! Sowing blueberry seeds should take place taking into account the needs of the variety. A mandatory process is the mulching of the earth with a mixture of peat or leaves, sawdust.

In greenhouse conditions

Blueberries grow rapidly from seed, which is grown at home. For the plant, you need to prepare suitable containers filled with earth. Seeds can simply be spread out on the surface of the earth, and covered with a thin layer of sand (up to 2 mm) or sawdust (4 mm) on top. After planting, the ground must be watered, and then covered with plastic wrap to ensure the greenhouse effect. Another option is to cover with glass and put in a sunny place.

Seedlings should appear in about 2-4 weeks. Noticing them, the film must be removed immediately. From time to time, seedlings need to be aired and watered. It is allowed to transplant a plant when at least 5-6 leaves appear on it. A plant can be planted for a permanent place of "residence" 2 years after sowing.

For what varieties is such reproduction

You can grow a blueberry bush using seeds of the following varieties:


Soil preparation

Those who are thinking about the question of how to grow blueberries from seeds at home should, first of all, take care of right choice soil. If the area is swampy, then the blueberry roots will quickly take root. The best option for blueberries, which will help it grow quickly, will be a mixture of sand and peat.

At the bottom of the pit, where the seedlings will eventually fit, sprigs of conifers or wood chips fall asleep. Then spread a layer of peat with sawdust.

For mulching (backfilling the top layer) are perfect:

  • humus;
  • rotted sawdust;
  • needles.

Important! It is forbidden to sprinkle blueberries with ashes, because such material reduces acidity, so the plant will not produce the desired yield and will grow very slowly.

Germination

In order to make it easier to plant blueberries and germinate faster, some owners offer seed germination. To do this, the seeds of the plant are placed on a clean, damp cloth and kept there until they germinate.

Having planted the plant, a container with it (greenhouse) is placed on the windowsill. Shoots from seeds at home appear after 1 month.

Agricultural technology

Important! The best result can be expected if blueberries are planted in accordance with the basic agrotechnical conditions. Like all blueberries, blueberries do best in acidic, moist soil.

The optimal size of the planting pit for a permanent place is 60 by 60 cm. The distance between the rows cannot be less than 2 m. place the plant vertically in the hole.

planting blueberries

It is allowed to fill up the pit with earth brought from the forest or marshland. If necessary, you can slightly acidify the soil. For this purpose, vinegar dissolved with water (1 cup per 10 liters of water) or citric acid (3 tsp per 10 liters of water) is added to the pit.

Berries will be large if the bush is in a sunny place.

Care

Unlike forest, garden (home) blueberries require proper care. A seedling never goes without watering. You also need to “water” the plant in case of dry weather, as well as during the period when berries appear.

Mulching should take place every spring. A layer of sawdust is best suited for this purpose. You can fertilize the plant with nitrogenous top dressings, however, not with organic fertilizers. Cultivation of the land around the bush is mandatory during the first 3-4 years of blueberry life.

Note! Plant care will be incomplete if it is not systematically cut. For a successful harvest, you need to do such work in the fall, when all the leaves from the bush have already fallen off. Old shoots are best removed when the plant is 6-7 years old.

Growing seedlings

Planting ordinary seedlings can occur almost throughout the growing season. In the spring, such work can be done as soon as the earth warms up a little, and there are no more night frosts.

If the seedlings have an open root system, they can be planted in April and October. The optimal planting depth is 6-8 cm deep. If the soil is heavy, the diameter of the planting hole should be more than 65 by 65 cm, and the depth is slightly less than in the usual version - 5-6 cm.

You can add "cubic rot", as well as peat, to the planting pit. Such additives contribute to the conservation of moisture, the optimal chemical composition of the soil. The blueberry root system becomes more developed.

Some owners suggest using plastic films that cover the bottom of the planting pit. They will prevent root rot in case of stagnant water.

At the beginning of this year, I did a successful experiment growing blueberries, lingonberries, and cranberries from seeds. Now I decided to continue experimenting and also start sprouting blueberries.

There is a large selection of seedlings on the market. different varieties blueberries 1-3 years of age. The price for one seedling ranges from 300 to 700 rubles. A bag of seeds cost me only 75.5 rubles. However, buying blueberry seeds is not very easy. They are rare in regular stores. Yes, and in online stores the choice is not great. I bought my seeds in the company's online store SyDeKa - Harvest Bed. Seeds are cheaper than, for example, on the Obi website. I needed exactly a variety of Canadian tall blueberries up to 2 meters high. Variety "Canadian Nectar" is exactly what I need. It just so happened that I buy all the berry seeds from SyDeK. Other seed producers somehow bypass these rare berries for some reason.

Seeds are packed in an additional bag. The seeds are small, but there are quite a few of them. In the photos I have given you can see how many seeds. In the bag are the seeds that I set aside for the future. And on cotton pads, seeds prepared for stratification. Blueberry seeds on the left, and lingonberry seeds on the right. Below are already covered cranberry and blueberry seeds. I decided to re-sprout the other three crops. You never know what will happen to the seedlings that I grew this spring. Maybe they won't survive the winter or something. Lots of seeds. And even left.

Germination and further care for blueberries is absolutely similar to other lingonberries. Before sowing, the seeds must be stratified - hold for 2-3 months in the refrigerator at a temperature of plus 2-4 degrees. For this, the topmost shelf of the refrigerator and the vegetable tray are best suited. And only after that sow in a special soil. On the back of the seed sachet is quite detailed instructions about germination. I do it a little differently.

I do not immediately use soil, sand or sawdust. Slightly damp cotton pads are suitable for removing makeup. You don't need to re-moisturize them, but you don't have to overdo it. The first three days I keep the seeds at room temperature. Then I change the discs to new ones, moisten them and put them in the refrigerator until the beginning of March. Periodically I will check the moisture of the seeds and make sure that they do not get moldy. If you put the seeds for such a time on wet high-moor peat, they are guaranteed to become moldy in such a time. They will have to be washed and treated with potassium permanganate. They may also die. The main thing is to use spring, melt or water from a well. Tap water cannot be used. And the snow also needs to be collected not right at the entrance. At least in the park and at least 200 meters away from the nearest road.

After stratification, the seeds must be placed on a special soil. It happens on sale. It is a soil for azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and heather crops. This time I will be using Peter Peat primer. Last time I prepared the soil myself. How to prepare the soil, I wrote in some detail in my review on lingonberries and I will not repeat myself. It is important to understand that all lingonberries need a very acidic soil with a Ph of 3.5 to 5.0. The soil should be light and not very nutritious. Requires the presence of river sand. Ordinary store soils are not suitable for these plants. It is also necessary to fertilize with special fertilizer for rhododendrons. I use fertilizers from Bona Forte for azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and heathers.

In the first year, I will keep blueberries in separate containers in a greenhouse covered with lutrasil. The shoots are weak. They may freeze. And only in the spring of the second year I will plant them in a permanent place. At the same time, there will be time to slowly prepare a place for blueberries. The place must be specially prepared. You can read about it on the Internet. There are many articles. The place for blueberries should be sunny and not subject to northerly winds. It is better to land on the south or southwest side. With a lack sunlight blueberries will be sour, small and weakly born. I am writing this so that before doing such a thing, you need to have the right place for landing.

Caring for blueberries is similar to caring for other lingonberries. It is important to take care of the plant in the first year. Then the plant is already gaining enough strength and is able to cope with many adversities on its own. Blueberries, like all lingonberries, are ideal for our climate. If everything is done correctly and then the correct care of the bushes is ensured, the plant will delight with a bountiful harvest of healthy berries.

I recommend this method obtaining seedlings of plants because you can save a lot. And the process of germination and further cultivation blueberries are not much harder proper care for the same blackcurrant. It is important to do everything right initially and then maintain. The cost of the berries themselves is also high in stores. And it is still unknown what chemicals they are crammed with.

Popular in Europe, blueberries are rapidly gaining demand in Russia, since the berries of this shrub have proven to be very useful for the human body. A significant content of vitamin C and a variety of minerals, combined with a characteristic delicate taste, makes a healthy delicacy a dream for all summer residents. But, despite the variety of pleasant properties, farmers are in no hurry to grow shrubs on their plots. The reason for this is the lack of experience in planting and caring for blueberries. In fact, there is nothing complicated in this process, you just need to arm yourself with reliable information, the effectiveness of which has been tested in practice.

As mentioned above, blueberries are a shrub with dark gray bark and green shoots. The shrub is characterized by smooth and fairly short leaves - no more than 3 centimeters. Blueberry flowers are slightly larger, but still do not differ in colossal sizes - about 6 centimeters. As for the fruits, blueberries turn out to be very small - a little more than a centimeter. They can be easily identified by blue color and abundance of seeds. characteristic feature fruit is a bluish bloom. The beginning of the blueberry flowering period falls on May, and by the last month of summer, the shrub begins to bear fruit.

Conditions

If we talk about the industrial cultivation of a plant, then only acidic soils. Experts often use a litter of rotted leaves, which not only helps to improve the water regime so important for blueberries, but also significantly increases the fertility of the land.

To create for the bush ideal conditions on a personal garden plot, you will need:

  • bark;
  • sawdust;
  • sour peat;
  • foliage.

The main task of the farmer at this stage is to ensure that the acidity of the soil is between 3.7 and 4.8 pH units. Acetic or lemon acid help you achieve the desired result.

Important: blueberries will grow well and give a generous harvest only on soil that is characterized by moderate moisture.

This means that areas located in the lowlands and prone to swamping are immediately excluded. The plant is very afraid of high humidity, an excess of moisture in the soil leads to decay and death of the root system. As a result, the bush stops growing and no longer produces a crop.

When choosing a place for planting blueberries, you need to find a site that will be sufficiently lit and well protected from the winds. If you plant a plant in partial shade, you can not count on a rich harvest. Plus, the quality of the fruit will noticeably decrease. The lack of light also leads to an increase in the growth time of the shoots, which means that by the first frosts, they can simply die before the first frosts.

Experienced farmers say that it is most advisable to plant not one, but several varieties of shrubs on their site. Thanks to such a cunning move, it is possible to provide the plant with not only excellent pollination, but also count on a fairly generous harvest.

Seed preparation

If you decide to grow blueberries not with seedlings, but with seeds, then you will have to be patient.

Traditionally, seeds are taken from those fruits that have already matured quite well. They must be thoroughly kneaded with your hands until a soft mass is obtained, and then rinse what happened with water. Since there are a lot of seeds in blueberries, many of them will remain at the bottom of the container - they are exactly what we need.

At the next stage, the seeds need to be thoroughly dried - for this we spread them on a special filter paper. In principle, after these manipulations, the seeds can be immediately used for sowing. If you do not plan to do this right away, they can be folded into a paper bag and stored for up to 10 years.

Before sowing the seeds, they must be subjected to a process of stratification, that is, they must be prepared for germination. Despite the terrible name, the procedure is quite easy, although not fast. It is necessary to find moss or wet sand and place the seeds in it for about 90 days. The temperature should be between 3 and 5 degrees.

Sowing

Sowing blueberry seeds involves knowing some of the nuances. For example, if you are going to use freshly harvested seeds, then you need to sow them in the last month of summer, but seeds that have been stratified are sown in the spring. There are two main options for how to sow the seeds of a plant: in a pot or in a box. The most important thing is that the container is filled with peat.

No need to be zealous and try to put the seeds deep into the substrate - there is no need for this. They should simply be scattered over the surface of the soil, and then pour sand on top (with a layer of up to 3 millimeters).

Instead of sand, you can use crushed sawdust, but then you need to increase the layer thickness to 50 millimeters. Plus, it will have to be watered.

After these procedures are over, it is worth covering the container with glass and placing it where there is a lot of light and enough heat.

A substrate with germinating seeds periodically needs to be not only watered, but also ventilated.

Do not be afraid if you suddenly notice mold in the soil - you just need to treat it with fungicides.

The first sign that it is time to remove the glass is the appearance of the first shoots.

This usually happens 4 weeks after sowing the seeds. During this period, it is very important to ensure that the plant is properly watered. Now you have to wait until the first real full-fledged leaves appear on the seedlings. Only then can they be transplanted into containers.

grown seedlings

Alternatively, you can move the plant to a greenhouse, then growing faster.

top dressing

Not only the intensity of growth, but also the quality and quantity of the crop will depend on how the correct feeding is provided to blueberries. Whatever place you choose for growing - a greenhouse or a hotbed - seedlings should be generously watered with water, as well as with a special solution of mineral fertilizers.

To prepare the solution, you will need:

  • fertilizer "Kemira" - 1 large spoon;
  • water - 10 liters.

The components are thoroughly mixed, after which they can be used immediately. For one square meter land is usually consumed about a liter of top dressing. It is very important to wash off the solution from the leaves of the plant after the procedure. Blueberries need to be fed from April to June - about once every 14 days.

Important: lime and manure are unsuitable fertilizers for growing blueberries, since they are poisonous to the plant, therefore, the shrub will simply die after such “feeding”.

Transfer

In the spring, the material is removed, after which the seedlings are transplanted into the "school". This is their home for quite a long period - here they will grow for about 2 years. And only after that you can transplant the shrub to the site in the garden or vegetable garden that you have looked after for them. You can count on the harvest only after 2 years of waiting, however, it is not yet worth drawing conclusions about the productivity of the grown plant. Only for the 7th year of life of blueberries can one judge which seedlings are best suited for further cultivation of the shrub.

Planting a shrub in a permanent place

If you have chosen low-growing plant varieties, then planting pits must be placed at a distance of 80 centimeters from each other. If your choice fell on medium-sized or vigorous varieties, then the distance between the holes must be increased to 120 centimeters.

The usual depth of the planting hole is about 50 centimeters, and the diameter is 70 centimeters, however, when it comes to loamy soils, there are some nuances. In particular, it is necessary to reduce the depth of the pit to 30 centimeters, but make it wider. Plus, soil features require an additional drainage layer of about 15 centimeters. Alternatively, you can plant the plant on a comb.

Mulching

In October, you need to start mulching the soil with peat, the layer of which should be about 7 centimeters. For greater fertility, peat must be covered with spunbond - sometimes even 2 layers are used. Thus, gardeners prepare the plant for wintering.

pruning

As soon as the age of blueberries reaches 6 years, you need to think about pruning the plant. This procedure is carried out in the spring, when the earth has time to recover from frost, but the buds have not yet blossomed. To rejuvenate the shrub, you must first cut the crown, as well as remove all dry shoots and old, dead branches.

In addition to pruning, it is recommended to periodically loosen the soil. Thus, breathability is improved. However, this should also be done carefully, because the roots of the shrub are not too deep. Therefore, the depth of soil processing should not exceed 3 centimeters.

Video - Growing blueberries from seeds

Many people are interested in how to grow blueberries from seeds at home. To do this, it is worth choosing the right planting material and carrying out all the necessary preparatory work. To achieve good results, seedlings should be provided with optimal temperature regime, suitable humidity, timely fertilization. Also young plant needs protection from diseases and pests.

Blueberries belong to the Heather family. Fruiting begins 3-4 years after planting. Today, many varieties of blueberries are known, which differ in height, size of berries, and taste. The timing of flowering and fruiting can also be different.

The growth of the bush begins from the moment the temperature rises to +7 degrees. If the temperature exceeds +18 degrees, the bush can increase by 1 millimeter literally overnight. The roots of the plant are skeletal or overgrowing. The culture is resistant to frost, but has a high sensitivity to fluctuations in soil moisture.

Can it be grown from seed?

Blueberries are rarely grown from seeds. This is usually done by breeders to develop new varieties. However, some gardeners also resort to this method. To do this, it is recommended to collect the bones of ripe fruits, dissolve the pulp in water and mix. Seeds that have settled to the bottom are suitable for planting in the ground. They are recommended to be collected, dried and sown.

Experts advise performing this manipulation in August.

Suitable varieties

Garden blueberries have many varieties. To achieve good results in breeding culture, you should choose the most suitable one. For seed propagation, the following options are used:

  1. Airlie Blue - this variety is characterized by sprawling bushes that reach 1.6-1.7 meters. The culture grows rapidly and produces large fruits of a light blue hue. Their diameter reaches 18 millimeters. Ripening begins in June.
  2. Canadian Nectar - has tall bushes that reach 1.8-2 meters. They are covered with large blue berries that have a rounded shape. Ripening usually begins in the second half of August.
  3. Patriot - is a tall culture. It is able to tolerate 30-degree frosts. Harvest can be harvested at the end of June.
  4. Blue Crop - is a high culture that reaches 2 meters. It is characterized by medium berries. The plant is extremely cold tolerant.
  5. Forest treasure is enough tall plant, which reaches 2.2 meters. The culture is characterized by long fruiting.
  6. Blue placer - a variety obtained by crossing different populations. It is characterized by high resistance to frost. Berries reach 0.6 grams by weight and have a sweet and sour taste.
  7. Elizabeth - grown in the eastern regions. This plant can tolerate severe frosts. Fruiting begins at the end of summer.

Preparatory work

To get a strong plant, you need to properly prepare planting material, soil, capacity.

Seed selection and stratification

Blueberry seeds can be bought at any specialty store or collected by yourself. At the same time, it is worth considering the ripening period, the size of the berries, and resistance to lower temperatures. When collecting seeds yourself, it is recommended to take into account certain features. To do this, use only ripe fruits.

To extract the seeds, the berries should be kneaded with your hands. The resulting mass should be thoroughly rinsed with water. For planting in the ground, only those seeds that remain at the bottom of the dishes are suitable.

The bones should be dried a little on paper. After that, they are ready for planting in the ground. Also, planting material can be completely dried and folded into paper bags. In this form, it can be stored for more than 10 years.

Before planting, dried seeds are subjected to stratification. This important procedure prepares the seeds for germination. To improve germination, seeds should be placed in wet sand or moss. In such conditions, they should be 3 months. In this case, the temperature regime should be at the level of 3-5 degrees.

Tank and soil preparation

It is recommended to plant fresh seeds in the soil at the end of summer. The landing of stratified material is carried out in the spring. To do this, you can take ordinary flower pots or containers. Tanks are recommended to be filled with high-moor peat. To get good results when growing blueberries from seeds, it is worth choosing the right soil. The plant takes root well in swampy areas.

To ensure rapid development of the culture, it is recommended to use a composition based on sand and peat. At the bottom of the recess in which it is planned to plant seedlings, it is worth pouring coniferous branches or wood chips.

Then you need to put a layer of a mixture of peat and sawdust. For mulching the top layer of soil, it is recommended to use needles, humus, and rotten sawdust. It should be borne in mind that it is strictly forbidden to sprinkle blueberries with ashes. This substance provokes a decrease in acidity. Because the plant will not give good harvest and will develop slowly.


Landing schemes and rules

Planting seeds is shallow. This is done to a depth of 2-3 millimeters. After planting the plant, the container should be lightly watered. After completing these simple steps, the seedlings should be moved to a room with good lighting and covered with glass.

It is very important to water the culture and ventilate it. After 2-3 weeks, we should expect the appearance of the first sprouts. At this point, it is recommended to remove the glass and continue watering.

When 4-6 small leaves appear, the plant is recommended to be planted in a greenhouse. At the same time, it is worth constantly monitoring its growth, irrigating and applying a solution of mineral fertilizers.

Necessary conditions for germination of sprouts

For blueberry cultivation to be successful, it is necessary to create a plant optimal conditions.


Temperature and humidity

A favorable microclimate is of great importance for seed germination. In this case, it is necessary to ensure sufficient humidity parameters. Of no small importance is the temperature regime, which should be 23-25 ​​degrees.

Illumination of the place

Blueberries love well-lit areas. Therefore, it is recommended to place it on a sunny windowsill. Also, a box with sprouts can be taken out to the balcony.

Airing

In order for blueberries to receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, a container covered with glass must be systematically ventilated. When mold appears, the substrate is recommended to be treated with fungicidal preparations.

What to do after the appearance of the seedling

When sprouts appear, and 3-5 true leaves form on them, they are transplanted into small containers or a greenhouse for growing. In this case, it is worth observing the interval between cultures. It should be 10 centimeters. It is recommended to grow blueberries in a greenhouse for 1 year.

Watering

While growing seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse, they need to be watered systematically. At the same time, it is important to remember the sense of proportion in order to exclude rotting of the roots.

top dressing

When growing blueberries, it is very important to make timely mineral fertilizers. To improve the composition of the soil, you need to take 1 tablespoon of Kemira and mix with 10 liters of water. For 1 square meter, 1 liter of such a mixture is required.


After feeding the culture, the solution should certainly be washed off the leaves. It is recommended to fertilize 1 time in 2 weeks. This is done from April to mid-July.

Bush formation

To form a fruitful bush, it should be systematically cut. This has a positive effect on crop yield parameters. To get a strong foundation, formative pruning is performed in the spring. This should be done before the appearance of the kidneys.

In the first year of development, the length of the shoots should not exceed 10 centimeters from the root.

The rest is recommended to be cut off. After winter, the bushes should be carefully examined. If broken, dry or frozen branches are identified, they should be removed. In young plants, it is recommended to leave 4-5 central shoots. Subsequently, they will form full-fledged fruitful bushes.

When choosing a technique for carrying out the procedure, it is worth considering the height and spreading of the crown:

  • straight bushes are cut in the center;
  • varieties with spreading branches should be cut from the bottom and sides - otherwise the bushes will begin to intertwine with each other, which will lead to the creation of an impenetrable thicket.

Mulching

This procedure is recommended to be carried out in October. Peat is used for soil mulching. Its layer should be 7 centimeters. To increase soil fertility, peat should be covered with spunbond. In some cases, even 2 layers are used. This allows you to prepare the plant for winter.

Transfer

Protection against insects and diseases

The most common blueberry problem is stem cancer. This results in small red spots. After some time, they increase, become oval and acquire a chestnut-brown hue. Gradually, the spots merge with each other and provoke the death of the shoots.

To avoid pathology, it is important to control soil moisture. In addition, it is not recommended to exceed the dosage of nitrogen preparations. Blueberries are also susceptible to other fungal pathologies. These include phomopsis, botrytis, moniliosis.

Of the pests, birds that peck berries are dangerous. A thin mesh helps protect the bushes. When attacking harmful insects, insecticidal preparations are used. For this, Aktellik or Karbofos is suitable.

Will a berry plant bloom and bear fruit

Blueberry bushes begin to bloom and bear fruit approximately 3-4 years after planting. At this point, it is possible to evaluate their taste.

How to propagate at home

Reproduction of blueberries is carried out not only by seeds. This procedure is also carried out in the following ways:

  1. Root cuttings. To do this, it is worth separating the stalk from the parent bush, placing it in the sand and putting it in a cool place. After 1-2 years, it is possible to get a seedling. Harvest on it will appear the next year after planting in open soil.
  2. layering. To implement this method in spring or summer, you need to bend the branch to the ground. After that, it is recommended to sprinkle part of it with soil, which will ensure the formation of its own roots. The following year, the seedling should be separated from the main plant and moved to a permanent site.

What are the most common problems faced

In order for the plant to fully develop, you need to use the experience of qualified gardeners:

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