Planting blueberries

Blueberries are a fairly popular berry in home gardens. But unlike other shrubs, the survival rate in the new place of the berry plant is low. Therefore, it is very important to observe the rules of agricultural technology when planting and create the proper conditions for the full growth and development of culture.

Site selection and soil preparation

Blueberry bushes for full development should receive a sufficient amount of sunlight and heat. Therefore, the landing site should not be closed from the sun. It is better if there are no tall trees and shrubs nearby. If you plant a crop in a darkened place, this will greatly affect the quality and volume of the crop - the berries will be small and sour. Yields may decrease by 3 times.

During the warm vegetative period, the bark on the young branches of shrubs should have time to ripen. In the shade there is a danger that this will not happen and young shoots will not be able to withstand winter frosts

Shrubs prefer moderate soil moisture. Well, if the site will be with a not very deep location of groundwater (up to 2 m).

Soddy soil is best for planting. If we talk about the acidity of the soil, then an ideal indicator is pH 3.5–5. It is recommended to plant blueberries in holes with a drainage layer (15 cm). You can also create a special hill for landing.

Important! Do not plant blueberries in places where water may accumulate after rain. This can be detrimental to the plant.

Since in the wild this culture prefers places with an abundance of high peat, so you need to create the appropriate conditions in your area. The planting pit for the plant is prepared in advance. This must be done 2 weeks before the planting procedure. The optimal diameter of the recess is 60–90 cm. The height of the walls of the pit should be no more than 50 cm, since the roots of blueberries under the ground are at the level of 30 cm.

Before planting a plant, you need to prepare a nutrient mixture, which consists of:

  • rotted spruce lapnik (half a bucket);
  • soil from the forest (half a bucket);
  • peat (1 bucket).

The mixture is poured into the pit 2 weeks before planting, as the soil must settle

Before landing, add another substrate from:

  • high peat (1 bucket);
  • sand (1/3 bucket).

Then watered with plenty of warm water.

Did you know? Blueberries are very beneficial for people with diabetes. The substances contained in the berries are able to regulate blood sugar levels.

Distance between seedlings

To get maximum access to sunlight, the bushes are planted in a direction from north to south when planting. Plant blueberries in straight rows. For ease of care and proper distribution of fertilizers, it is necessary to observe the planting scheme, which provides for:

  • for stunted bushes, the distance between the planting pits is 60 cm;
  • for tall bushes - 1.5 m;
  • the optimal distance between the rows is 2 m.

If you are planning to grow this berry on an industrial scale, then the intervals between the bushes should be much larger - for passing special equipment

The right choice of neighboring plants

Many gardeners are well aware that the proximity of plants in the garden plays a large role in the effective growth and fruiting of crops. Blueberries are no exception. It is important that before planting blueberries in this area, fruit and berry plants do not grow. You should also know that blueberry bushes do not tolerate fertilizers such as:

  • vermicompost;
  • manure;
  • chlorine-based dressing;
  • compost.

Therefore, do not plant plants next to this crop that will need to be fed with the above fertilizers.

Did you know? The fruits of the plant are rich in antioxidants. A handful of blueberries, by their content, can replace 1 kg of broccoli or five apples.

Plants should grow near the blueberry, which, like it, prefer acidic soil. For example:

  • hydrangea;
  • rhododendrons;
  • cranberry;
  • junipers, etc.

For effective pollination of bushes, place other varieties of blueberries next to the bushes. Well, if for the neighborhood you choose varieties of different ripening dates - early, middle and late. During the flowering period, pollination occurs, which very favorably affects fruiting. The berries ripen sweeter and larger, and the yield can increase several times.

Direct landing

If you familiarized yourself with the preparation of a seat and a pit for a seedling, then it's time to find out the sequence of actions when planting a plant. It is best to plant the plant in early spring, before the buds swell.

Important! In order to avoid the development of fungal and bacterial diseases, immediately after planting, treat the seedling stems with fungicides.

Blueberry Planting Algorithm:

  1. Before planting, it is recommended to place the seedling rhizome in water for 15–20 minutes.
  2. Sapling roots need to be straightened well.
  3. The root neck is lowered into the pit by 5-10 cm.
  4. The hole is covered with soil and well tamped.
  5. The seedling is watered with water (1-2 buckets).
  6. The near-trunk space should be mulched with coniferous sawdust, foliage, fragments of coniferous bark (layer 5–10 cm).

Subject to all planting rules, blueberry bushes will generously thank you with the harvest for the third year. The plant is considered a “long-liver” (it grows and bears fruit for about 90 years). Therefore, planted bushes will delight not only you, but also your descendants.

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