Blueberries, which for a long time were at best a decorative element in our gardens, are now experiencing success, occupying a significant share in the berry fields of various regions. The presence of more than a hundred varieties of cultivated blueberries, bred mainly in the USA and Canada, indicates a great interest in this culture both from the side of breeders and consumers. Read more about garden views that are most suitable for our conditions, read further in the article.

The best varieties of blueberries

Today there are so many varieties of this shrub that they have to be differentiated according to various characteristics, which include:

• berry ripening dates;
• the height of the bushes;
• sizes of berries;
• winter hardiness;
• self-fertility;
• decorative qualities.

Within each of these groups there are the most popular representatives suitable for cultivation in our area.

Early grades

To early belongs blueberries, ripening in July and early August.

The most popular early blueberry selection products:

1. Kaz Plishka is a Polish variety, characterized by the stiffness of the shoots and the spherical shape of the fruit. The berries ripening in the 2nd half of July have a fragrant dessert-oriented flesh and have the ability to remain mature for a long time on the branches, which greatly facilitates the mechanization of the fruit collection process.
   

2. Legation, which is characterized by high productivity, reaching 6 kg per 1 plant. Rather small, but differing wonderful taste berries ripen in the second half of summer and have universal use.
   

3. Sunrise - medium-tall and lush bush does not require frequent pruning. The large fruits of this culture have a slightly flattened shape and have excellent gastronomic qualities, ripening in the middle of summer. The yield of Sunrise is 4 kg per plant. The disadvantage is a certain inability to tolerate frequent frosts.
   

4. Northland belongs to low-growing productive shrubs up to 1 meter high. Its yield is up to 8 kg. The medium-sized blue fruits have a dense pulp, characterized by high taste. The advantages of Northland also include increased resistance to low temperatures.
   

5. The rabbit eye, which is a tall blueberry, rises to a height of over 2 m. Its distinguishing feature is drought tolerance and the ability to grow in soil with high acidity. Purple oval berries weighing up to 7 g have a sour taste, which is why they are consumed mainly in the form of culinary ingredients and additives. This variety is not resistant to low temperatures.
   

6. Weymouth is a very early species, whose large berries, up to 18 mm in diameter, ripen in the very beginning of July, and have a dark blue color, rounded-oblate shape and not very attractive gastronomic qualities. In addition, the berries, having reached maturity, easily showered from the branches. Therefore, Weymouth is prized primarily for its very early maturation.
   

7. Sweetheart is a stunted bush, reaching only half a meter in height, but giving up to 3 kg of large (15 mm in diameter), juicy and delicious berries. The plant is winter hardy, withstands frost up to -40ºС.
   

Late grades

They are represented by blueberries, ripening in August, mainly in its middle or end. The late ripening blueberries are not suitable for regions with a cold climate, since its fruits are not able to ripen before the arrival of low temperatures. These representatives grow best in the southern regions of the Non-Black Earth Region, in Belarus and in the northern regions of Ukraine. Did you know? The popularity of blueberries among the people is evidenced by almost 20 names by which people christened this plant.

The most popular late blueberry in our country is represented by the following varieties:

1. Berkeley . These are sprawling bushes reaching a height of 2 m and giving up to 8 kg of fruit, which begin to ripen in mid-August.
2. Jorma . Blueberries grow to 1.5 m. Large-sized fruits ripening during August are juicy and taste good. Jorma is able to withstand temperature drops of -27ºС.
3. Giant Bleu, whose very large blue berries are 30 mm in diameter. They have a pleasant sweet and sour taste and juicy pulp. The plant is notable for its good winter hardiness, and its fruits are remarkable for its longevity and transportability.
4. Aurora rises to a height of 1.5 m and gives blue small berries weighing up to 1.5 g, which have a sweet-sour taste of dessert direction, elastic flesh and good keeping quality.
5. The Elliott is characterized by tall bushes over 2 m, on which blue extremely juicy berries are ripened, which have excellent gastronomic properties.
6. Bluecrop is a tall blueberry, yield from 1 plant is 9 kg of tart and at the same time sweet berries. This blueberry is able to withstand frost, heat and even drought.
7. A double named so because of the ability to produce twice as much as the average yield. Berries similar to grapes on the plants ripen, each of which has a mass of 2 g and is characterized by sweetness.
8. Artaud is a medium-sized blueberry that gives blue medium-sized berries with a sweet taste and a memorable aroma. It is characterized by its ability to withstand cold up to -27ºС.
9. Concord . It grows to 1.8 m. It has stable crops up to 7 kg. Large fruits up to 2 cm in diameter have excellent gastronomic properties. However, due to the thin skin, they cannot be transported and stored for a long time. Basically, the berries of this variety are intended for fresh use.
10. Sweet Grape - tall plants up to 2 m in height. Bunches of large berries ripen on them, the mass of which reaches 3.5 g. This characteristic allows you to collect from 1 bush up to 9 kg of berries that are different in sweetness and aroma. Moreover, the variety has an enviable frost resistance, which allows wintering at temperatures up to -34ºС.
11. Tophet - a hybrid of blueberries with blueberries. Low bushes fit well into any garden design. Large berries of black color with high gastronomic properties ripen. A top hat can winter in frosts down to -35ºС.

Undersized

Among the blueberry plants, characterized by low bushes, most often stand out:

1. Northblue . Reaches a maximum of 0.9 m in height. It gives dark blue fruits located in the hands with a diameter of up to 1.8 cm. The yield of the variety is low - a maximum of 2 kg from 1 bush. It has very good frost resistance
2. Northland, whose plant height barely reaches 1 m. On it, blue fruits weigh up to 2 g, with a sweet taste and classic aroma. From each bush it is possible to get up to 7 kg of berries.
3. Northcountry is a low-growing variety (up to 0.9 m). Its fruits ripening at the end of August are characterized by light tones of blue and grow up to 1.5 cm in diameter. Their sweet taste is not distinguished by sophistication. Productivity is low, a maximum of 2 kg per 1 plant. However, this blueberry has a very good frost resistance.
4. Polaris, whose bush rises slightly above 1 m. Light blue fruits ripen on it with an average weight of 1.5 g, excellent taste conditions and a memorable aroma. Berries are characterized by good keeping quality and transportability. From each plant, you can collect up to 2 kg of fruits.

Tall

Among this species of blueberry, the most popular are:

1. The river, which is an early ripe culture. The plant grows up to 2 m in height. It ripens fruits weighing up to 1.8 g, creating a yield of 5 kg from 1 bush. The fruits have a good taste with a blueberry aftertaste. The river is unpretentious and has good winter hardiness.
2. Duke, a superfluous large-fruited plant that rises to a height of 1.8 m. Light blue fruits have a mass of 2.5 g, a dense and crispy skin and a sweet taste with little astringency. Productivity is 6 kg per 1 plant.
3. Patriot is a blueberry ripening in late July-early August, which rises to a height of 1.6 m. It has a good yield of very tasty berries - 7 kg from 1 plant. The patriot has good winter hardiness and ability to resist diseases and pests.
4. Blucrop . Plants rise up to 2 m in height. Large fruits up to 2 cm in diameter ripen on them. A characteristic feature of Blucrop is the ability of ripened fruits to remain on the branches for almost 3 weeks. Good frost resistance of the culture is also noted, which allows wintering successfully at temperatures up to -30ºС.
5. Puru, which is a medium-ripening variety with shrubs about 2 m in height, is characterized by a yield of up to 7 kg. Its delicious and fragrant fruits successfully withstand transportation and demonstrate good storability.
6. Toro is a late-ripe blueberry. The plant is about 2 m tall. On it ripen clusters of medium-sized berries that have a taste of dessert and are perfectly adapted for storage and transportation.

Decorative

Before the blueberry bushes became a legitimate part of the berry plants in many gardens, for a long time they served as a sought-after decorative element in landscape design. The beauty of blueberries at any time of the vegetative period allows it to fit perfectly into the garden layout. Moreover, even decorative varieties have the benefit of berries. And, on the contrary, almost all plants of this culture intended for growing fruits have pronounced decorative qualities. Did you know? I years of blueberries are saturated with nutrients, especially antioxidants that help the body fight aging. There are as many of these substances in one handful as there are in 5 carrots or apples, as well as in a portion of broccoli that is similar in weight.

For example, such:

• Northland
• Giant Blue;
• Northbly
• Patriot;
• Puru;
• Bluetta;
• Blue Testimonial.

Self-pollinating

The vast majority of varieties are self-fertile, that is, self-pollinating, species. For a good harvest, such bees, other insects and a small wind are enough. But if a couple of other related shrubs that bloom at the same time grows nearby, this will significantly increase the yield.

Winter hardy

Most garden blueberry varieties were created by breeders in the United States and Canada. Many of them have good winter hardiness.

The most preferred representatives for growing in our area are:

1. Darrow, a tall plant with large light blue berries up to 2 cm in diameter, which have an original dessert flavor. Productivity - up to 8 kg. The bush is able to withstand temperatures of -28ºС.
2. Liberty - is resistant to frost up to -37ºС. Gives large fruits with a sour taste.
3. Weymouth, a mid-early representative with a good harvest of delicious fruits and decent frost resistance.
4. Blucrop .
5. Northland
6. Jersey, giving large fruits of sweet-sour taste, which are distinguished by good transportability.
7. Aron, characterized by excellent gastronomic properties of fruits, good frost resistance and resistance to diseases and pests.
8. Atlantis, giving large berries up to 2 cm in diameter and characterized by good productivity (up to 10 kg).
9. Patriot .

Large fruited

Among the blueberry varieties with large fruit sizes are most often grown:

1. Toro .
2. Bluegold, whose low plants give a wonderful crop of large berries, up to 7 kg. Fruits are distinguished by good keeping quality and transportability.
3. Nelson, characterized by solid fruits up to 2 cm in diameter.
4. Airlibl, a blueberry of early ripening and showing high productivity (up to 7 kg per bush) of large berries.
5. Spartan related to the early. Its fruits reach a mass of 2 g, which allows one plant to receive up to 6 kg of fruit.

Varieties for growing in certain regions

Among the many varieties of blueberries, you can choose those that are successfully able to grow in specific regions. Climate, soil quality and other features of locations affect the selection of a selection product for your garden. Important! Do not feed blueberries with organic fertilizers. After all, they make the soil alkaline, and this culture prefers acidic soils.

In the middle lane

In the middle lane, where cold winters are not uncommon, the best recommended ones are:

1. Blucrop.
2. Patriot.
3. The bonus is a variety whose fruits ripen at the end of August and provide a yield of about 6 kg. The plant is able to winter in frosts down to -29ºС.
4. Bluegold.
5. Duke.
6. Airlibl .
7. Spartan
8. Northland
9. Darrow.
10. Bluery, whose bushes rise to a height of 1.8 m, and the yield is 7 kg. This blueberry can withstand low temperatures up to -34ºС.

In Belarus

Most of all, the cultivar Blucrop is cultivated in Belarus, which has already been discussed above.

Also popular in this country:

1. Patriot.
2. Bluetta, an early high-yielding bush that allows you to pick berries with a very good taste with fragrant pulp already at the very beginning of July. Productivity reaches 9 kg.
3. Chauntecleer, an early ripening variety giving 2 crops per season. Large fruits up to 2.2 cm in diameter have a wine-fruity taste.
4. Airlibl.
5. Blue Brigitte, abundantly bearing fruit 1.5 cm in diameter with good taste.
6. Boniface growing above 2 m and yielding great fruits of spicy taste and attractive aroma.
7. Hannah Chois, he is also distinguished by tallness and good productivity of bushes. Fruits are able to ripen for a long time on branches, not crumbling.
8. Pink Lemonade and Pink Champagne, they are new and differ in the pink color of the fruit. Their taste combines honey tones and lemon sourness. The variety is able to tolerate moderate frosts.

In the Nizhny Novgorod region

In this Volga region, the most popular are:

1. Rankokas, characterized by berries with very good gastronomic qualities, high productivity (up to 7 kg from 1 bush), winter hardiness, good transportability and resistance to diseases and pests.
   

2. River.
   

3. Sunrise.
   

4. Puru.
   

5. Duke.
   

6. Airlibl.
   

In outskirts of Moscow

The best harvests in this region are brought by tall varieties of early and medium ripening, giving up to 10 kg from the bush. Important! Blueberries of any kind gain sweetness in warm and sunny summers. Rainy and cool weather gives the fruit excessive astringency.

List of the most sought after:

1. Duke.
2. Nelson, which is a medium-sized bush (up to 1.6 m), on which fruits ripen up to 2 cm in diameter. These berries have a sweet taste and good keeping quality. Productivity of 1 bush reaches 9 kg.
3. Blucrop.
4. Northland
5. Brigitte Bleu is a late-ripening hybrid. Tall bush - 2.2 m. Medium-sized fruits have high gastronomic qualities. Bush productivity reaches 6 kg.
6. Rankocas.

For the Black Earth

In this region with fertile soil and moderate frosts, the most popular varieties of blueberries:

1. Elliot, which is a tall (up to 2.1 m in height) late-ripening hybrid, giving up to 6 kg of berries from 1 bush. Small fruits are distinguished by good taste.
2. Darrow.
3. Liberty
4. Elizabeth, characterized by large (up to 2.2 cm in diameter) fruits with a sweet, but without sugary, taste and delicate aroma. The variety is able to withstand frosts down to -35ºС.
5. Blues, which possesses, according to the description of gardeners, the most refined taste among other varieties. It has very large berries, reaching 4 cm in diameter. From the bush of Blyujey collect up to 6 kg of berries.
6. Aino, giving up to 7 kg of medium-sized, but sweet fruits from 1 bush. The culture is able to tolerate frosts down to -35ºС.
7. Blue Test, whose fruits begin to ripen already at the end of June and form a good crop of up to 6 kg from the bush. Berries demonstrate a sweet taste and fruit weight of about 4 g.
8. Blucrop.
9. Patriot.
10. Bonus
11. Jorma, capable of overwintering during short-term frosts up to -39ºС. It has large berries with a sweet and sour taste and a pleasant aftertaste.
12. Northland
13. Rankocas.
14. River.
15. Sunrise.

Blueberries confidently gaining their niche in the gardens of various regions. This is facilitated not only by the obvious quality of this culture, but also by the abundance of its varieties, which are actively bred by breeders.