Garden blueberry is still a rare guest in our gardens. But gradually it gains popularity. Its fruits contain many useful substances for the human body. They positively affect the functioning of the thyroid gland, heart, kidneys, and brain. The composition of blueberries contains many trace elements and vitamins. No wonder they are valued so dearly.
Origin
Blueberries belong to the genus Vaccinium. It includes the lingonberry, which gave the name to the genus, ordinary blueberries, blueberries. There are different types of blueberries. Marshmallow blueberry (gonobel) grows in harsh conditions of the Eurasian tundra in swamps, at the edge of the forest.
There it is bushes up to one meter high, usually from 30 to 50 centimeters, forming thickets with rounded blue berries. It comes into bearing after 10-17 years. Swamp blueberries are very frost-resistant. But a small amount and inexpressive taste of berries, later fruiting do not give the opportunity to cultivate it everywhere.
In the gardens they grow not wild, but garden. High-yielding varieties of blueberries came to us from Canada and America. There its cultivation is put on an industrial basis. In America, blueberries also grow in swamps. The bushes have an average height of one and a half meters, leaves of various colors: from green to brown. Leaves may have whole edges or prongs on them. Berries grow in size of 10-25 mm. In America, many varieties produce 10 kg per bush; in our climatic conditions, the yield decreases to 7 kg. Some varieties give even less - 0.5 kg. Later ones can be planted only in the southern regions. In the middle lane they ripen by 30%.
Tasty and high-yielding varieties of garden blueberries for the Moscow Region can be grown in a greenhouse.
Tall blueberries are shrubs up to 2 m high. It begins to bloom and gives the first crop at the age of three. The yield of a five-year bush reaches seven kilograms. Blueberries grow and bear fruit up to thirty years.
Berries begin to ripen in July. The cleaning process ends in September. It is facilitated by the fact that ripe berries hold fast on branches for two weeks and do not crumble. They tolerate transportation well. Putting them in the refrigerator, you will stretch the use of these healthy berries for a long period. Long stored even in the room garden blueberry.
Landing and care
In the Moscow Region, blueberries grow only on those soils whose pH level is in the range from 3.8 to 5. Ordinary gardeners cannot measure it at home. Therefore, they focus on plants that grow in the wild in the area. It is best to plant blueberries where horsetail and sorrel grow.
In the forest, the soil is soddy; it passes moisture well. The same conditions need to create a garden blueberry. She loves sunny areas and does not tolerate moisture stagnation. If the underground water in your area lies at a depth of a little more than half a meter, then for planting blueberries specially form a hill. It is good to add needles and peat. After planting, the root circle is mulched so that moisture does not evaporate and the root system does not overheat.
Blueberries have a weak root system. In the forest or tundra, the fungus of mycorrhiza helps to get nutrients and moisture. If you buy a seedling with an open root system, then there is definitely no mushroom there, and it will be difficult to take root in the plant. It is better to buy a bush with a root lump. But buying in places of spontaneous trading is not worth it. Maybe he was planted yesterday in the ground from a neighboring lawn. Quality seedlings are acquired in nurseries.
Garden blueberries come in different ripening times. For planting in the middle lane, early and mid-ripe blueberries are best suited.
The best varieties for Moscow region
- Airlie Blue. Ripens in the last days of June. A bush one and a half meters high. The berries are blue in color, have a pleasant taste, but quite soft. They are poorly transported. Productivity from 4 to 6 kg. The grade is frost-resistant.
- Duke is an early variety. Flowers are not damaged by spring frosts. The crop is stable, about 7 kg per bush. Large berries have a light blue color, tasty fresh, suitable for freezing.
- Blucrop is a mid-season variety of American selection. The bush is up to 2 m high. The berries with a blue coating are large, slightly flattened. Large, reach 2 cm. The taste is good. They can be eaten fresh, frozen and canned. Ripens in August. Harvest from the bush 7-8 kg. The variety tolerates frosts well. It is considered the best of the varieties of garden blueberries.
- Blue Ray has a tall bush, light blue berries and a pungent taste with a noticeable scar. Their size is from 17 to 21 mm. Ripen together in August. The yield from the bush is 6 kg. Frosts up to -34 ° C are not afraid of blueberries of this variety.
- Darrow ripens in late August. The berries are blue, large. The variety is not frost-resistant enough and does not have time to ripen in the cold summer.
- Rankocas is a mid-season variety. The bush forms many shoots that thicken the crown. Therefore, it needs thinning. Berries ripen in mid-July. They are flattened, rather small, 1.4 mm in diameter. Productivity is up to 6 kg.
Advantage early varieties
The early varieties of garden blueberries for the Moscow Region are good because not many berries ripen in this period. If you want to engage in their sale, then you will benefit from a higher price for them.
Frost resistance
Reviews of gardeners warn that garden blueberries do not reach the promised by the manufacturer indicators of 35-40 degrees below zero. They offer all varieties of garden blueberries for the Moscow Region to cover for the winter. This is especially true for young seedlings.
Bush height
In addition to the ripening period, blueberries differ in the height of the bush. What varieties does tall blueberry have?
Varieties for Moscow region:
- Blucrop, Berkeley, Nelson - medium;
- Airliblou, Patriot, Collins, Spartan - early;
- Late Coville, Dixie, Eliot, Berkeley.
These are just some of those that have blueberries, varieties for the suburbs.
Low (or half-high): Northcountry, Northland, Northbley, Northskay. They received them by crossing tall blueberries with narrow-leaf Canadian. They withstand frosts up to 40 degrees. Their low growth becomes an advantage in winters with little snow. The bush is more covered with snow than tall, so it freezes less.
Low varieties of blueberries for the Moscow Region are early ripe or mid-ripening.
Interesting is the Finnish variety Aron, obtained from tall and marsh blueberries. Although more often American has blueberry garden varieties for the suburbs.
Characteristic:
- Northble has a height of less than a meter. Dark blue berries are large, have a sweet and sour taste, ripen early, the first fruits can be removed in July.
- Northcantry has a height of 80 cm and a compact shape. It quickly enters the fruiting period and gives a high yield. The berries are sweet. The variety is mid-season.
- Northland is a sprawling bush taller than a meter high. The berries are dark, with a bloom. Sweet and sour. Rip together in early August.
- Notre-skye up to 60 cm high. The compact bush has high winter hardiness.
- Patriot is a mid-early variety with dark berries. Ripening, they turn first red, then blue. The berries are fragrant, with an excellent dessert flavor. They have different sizes. The bush is not affected by late blight and stem cancer. In the first year after planting, it needs to be protected from frost.
Varieties of Russian selection
The Siberian Botanical Garden produces low-growing, frost-resistant varieties with delicious berries, including garden blueberry varieties for the Moscow Region. This is a wonderful, taiga beauty, blue placer. Their productivity is about one and a half kilograms.
Decorative features
Blueberries look great at the time of flowering. Her flowers, although small, often gathered in bouquets, are unusual in our area, so they immediately attract attention.
She is beautiful at the time of ripening berries. Due to the fact that their ripening is extended for a long period, the bush stands, decorated with colorful berries. Very beautiful garden blueberry in the fall. Its leaves turn red and decorate any garden.