Methods for propagating lingonberries
Methods of propagation of lingonberries include seed propagation and vegetative propagation. Lingonberry is a popular northern berry, common in northern Eurasia, Scandinavia, North America and Asia Minor. Wild lingonberries can often be found in forest-tundra, mixed and coniferous forests. In Russia, garden lingonberries began to be grown in the 60s, when high-yielding varieties were developed.
Methods of propagation of lingonberries include:
- Seed propagation. For this method, ripe berries are selected, from which the seeds are extracted. The best time to sow seeds is late autumn. Peat or sphagnum moss is used for seed germination. You can use a mixture of peat and sand with high acidity. The seeds are placed in the substrate, but not covered with soil. It is important that germination takes place in sufficient sunlight. Planting in autumn ensures higher survival rate. The seeds undergo natural stratification at low temperatures, and the first shoots appear in the spring. If you sow seeds in spring, they must first be kept in cold sand for about 4 months. After warm weather sets in, seedlings appear after 3 weeks.
- Cuttings. Cuttings are harvested in early spring, about 12 cm long. Green cuttings or woody shoots are used. This method is affordable and convenient, since lingonberries produce a lot of shoots. Green cuttings are prepared from annual shoots. They are placed in a growth stimulator for about a day, after which they are planted in a greenhouse. The soil for planting should be peat-sandy. When planting cuttings, at least 2 buds should remain above the soil surface. After two years, the cuttings can be transplanted to a permanent place.
- Root shoots. A convenient and promising method of propagating lingonberries is propagation using root shoots. Lingonberries produce many shoots from which new bushes are formed. In this way you can regularly obtain the required number of plants. They are easily separated from the mother plant. To do this, use pruning shears, carefully cutting the root from the main root. Such bushes have a good survival rate, and the harvest can be expected in the second year.
- By dividing the bush. The lingonberry bush is divided into several parts, each of which has an above-ground part and a rhizome. All parts are planted in a pre-prepared place. This method also has a good survival rate, and fruiting can begin in the same year.
Lingonberry planting dates
The timing of planting lingonberries depends on the selected variety and growing conditions. It is best to plant young seedlings in the spring - this way they will take root better and get stronger. If wild lingonberries brought from the forest are planted on the site, then the spring period will help the shrub to adapt to the new place. Replanting a plant, and even more so changing its usual habitat, is a great stress for the bush. In spring there is a greater chance of simplifying the procedure without consequences.
For planting, you need to choose flat, sunny places, devoid of strong winds. If the selected area is located in a low area, it is recommended to raise it to reduce the risk of freezing and moisture accumulation. Groundwater can lie 40 cm from the soil surface. If their location is higher, the landing site must be raised.
The soil should be peaty with high acidity. Planting holes are prepared up to 30 cm deep. Shrubs should be located 20 cm from each other. After planting, the seedlings are watered and mulched.
Lingonberry bushes that are more than 2 years old can be planted in the autumn, but the variety must be frost-resistant. The plant does not require special shelter for the winter. Lingonberries planted in autumn take root well, and next year you can expect the first harvest.
Soil for growing lingonberries
Soil for growing lingonberries is the key to proper growth and development of the plant. Lingonberries love acidic soils with a pH of 3.0-5.5. Since the soil in the garden plot can be different, it is best to prepare it yourself. The selected place is dug up and cleared of weeds. If the peat content is low, you need to add several buckets of high-moor peat mixed with sand.
Important: To prevent water from stagnating, drainage must be done. To do this, tree bark is laid out at the bottom of the planting hole.
The soil needs to be compacted and acidified. It is best to use a solution of sulfuric acid diluted with water at the rate of 1 spoon per 3 liters for acidification. You can also use oxalic or acetic acid.
When planting, the seedlings are carefully placed in the planting hole, deepening the root collar 2 cm below the ground level. After this, it is necessary to provide the plant with regular, abundant watering and mulch the soil. Pine sawdust is suitable as mulch. They will slow down the evaporation of moisture and prevent the occurrence of many diseases. In the future, lingonberries will need weeding, loosening, pruning and fertilizing.
Lingonberry variety Rubin
The lingonberry variety Rubin is a small shrub up to 30 cm in height. This is a late-ripening variety, ripening in late August - early September. The shrub has dense green leaves that retain their color in winter. The Ruby lingonberry blooms in June with small light flowers. The berries are round, dark red in shape, and medium in size. The taste characteristics of the fruit are high.
The shrub is best planted in well-lit areas - this will allow you to collect high yields. After planting, fruiting begins in the 4th year. The variety is suitable for cultivation in central Russia, as well as in the Urals and Siberia. It has good frost resistance and resistance to many diseases. The shrub does not require additional shelter for the winter. Being an evergreen plant, the Ruby lingonberry variety is excellent for landscaping.
In order not to be disappointed in your favorite variety, you need to approach the choice of planting material carefully. It is best to purchase lingonberry seedlings from a nursery. Modern growing technologies make it possible to obtain a healthy plant with high yields. Such seedlings will take root well on the site and will have high resistance to diseases and pests.
What to plant next to lingonberries
When growing berry bushes, the question may arise: what to plant next to lingonberries? Some plants cannot stand being next to each other, while others, on the contrary, get along well. Lingonberries in nature often grow in mixed and pine forests, in the tundra on peaty or sandy soil with a high level of acidity.
Lingonberry is an evergreen plant that, with proper care, can grow in one place for more than 100 years. Due to its decorative properties, lingonberries are used as a ground cover plant, planted for landscaping and creating flower arrangements.
Lingonberries are best placed next to those plants with which they are found in nature. Next to it you can plant blueberries, sorrel, cranberries, and lilies of the valley. Lingonberries grow well next to coniferous trees, but you need to make sure that there is no strong shading of the bushes. Nightshades would be a bad neighbor for lingonberries. It is better to plant potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers away from lingonberries, since they require a different soil composition with different acidity.