Winter-hardy blueberry varieties

Winter-hardy blueberry varieties are characterized by good frost resistance, large fruit and high yield. Winter-hardy varieties are suitable for planting in central Russia and the northern regions. An important condition when choosing a variety is the time of fruit ripening. In cold climates, it is recommended to plant varieties of early, mid-early and mid-ripening periods. When choosing a late-ripening variety, there is a possibility of the berries freezing or not fully ripening.

Winter-hardy blueberry varieties include:

• Weymouth. American medium-sized variety up to one and a half meters. The berries ripen evenly. Ripening period is early. Productivity is good. The variety has good frost resistance.
• Bluecrop. Tall shrub - up to 2 m. The fruits are large, blue in color. The taste characteristics of the berries are high. Medium ripeness variety. The yield of the variety is good - up to 9 kg.
• Northland. The shrub is short - about 1 m, spreading and unpretentious in care. Suitable for landscaping and has good frost resistance. The berries are blue in color and have a sweetish taste. The fruits ripen in mid-July. Productivity is good - up to 8 kg.
• Jersey. A vigorous shrub bred in America. The berries are large, sweet and sour taste with good transportability. The ripening period is average.
• Aron. A low-growing variety up to 1 m. The shrub grows quickly, has good frost resistance and resistance to many diseases. The variety was bred in Finland. The fruits are medium in size - up to 1.3 g and have good taste.
• Atlantis. Medium-sized shrub - up to 1.6 m, spreading. The fruits ripen in August and have a sweet and sour taste. The berries are large – up to 20 mm. Shrub yield 10 kg
• Patriot. An upright shrub bred in the USA. No more than 1.6 meters in height. The fruits are round in shape, slightly flattened. The berries are large – up to 19 mm. Productivity up to 9 kg per bush. Fruit ripening is at the end of July. The variety has a good decorative appearance.

When planting winter-hardy varieties, choose sunny, windless places with light, fertile soil. Blueberries grow only in acidic soils, so it is necessary to add high-moor peat. When planting, you can use fertilizers in the form of ammonium, magnesium, potassium and superphosphate sulfates or use complex fertilizers.

Important: Winter-hardy varieties are best planted in spring at the age of 2-3 years.

Garden blueberry Chandler - cultivation

Growing Chandler blueberries can be a real boon for many gardeners. It is an erect, branched shrub valued for its large, tasty berries. Many of them reach a diameter of up to 30 mm. Chandler blueberries bear fruit at the end of July, but fruiting is greatly extended. Therefore, the variety is not very suitable for market production, but it will feel great in the garden plot.

The shrub is often used for decorative purposes due to its low size - up to one and a half meters - and fragrant, abundant flowering in spring.

Chandler blueberries are suitable for growing in temperate climates with warm, snowy winters. Planting of shrubs can be done both in spring and autumn. The soil for growing blueberries must be acidic. In cases where it needs to be acidified, sulfur is used, as well as malic or citric acid.

When growing, it is necessary to water the plant in a timely manner and mulch the soil. The main emphasis is on pruning and fertilizing. Thorough pruning can only begin when the plant is 4 years old, removing weak and damaged branches. At the same time, the crown is thinned. Anti-aging pruning begins at the 5-6th year of the plant’s life.

Many gardeners underestimate the Chandler blueberry variety, citing the lack of the expected result. In fact, this is a very promising variety, which has its own nuances in agricultural technology.

For the best results, you need to purchase only healthy seedlings with a closed root system. These are the types of plants you will find in a nursery, where modern technologies make it possible to grow a high-quality plant with a high survival rate. Such seedlings are more resistant to cold and most diseases and have high yields.

Another point in growing the Chandler blueberry variety is high-quality feeding. In spring, it is recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers, complex fertilizers and superphosphate. Organic fertilizers are harmful to the plant, so they must be avoided.

In winter, it is better to cover the bush from the wind with protective material, and cover the root zone with snow. This will help prevent the branches from freezing and keep the plant healthy.

Garden blueberry - leaf disease

Blueberry leaf disease is a common problem in garden plots. Many gardeners do not pay attention to changes in the color or shape of leaves - this is a mistake.

The rich green color of the leaves is given by chlorophyll during active photosynthesis. If it is deficient, the plant suffers from chlorosis. This is expressed in a change in the color of the leaves and can lead to the death of the bush. The causes of leaf disease can be different, but the main thing is to start treatment on time.

Causes of leaf chlorosis:

• Lack of microelements. Often, a change in leaf color is accompanied by a lack of elements such as iron, nitrogen, manganese, magnesium. If there is a deficiency of any of them, it becomes noticeable by the color of the leaves. Leaves become lethargic, their color changes and premature fall occurs. To prevent the death of the plant, it is necessary to add the necessary microelements, and then fertilize the plant.
• Viral and fungal diseases. The first signs of serious plant diseases are changes in the color and shape of the leaves. Spots may form on them, which subsequently grow and the bush dies. Many diseases are practically untreatable, so it is important to take preventive measures. Among them are treatment with Bordeaux mixture and other drugs. And also the soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged.
• Climatic conditions. Frequent rain and low temperatures can affect the color of blueberry leaves. In this case, it is necessary to artificially acidify the soil. For this, citric, oxalic, and malic acids are used in a ratio of 1 tsp per 3 liters of water.

Blueberries - trellis growing method

The trellis method of growing blueberries involves the use of several supports. This allows for improved access to sunlight, which makes the berries larger and improves their taste.

To grow blueberries using a trellis method, wooden supports are installed on the ground at a distance of 3 meters from each other. A wire is stretched between them in several rows. Blueberries are planted along the trellis and the shoots are tied to the wire as they grow.

Advice: Low-growing varieties with heavy branches and high yields are best suited for these purposes. The trellis will help hold the shoots under the weight of the berries.

Blueberries - beneficial properties and recipes

The beneficial properties of blueberries and recipes for preparing them will be useful to those who grow healthy berries on their property.

Blueberries are indicated for stomach and intestinal disorders. It relieves inflammation well and improves microflora. Berries also regulate the function of the liver, pancreas and kidneys. Blueberries improve heart function, treat genitourinary diseases and stone formation.

For colds, blueberries improve immunity and have an antipyretic effect.

Blueberries are effective for diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure and even oncology.

There are many culinary recipes to preserve the beneficial properties of berries. The most famous and widely used is the preparation of blueberry jam. For this you will need: 120 g blueberries, 150 g sugar, 100 ml water and a few fresh mint sprigs.

Mint will add piquancy to the jam and diversify its taste. First you need to prepare mint syrup. Mix water with sugar and add mint sprigs. 15 minutes after boiling, you can remove the mint and add blueberries. The jam should cook for about an hour. As soon as the mass has thickened, the jam is ready.

Blueberry compote has beneficial properties. To prepare it, a small amount of berries is mixed with water and sugar. The mixture is simmered over low heat for no more than 10 minutes. The compote is ready to eat.

You can make souffles, smoothies, jelly and other dishes from blueberries. Berries are added to muffins, pies, pancakes, pancakes and other baked goods.

The sweet and sour taste of blueberries will not leave anyone indifferent, and its beneficial properties will help get rid of many diseases.