Instructions for planting blueberry seedlings in the spring in open ground

Blueberries are recognized as one of the healthiest garden berries. It is used in folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking. The berries are sold fresh and frozen, but the best blueberries are those grown in your own garden. Moreover, planting a shrub does not require special preparation; any novice gardener will cope with this simple matter. How to properly plant garden blueberries in open ground and what recommendations to follow in this case, we will consider further.

Features of reproduction of blueberry seedlings

For propagation of blueberries, one- or two-year-old seedlings with closed roots are used. The advantage of this method is that the seedlings yield the harvest the next year. after landing. Propagation by seedlings is used not only by amateur gardeners, but also by farmers for sale. You can buy blueberry seedlings in specialized stores. Manufacturers prepare planting material by grafting.

Cuttings are cut, stored in a bag, and placed in greenhouses for bud formation. When they take root, they are hardened - they often ventilate the greenhouse, so that in the future the plants have strong immunity. Another feature is that blueberries are difficult to root, so before planting summer residents use growth stimulants, for example, "Kornevin".

When is it better to plant - in spring or autumn

Blueberries are planted both in autumn and spring. Still, spring planting is preferable. The plant is planted in late March or early April before the buds swell. It is better to do this when the snow has just melted and the soil is still slightly moist, and the air has warmed up to + 5 ° С.

In spring, seedlings adapt faster to climatic conditions, which will have a positive effect on the future harvest.

When to plant blueberries in spring

Choose a sunny morning for landing. There should be no wind, rain or snow. The lunar calendar will help you choose the date. It is believed that blueberries do not take root well if planted on a new or full moon.

In 2020, favorable days for planting blueberries are April 24 and 25, or the period from May 2 to 10... These days are characterized as fertile.

Attention! Most blueberry seedlings are sold in containers. The plant has a delicate root system, so the container protects it from damage.

Selection and preparation of seedlings, planting sites and soil

When choosing a seedling, pay attention to the variety. It is important that it is appropriate for the region. For example, for the Urals and Siberia, frost-resistant plants with strong immunity are chosen, for the Volga region - drought-resistant ones. The optimum height of the seedling is 35 cm. When buying, they pay attention not only to its age, but also to its appearance. It should be elastic, without stains, cracks or other damage. Otherwise, it will not take root well on the site. Before planting on the site, the plant is watered abundantly with water.

Blueberries are demanding on sunlight, so they are planted in even rows from north to south. The place should be spacious and well lit. Due to the lack of light, the berries will grow small and sour. Also, do not plant a plant in the lowlands. When growing low-growing varieties, the distance between the bushes is 60 cm, with tall ones - from 1 to 1.5 m.The distance between the rows should be at least 2 m.

Pits for blueberries are harvested 10 days before planting, so that the soil is a donkey. Diameter - about 70 cm, round shape, depth - 60 cm. The best type of soil is sandy and peaty. A drainage layer is made at the bottom of the hole, since blueberries do not tolerate stagnant water. Branches or large coniferous bark are used as drainage. Unlike most garden shrubs, blueberries grow well in acidic soils with a pH of 3-4. To acidify the soil, citric or oxalic acid is used at the rate of 1 tsp. acid per 3 liters of water.

Attention! Before planting, the prepared pits are filled with an acidic substrate - a mixture of peat, sawdust, sand, sulfur is added. It is important to remember that blueberries do not tolerate organic substances - compost, manure, humus. Therefore, blueberries are planted away from plants that regularly need organic matter (currants, raspberries, cherries).

How to plant blueberries in spring

To make blueberries happy with the harvest and not get sick, it is important to follow the recommendations of experienced agronomists.

Step-by-step instructions for planting blueberries in your garden or vegetable garden:

• get the seedling out of the container, give the roots a horizontal position;
• gently knead the earthen ball and spread the roots to the sides;
• make a small mound in the center of the prepared landing pit;
• put a seedling in it, sprinkle it with soil and compact the soil at the base;
• water the plant abundantly, add the remaining soil mixture;
• mulch the blueberries in a layer of 4 cm.

Successful neighborhood with other plants

Good neighbors for blueberries are plants that love acidic soil. Ornamental crops include heather and hydrangea, and conifers - juniper and fir.

From fruit bushes with blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries get along, from vegetables - potatoes and sorrel. Garden greens are also planted nearby.

Unsuitable neighbors are plants that prefer neutral soil. it apple trees, pears, strawberries, gooseberry, melons, carrot, eggplant.

What mistakes to avoid

Sometimes summer residents neglect the rules and plant blueberries without checking the acidity of the soil.... As a result, the shrub does not bear fruit well, it is affected by diseases and pests. To prevent this from happening, it is important to check the pH and acidify the soil. At the same time, the pH should not be higher than 5.5, since in this case the leaves become light green and poorly assimilate nitrogen fertilization.

If you do not knead the root ball during planting, blueberries will not grow. A seedling in a pot is placed in water for 3-4 hours so that the lump is soaked. It is also important not to grow blueberries in garden soil, it is recommended to prepare a substrate from peat and sawdust in advance.

Planting features in different growing regions

Planting features depend not so much on the growing region as on the condition of the soil. For example, in the Urals and Siberia, the soils are not fertile and require careful preparation. The soil is fertilized and acidified, and a drainage layer is prepared.

It is not recommended to drain crushed stone - it neutralizes acidity. If the shrub is grown in a windy area, garden protective belts are built in advance. It can be a fence, a country house, a hedge. It is important to remember that protective objects must not obstruct the penetration of light.

When grown in the middle lane or southern regions, there are no special requirements. The main thing is to set aside a spacious and sunny area for blueberries. Subject to the planting schemes and the neighborhood with other plants, the shrubs bear fruit stably and rarely get sick, they have time to ripen before the onset of frost. In the northern regions, they prefer to grow low-growing varieties, in the southern regions, medium-sized and tall ones.

Further care

Blueberries are watered twice a week, a bucket of water is consumed per bush. The planting hole is kept moist, otherwise the blueberries will bear poor fruit in the next 2-3 years. A watering can is used for watering - it does not erode the mulch, as it happens when watering with a hose. If the summer is hot, in addition to watering, three times a week, blueberries are sprayed with water from a spray bottle.Do it in the afternoon. Spraying protects the plant from overheating and stimulates photosynthesis.

In addition to moisturizing, garden blueberries need mineral fertilizing.... They are applied twice a season with an interval of 5-6 weeks. One bush takes 90 g of ammonium sulfate, 30 g of potassium sulfate, 200 g of ready-made complex fertilizer "Kemira Universal". With the beginning of sap flow, the bush is fed with Azofoskoy or Good Power fertilizer. Top dressing is diluted in water and poured at a distance of 15 cm from the bush. If they are used dry, they are laid out in aisles.

Summer residents keep the beds clean - blueberries do not tolerate weeds and debris. The soil is loosened every week, while making sure that there is always mulch under the bushes. A thick layer of sawdust and pine needles prevents weeds from growing. And if some weeds have broken out, they are removed by hand. The loosening depth should be no more than 3 cm.

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Conclusion

Blueberries are grown in the gardens of the Moscow region, Ivanovo region, Kuban, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar region. In other words, all over the country. The berry is appreciated for its decorative appearance, taste and benefits. Planting blueberry seedlings begins in the spring - in March and April.

The plant prefers acidic soils, so it is important to check the pH level first. For planting, a calm, sunny place is taken, a hole is dug and fertilized. The roots of the seedling are straightened and placed in a hole, sprinkled with water and watered abundantly. For a good harvest, it is recommended to plant lingonberries, sorrel, cranberries nearby. Neighborhood with apple and pear is best avoided.