Content
Blueberries are a healthy and tasty taiga berry. It grows in areas with a temperate climate, tolerates sub-zero temperatures and bears fruit consistently in the summer. Wild shrubs have been tamed by breeders and adapted for growing in gardens and household plots. Garden blueberry varieties for North-West Russia take into account the specific climatic conditions of the region.
Climatic features of the region
The Leningrad, Pskov and Novgorod regions are located in the North-West of the country. The proximity of the region to the Baltic Sea gives the climate its characteristic features.
- In the North-West of Russia, a temperate continental climate prevails, turning to maritime;
- The territories are predominantly waterlogged and swampy due to the proximity of the sea;
- The soils of the North-West are podzolic, or peat-bog. To grow fruit and berry crops, additional nutrient mixtures are added.
The Northwest experiences warm and wet winters, rainy autumns and springs, and warm but short summers. These features dictate the rules when choosing a blueberry variety. It is more convenient for gardeners to care for zoned varieties that are ready for the typical natural conditions of the growing area.
Blueberry varieties for the North-West
Blueberries are hybridized for several reasons. Breeders strive to improve taste, increase the size of berries, and also increase adaptive properties, which help to obtain a stable harvest. Each blueberry variety is different from the other. Before choosing for planting, a complete analysis of the characteristics is carried out.
Chanticleer
This is an early variety of blueberries for the Northwest, which was bred by Canadian breeders. The average size of the berries is 2 cm. The bush is tall, stretches up to 1.8 m. Harvesting occurs in the first half of July. Up to 5 kg of fruit is harvested from one adult bush; with intensive pruning and control over soil conditions, the variety can produce up to 8 kg of fruit. Chanticleer is resistant to diseases and can withstand frosts down to –28 °C. The berries are characterized as sweet and sour, suitable for harvesting, freezing and eating fresh.
Chandler
A tall blueberry variety with straight, strong shoots, the bush stretches up to 1.6 m. Fruiting occurs in the second half of August. The berries of the crop are large, with thin skin. They are not prone to long-term storage and transportation, so they are consumed fresh or processed.
Denis Blue
The New Zealand blueberry variety, which is suitable for growing in the North-West of the country, is classified as mid-early in terms of ripeness, the advantage of which is uniform, unextended ripening.By the 3rd – 4th year of existence, up to 7 kg of berries are collected from one adult bush.
Bonus
A variety bred for the main purpose of increasing the size of blueberries. Its bushes reach 1.7 m, the fruits can grow up to 3 cm, weigh 2.5 - 3.5 g. Harvesting begins in July and ends in August. The ripening of berries is uneven. The advantage of the Bonus variety is the quality characteristics of the berries. They have excellent taste, at the same time, have high shelf life, are well stored, and are easily transported.
Blugold
This is a blueberry variety of early ripeness. When ripe, the crop is harvested in the North-West in a short time, since the berries are prone to shedding. The average bush of the variety produces 5 kg of berries, but with proper redistribution of the bush’s forces it can produce higher yields. Bushes of the Blugold variety are compact in size; the shoots of the crop are prone to branching, and therefore require regular pruning.
Weymouth
An early blueberry variety suitable for the Northwest. It is characterized as erect, medium-sized with an extended ripening period. The berries begin to ripen from the bottom, then gradually move to the tops. The average fruit size is 2 cm; 4–6 kg are collected from one adult bush.
Agricultural technology for growing garden blueberries in the North-West
The climate features of the North-West are taken into account when planning planting of garden blueberries. Many gardeners make typical mistakes when planting, which lead to the death of the bush.
How to plant correctly
Blueberries are an atypical crop that grows well in acidic soil and almost stops growing in other types of soil. Places are chosen for it in summer cottages or garden plots where they have enough sunlight.
Recommended timing
Blueberry seedlings in the North-West are recommended to be planted in early spring. When choosing a period when the soil warms up enough to dig a planting hole, planting is done before the buds begin to swell on the shoots.
Site selection and soil preparation
Open, flat areas with sufficient sunlight are suitable for blueberries. Bushes will be uncomfortable in a draft wind or in the shade of large trees.
The choice of site also depends on the planting method:
- the trench method involves preparing long rows and planting at a set distance;
- A single blueberry bush is planted in a hole or a special container.
Soil for blueberries is of paramount importance; all varieties of the crop grow in acidic soils. The root system of blueberries is designed in such a way that it does not have the usual hairs of shrubs that take nutrition from the soil, so acidity levels are maintained at the same level for the bush to fully develop.
For the soil of the North-West it is necessary to add peat and artificial acidification. Soil values should not exceed 4.5 or be below 3.5 pH.
Landing algorithm
The planting hole is prepared in advance; it is dug to a depth of about 40 cm, with a diameter of up to 60 cm. Drainage from pine needles, bark shavings, and pine needles is placed at the bottom of the hole. Then peat is added, making the soil light and loose.
A blueberry seedling is placed on the poured layer, and the roots are carefully straightened, otherwise the bush will not be able to adapt. After laying the nutrient soil and compacting it, the top layer is mulched with acidic mulch.
Rules of care
After planting a variety selected for the conditions of the Northwest Territories, a period of care begins, which takes into account the characteristics of the crop. In addition, care rules are adjusted depending on weather conditions.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
After planting, blueberries are watered as the top layer of soil dries. Blueberries are not drought-resistant, but stagnation of water is also detrimental to the roots.
In the warm summer in the North-West, the blueberry bush is watered once every 4 days. Each bush is watered with 10 liters of water. For irrigation, warm, settled rainwater is used. When the rainy season begins, the amount of watering is minimized.
After planting, blueberries are allowed to adapt for 2 - 3 weeks. When leaves and buds appear, ammonium nitrate is added to the soil. The nitrogen complex promotes the active growth of green mass.
In summer, potassium sulfate and potassium nitrate are added to the soil. Fertilizing with organic matter in the first year of existence is completely excluded.
Loosening and mulching the soil
The soil around the blueberry bushes is mulched immediately after planting. A layer of mulch helps retain moisture, prevents the growth of weeds and the transmission of infections by insects. In this case, the layer of mulch should be of medium thickness so that the soil underneath does not rot.
Loosening is carried out after heavy watering and rain, when adjusting the mulch layer. Garden tools should not be buried more than 3 cm.This is due to the fact that the root system of blueberries of different varieties is located mainly in the top layer of soil, so it is easy to damage.
Trimming Features
The formation of a blueberry bush depends on the selected variety. Spreading bushes are pruned more often than bushes of varieties with medium or small shoot formation. Trimmings are regular:
- in the spring - trim frozen shoots, broken and damaged branches;
- in autumn - before preparing for the winter, cut the planted bushes to the very base, and cut adult bushes to half;
- in summer — the bushes are thinned out so that sunlight reaches all parts of the crop.
Preparing for winter
Blueberries are considered a frost-resistant shrub; for the North-West, varieties are chosen that can tolerate sub-zero temperatures. But many gardeners in the North-West prefer to cover their bushes to prevent freezing. In the north of the region, winter can be snowy and cold, so shelter for blueberries in the North-West of the country is not uncommon.
Preparations for winter begin in advance. It includes several successive stages:
- Pre-winter watering. The last abundant watering in the North-West is done at a temperature of +5 °C; the moisture supply should be enough for the shrub to last throughout the winter. If there is an excess of moisture, the soil may freeze during the first frost, so the amount of water is measured for each bush, based on its size.
- Hilling, mulching. The soil is carefully loosened, thereby creating a protective trench, and the tree trunk circle is mulched with fresh pine needles, sawdust or pine bark.
- Shelter. The branches of an adult blueberry bush are bent to the ground, covered with burlap, tied and created additional oppression.
Pests and diseases
Almost all of the best blueberry varieties for the Northwest have high rates of resistance to diseases and pests.
Fungal diseases can pose a danger if planted incorrectly on soils prone to moisture retention and water stagnation due to depressions.
Powdery mildew begins to develop on the roots, gradually moves to the aboveground part, inhibits the growth of the bush, manifests itself as yellowing and shedding of leaf blades, and shrinking of fruits.
The fungus can be seen on blueberries in the spring. If rotting of the roots began in the fall and developed during the winter, then in the spring the buds on the shrub will have a characteristic black coating, the shoots and leaves will begin to dry out immediately after formation.
Caterpillars may appear on blueberries in the spring, eating the foliage and leading to the death of the bush. You can save blueberries if you treat the plant in a timely manner with special products in the spring. In addition, when caterpillars or butterflies appear, the leaves are sprayed with a soap solution or an infused solution of tobacco leaves.
Conclusion
Blueberry varieties for the North-West take into account the peculiarities of climatic conditions. The best option for these areas are varieties with early or medium ripening.
