Content
Description of the variety and reviews of Elizabeth blueberries will be very useful for the farmer. But the history of the appearance of this variety is truly unique. At the origins of the creation of the hybrid was a passionate woman, the daughter of an American farmer, Elizabeth Coleman White. She fanatically searched the wild forests for specimens with the largest berries. The result of her work was the appearance of the first blueberry variety, which was propagated by cuttings - Rubel. Further hybridization was carried out by Frederick Vernon Coville, and in 1966 the first varietal specimens of Elizabeth blueberries went on sale. This variety of American selection is known all over the world, but is not included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.
Description of blueberry Elizabeth
Highbush blueberry Elizabeth is a medium-late ripening variety. The bush is spreading, erect, up to 1.6-1.7 m high. The shoots are colored reddish, the crown is thick.The leaves are small, dense, dark green, with a pronounced bluish bloom. By autumn they turn slightly red. The flowers are white, mixed with pink, bell-shaped, 1-1.5 cm in length. The root system is fibrous, slightly branched, without a large number of small hairy processes.
Features of fruiting
Elizabeth is a self-pollinating variety. To obtain tastier, juicier and larger berries, it is recommended to plant other varieties with the same flowering period nearby: Bluecrop, Nelson, Darrow, Jersey. The expected date for the first ripe berries to appear on the bush is early August.
The berries are large, 20-22 mm in diameter, sweet and aromatic. Easily removed from the branch. The skin is dense, blue, with a small scar. Unripe fruits are green, with a reddish-milky tint. The brushes are small and loose.
In terms of taste, it is considered one of the best varieties in the world. The taste is soft, rich, with a grape aftertaste. Fruiting is good, about 4-6 kg per bush, with an extended ripening period of up to 2 weeks. The transportability of the fruit is excellent. The berries are suitable for personal consumption and sale in supermarkets. Elizabeth blueberries are used to make flavorful sauces, jams and preserves.
Advantages and disadvantages
Large farmers highlight many advantages of the Elizabeth blueberry variety:
- good frost resistance of shoots;
- pronounced dessert taste of the fruit;
- demands on soil composition;
- variety resistance to diseases and pests;
- decent yield and transportability.
The photo shows the correct container for transporting commercial blueberries of the Elizabeth variety:
The disadvantages include:
- inability of fruits to ripen in a sudden cold autumn;
- demanding care due to strong lateral growth;
- dependence on weather changes during flowering.
Features of reproduction
Propagated by green cuttings. An adult plant forms a large number of shoots of a red hue, which become woody with age and branch strongly to the side and in depth. The seed propagation method is allowed, but such bushes will produce fruits in 7-8 years of growth.
Vegetative methods of propagation are considered the most optimal:
- Cuttings, through selection and rooting of the apical part of last year's shoots into pots. Ready seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in the second year.
- Reproduction by layering from the mother plant through rooting of the shoot into the ground.
- Dividing an adult bush in half.
Planting and caring for Elizabeth blueberries
Compliance with the timing and technology of planting will be the key to a bountiful harvest in the future. In the wild, blueberries grow in marshy areas. The gardener’s task is to create conditions that are as close to natural as possible.
Recommended timing
Blueberries are usually planted in autumn and spring. Spring planting before the buds swell is considered preferable, because over the summer the seedlings have time to take root and get stronger.
Site selection and soil preparation
Blueberries absolutely do not tolerate sandy and clay soils. It bears fruit well on loose soils with moderate peat content, acidic (pH 3.5), and plenty of moisture. To plant blueberries, choose a sunny area so that the shadow from the trees does not fall on the bush.
Standard holes for planting strawberries in private households are prepared in advance. A substrate based on high-moor peat is placed at the bottom of the hole. The substrate is prepared in the proportion of 1 part peat to 3 parts river sand. The soil is fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers Master Valagro, Fertis NPK 12-8-16+ME, BIOGrand “AGRO-X”.
Landing algorithm
Healthy, 2-3-year-old seedlings with a closed root system in pots or bags are chosen as planting material. Before planting, the root system is soaked so as not to be injured when removed from the pot.
The standard blueberry planting scheme is as follows:
- pit size 50x50 cm;
- depth 40-50 cm;
- Row spacing is 2.5-3 m.
The blueberry planting algorithm is extremely simple:
- Drainage made of crushed stone, pebbles, and gravel is laid at the bottom of the pit.
- The earthen ball with the seedling is carefully lowered into the hole.
- The root collar is buried 5 cm, the roots are straightened.
- Cover with prepared substrate and compact.
- The tree trunk circle is mulched with a 5-centimeter layer of sawdust.
With proper care, the first harvest will appear 2-3 years after planting.
Growing and care
The quantity and quality of the harvest directly depends on the care of adult bushes.
Watering schedule
Blueberries of the Elizabeth variety do not tolerate prolonged dry periods. At this time, the bushes are irrigated 3-4 times a week after sunset. At the same time, prolonged stagnation of water leads to rotting of the root system and death of the bush.
During the period of intensive ripening of the crop, the bushes are watered 2 times a day, morning and evening. The recommended frequency of watering is 2-3 times a week.Water consumption for one adult blueberry bush is 10 liters per watering.
Feeding schedule
If planting was carried out correctly, in compliance with all requirements, the first feeding is carried out at the age of 1 year. 5-7 kg of compost or peat and a mineral substrate are added under the bush. Recommended mixture composition for 1 adult bush:
- 1 tsp. superphosphate;
- 1 tsp. urea;
- 1 tsp. potassium sulfate.
The finished powder is diluted in 10 liters of water and poured into the plant.
For older bushes, the concentration of mineral fertilizers and the amount of peat are increased.
Soil acidity
Soil acidity level is important when growing Elizabeth blueberries. Determine the percentage of soil alkalization using special test strips (pH tester).
Acidification of the soil is carried out with a special solution: 2 tsp per 1 bucket of water. citric or malic acid or 100 ml table vinegar 9%. Additionally, 3-5 kg of acidic peat are added under the bush. Rapid acidification methods should be used with extreme caution; they lead to the leaching of trace elements from the soil.
Trimming
Sanitary pruning of Elizabeth blueberries is carried out annually, in late autumn or early spring. Broken, diseased, barren branches are removed. The first serious pruning to thin the crown is carried out 4-5 years after planting.
Preparing for winter
The reddish tint of Elizabeth blueberry shoots indicates a high level of frost resistance. The bushes winter quietly without shelter at a temperature of -35 °C.
For the winter, the root system is covered with a new layer of dry mulch made from sawdust, old pine needles, and hay. The fallen snow is raked up to the bush.
Pests and diseases
Blueberries of the Elizabeth variety are highly resistant to all known pests and diseases. Timely sanitary thinning of the crown reduces the risk of infection with fungal diseases to a minimum.
The most common blueberry diseases include berry mummification, anthracnose, gray rot, and white leaf spot. The methods for combating all fungal infections are identical: regular thinning of the crown, spraying the bush with a fungicide, burning the affected parts of the plant.
Among the pests, fruit moths, bud mites, leaf gall midges, black aphids, flower beetles, and scale insects are particularly dangerous. Insects are destroyed with chemicals, affected branches and berries are removed.
Conclusion
From the description of the Elizabeth blueberry variety, it is clear that this is an unpretentious, productive variety with tasty and aromatic berries. The basis for caring for Elizabeth blueberries is regular sanitary cleaning of the crown and acidification of the soil around the bush. With timely care, the bush will begin to bear fruit in 2-3 years.
