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Blueberries grow in areas with temperate or cold climates; wild shrubs can be found in the tundra, forest zones, and swamps. Growing this shrub yourself has some peculiarities. More than 20 varieties of taiga blueberries with beneficial properties have been selectively bred. The best blueberry varieties for Siberia are created taking into account subzero winter temperatures and a short summer, characterized by its unpredictability.
Features of growing blueberries in Siberia
Common blueberry is a variety of deciduous shrubs whose berries are similar to lingonberry and blueberry fruits. The shrub grows up to 1.5 m, sometimes its shoots can spread along the ground. The fibrous root system does not have hairs, so nutrition from the soil is carried out through mycorrhiza. Blueberries exhibit high frost resistance; the lifespan of the bush is estimated at tens of years.
Siberia is a region located in the northeastern part of the continent.It is limited to the east by the Ural Mountains, and to the north by the Arctic Ocean. A detailed description of the climate of an area depends on its location in relation to the northernmost part. The main part of Siberia is characterized as sharply continental. The difference between average monthly temperatures in winter and summer can reach up to 50 °C.
- Winter extends 1.5 - 2 months longer than the calendar month. In some places, winter temperatures can reach -50°. During the winter, about a quarter of the annual precipitation falls;
- Spring comes late in Siberia, usually beginning in the second half of April, while thawing is active, but frosts often return;
- Summer is characterized by a division into 3 parts: the beginning is often hot and drought-resistant, then comes the wet and cool part, later the air temperature drops significantly;
- Autumn for Siberia begins at the end of August, the air temperature drops quickly, and frosts are possible by October.
The characteristic features of the climate when planting blueberries in Siberia are taken into account when choosing a suitable variety. The frost resistance and winter hardiness indicators of blueberry varieties are important.
Blueberry varieties for Siberia
Modern breeders are trying to improve not only the taste characteristics of fruit and berry crops, but also their adaptive qualities. Despite the fact that blueberries are considered a frost-resistant berry, varieties are selected for Siberia, taking into account especially low temperatures in winter. When independently planting and caring for garden blueberries in a summer cottage in Siberia, consider only those varieties that can withstand abnormal frosts.
- Blue scattering. This is a late-ripening type of blueberry, which has high yields, while demonstrating compact dimensions; the bush grows to no more than 1 m. The culture can form about 5 - 7 berries of the same shape and size on one cluster.
- Nordic country. A variety suitable for Siberia: withstands frosts down to -35°. The bushes of the cultkra are low, branched, and the variety has high yields; it is often grown in Siberia because of the sweetness of the berries, which are suitable for making jam or blueberry preserves;
- Taiga beauty. A variety of medium maturity. The bushes are characterized as tall and spreading. With the enlargement of the fruit (compared to other varieties), a change in the taste characteristics of the berry occurs. Taiga Beauty blueberries are considered to be a sour variety;
- Yurkovskiy. Mature bushes of the crop grow up to 1.5 m and have a spreading crown. The fruits on them are large and juicy. The advantage of the Yurkovsky variety for the regions of Siberia is considered to be its high winter hardiness; among the disadvantages, they call the average degree of yield: about 1 kg of berries is harvested from an adult bush;
- Blue Ray. A tall and spreading shrub that winters in Siberia only with additional shelter. It bears fruit consistently and is distinguished by high yields. Up to 7 kg of berries are harvested from one adult bush. The taste of the fruits is characterized as sweet, they are used for preparations and fresh baked goods;
- Rancocas. Often found in Siberia due to its frost resistance and winter hardiness. The plant is a tall type with a late ripening period. The fruits on the bushes are large, juicy and sweet.
How to plant blueberries in Siberia
Due to the climatic conditions of Siberia, planting fruit and berry crops, such as blueberries, requires compliance with certain rules. In order not to freeze young blueberry seedlings, it is recommended to plant them within the prescribed time frame. In addition, the peculiarities of maintenance during wintering and spring-summer care are taken into account.
Recommended timing
Garden blueberry bushes for the regions of Siberia are usually planted in the spring, and the soil must warm up enough so that it can be dug freely. It is advisable to plant young blueberry bushes before budding begins. When planting at the right time, the probability that the crop will adapt well before early frosts is 100%. If there is a need to plant garden blueberries in Siberia not in the spring, but in the fall, then care should be such that by the end of October the young plantings have time to adapt and take root.
Site selection and soil preparation
The further growth and fruit formation of the bush depends on the correctly selected planting site.
In order for the fruit and berry crop to adapt to new growth conditions and also begin to bear fruit stably, warm and sunny areas are chosen for blueberries, while excluding:
- possibility of through winds;
- shading from the crowns of neighboring trees or buildings;
- lowlands with shallow groundwater;
- elevated areas;
- wetlands.
Preparing the soil in Siberia for planting blueberries is one of the basic agrotechnical rules. The taste of future blueberries depends on what the soil is like.
Blueberries love acidic soils; this indicator should always remain between 3.5 and 4.5 pH.Such soil is difficult to find in Siberia, so it is additionally acidified. Mineral-organic mixtures are added to the soil, but high nitrogen content is avoided. It can lead to winter freezing of the soil. In Siberia, it is recommended to use complexes with a high sulfur content.
Landing algorithm
In Siberia, the hole for blueberries is prepared in the spring 2 weeks earlier than the main planting.
Dimensions depend on varietal characteristics:
- For tall bushes, dig holes up to 60 cm deep;
- For low-growing varieties - 40 cm.
The hole is filled with a nutrient mixture of peat, sand and turf soil and left for 2 weeks. Before planting, the hole is dug up and, if necessary, supplemented with peat.
A support is placed in the center, then the blueberries are buried. The root collar should be above the surface. The side voids are filled with nutrient soil and compacted.
Afterwards, the tree trunk circle is leveled for ease of watering and watered abundantly. The next day, the tree trunk circle is mulched.
How to grow blueberries in Siberia
Planting a seedling is the beginning of a complex and lengthy process of growing blueberries in Siberia. The climate of the region dictates special rules, while gardeners have learned to take into account the characteristics of the crop and get the harvest in a timely manner.
Schedule and feeding
Blueberries, which are grown in Siberia, love watering. The bush is watered in the summer 2 times a week. When there is heavy rainfall, irrigation is reduced to a minimum. Despite the fact that blueberries love moist soils, regular stagnation of water is dangerous for the root system of the crop. Soaking its roots leads to the appearance of rot and the development of fungal diseases.
Fertilizing for blueberries in Siberia is carried out according to a certain scheme.
Period | Characteristics of processes inside blueberry bushes | Type of fertilizer |
Early spring | Beginning of sap flow. | Ammonium sulfate, zinc sulfate, magnesium sulfate, superphosphates. |
Spring Summer | Growing greenery, fruit formation. | Nitrogen-containing complexes. |
Once, in spring or autumn | Before bud formation or after fruiting. | Magnesium, potassium, zinc. |
Loosening and mulching
Agrotechnical methods of loosening and protecting the soil with a layer of mulch perform several simultaneous tasks:
- prevent the development of weeds;
- protect the soil from moisture loss;
- help prevent the development of fungal infections in the soil.
Loosening is carried out after each heavy watering, and it is important not to damage the root system, the upper part of which is located close to the soil. To mulch the blueberry tree trunk in Siberia, pine needles or fresh sawdust are chosen.
Trimming
When growing blueberries in Siberia, care includes spring and autumn pruning procedures:
- Autumn pruning necessary to remove dry, damaged branches, to rid the bush of fallen leaves, and to remove dried fruits. This is one of the stages of preparing blueberries for wintering in the regions of Siberia;
- Spring pruning is formative and sanitary in nature. After wintering, some shoots freeze and become unviable. They are removed in the spring, and each gardener can shape the crown of the bush at his own discretion. Branches are pruned above the selected bud to stimulate further shoot formation.
Preparing blueberries for winter in Siberia
Experienced gardeners believe that proper winter shelter plays a special role in growing blueberries throughout the entire region of Siberia. When planting varieties adapted to low temperatures and also characterized by increased winter hardiness, covering the shrubs will become an additional preventive measure.
The development of fruit and berry crops at different stages has its own characteristics.
Preparing blueberries for winter in Siberia differs from similar preparations of other crops.
- The bushes are not covered at positive temperatures, because steaming of parts of the plant may occur due to the formation of condensation. A humid environment promotes the development of fungus and the formation of rot on the shoots.
- Agrofibre materials and burlap are suitable for covering. The peculiarity of these materials is that they retain heat but allow air to pass through.
- Blueberry branches are bent to the ground in front of the shelter, this is done carefully so as not to break the shoots. At the same time, additional strengtheners are provided so that the blueberry bushes do not straighten again.
- The top layer when covering in Siberia becomes snow. Gardeners specially form snowdrifts: they create additional heaviness, which provides protection from the cold.
Pests and diseases
In Siberia, the most dangerous diseases for blueberries are fungal diseases of the root system or stem. They infect bushes when the soil is over-moistened, as well as when pest infections spread.
In summer, leaflets may appear on the leaf blades and can be detected by leaf curling and selective wilting. To get rid of leaflets, foliar treatment is carried out with a solution of tobacco or laundry soap. Timely preventive measures help prevent the development of fungus and the appearance of parasites:
- regular loosening of the soil to destroy weeds;
- autumn whitewashing of the trunk to repel insects and rodents in winter;
- removal and burning of fallen leaves;
- timely change of mulch;
- control over irrigation.
Conclusion
The best blueberry varieties for Siberia are adapted to low winter temperatures. But when caring for blueberries, special winter preparation and additional shelter are required. Blueberries are called taiga berries. It can enrich the bodies of Siberians with useful substances and delight them with the excellent taste of fresh berries or prepared jams.
