Content
Blueberry propagation is possible by generative and vegetative methods. Generative or seed propagation is a complex method used by professional breeders to obtain new varieties. To propagate blueberries at home, a vegetative method is used using various parts of the plant.
How do garden blueberries reproduce?
Propagation of garden blueberries is similar to other berry bushes. But compared to other crops, blueberries take root more difficult. Also, varieties of garden blueberries differ in their ability to shoot shoots, so the amount of planting material from different bushes may differ. During vegetative propagation by layering, cuttings and dividing the bush, all varietal characteristics of the mother plant are preserved.
How to cut blueberries and at what time
To propagate garden blueberries from woody cuttings, planting material is harvested in early spring or late winter, in regions with a warmer climate. Cuttings are often combined with general pruning of shrubs. The main rule when collecting lignified cuttings is that the mother plant is in a dormant period. To obtain planting material, annual shoots that have matured well are cut off.
A video about the propagation of garden blueberries by green cuttings shows that planting material is collected in mid-summer. Harvesting time is limited to several weeks during the plant's dormant period. Depending on the growing region and weather conditions of the current season, the collection of green cuttings begins at the end of June. At this time, the first wave of shoot growth is completed, and the next one has not yet begun.
Planting material in the case of green blueberry cuttings is collected from the current year's growth shoots or branching shoots.
How to propagate blueberries from woody cuttings
Chopped woody shoots are tied in bunches. Before planting, they must be stored in a refrigerator or a specially constructed glacier, where the cuttings are left in an alternating layer of snow and sawdust. The temperature during storage should be about +5°C. During this period, the cuttings must be periodically inspected to prevent them from drying out or developing mold.
To propagate blueberries from cuttings at home, prepare a place in the greenhouse in advance. An acidic substrate is poured into a separate box. The planting mixture is prepared from 3 parts of high-moor peat and 1 part of river sand. When planting directly in a greenhouse bed, the soil is removed from it to a depth of 20 cm and replaced with something suitable for growing heather crops.
Depending on the equipment of the greenhouse, cuttings are planted in the spring a month after storing them in the refrigerator. In the video about the propagation of blueberries by cuttings, you can see that the prepared shoots are shortened to 10-15 cm for tall varieties of blueberries and to 7-10 cm for low-growing varieties. The lower cut is made obliquely under the bud, the upper cut is made even, 1.5-2 cm above kidney.
Depending on the expected time spent in the greenhouse, the cuttings are planted on the bed more densely or sparsely according to a 5 by 5 cm or 10 by 10 cm pattern. The cuttings are stuck vertically into the soil mixture and watered. To create the necessary microclimate, arcs are installed over the bed and the planting is covered first with plastic film, then with any non-woven material. In the greenhouse it is necessary to maintain a high air temperature in the range of +26... +28°C and constant humidity. Watering is carried out by sprinkling.
When blueberries are propagated using woody cuttings, rooting takes about 2 months. During this time, plants require constant care. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated, maintaining a constant temperature of the air and soil without sudden changes. The seedlings are watered and treated for diseases.
After the cuttings take root, the cover is removed. Before planting in a permanent place, seedlings are grown for several years. With good care, results from blueberry propagation by cuttings can be obtained in 2 years.
Propagation of blueberries by green cuttings
With the method of green cuttings of garden blueberries, planting material is harvested early in the morning to prevent dehydration of the stem.The side shoot is pinched at the base with the thumb and forefinger and cut off with a sharp downward movement so that the shoot remains with a “heel” - part of the bark from the main branch. A strip of wood that is too long is cut with a disinfected sharp knife or pruning shears. The length of the cutting should be about 10 cm. The lower leaves are torn off, leaving only a few upper ones, which are shortened to half.
To grow green cuttings, mix equal parts of high-moor peat and rotted pine litter. Planting material is placed in a prepared substrate in a greenhouse. The cuttings are placed in a common planting container or cassettes so that the leaves do not touch each other. When caring for plantings, it is important to maintain high air and soil temperatures. When propagating blueberries from green cuttings, their leaves should always remain moist; for this, frequent spraying is carried out or a fogging system is installed.
If blueberries are propagated by green cuttings in a greenhouse, additional shelter is not required in the summer. With proper care, cuttings will take root in 4-6 weeks. In autumn, young plants are covered or transferred to a cool room. In the spring of the next season, the sprouts are transplanted into larger containers for further cultivation.
The survival rate when propagating blueberries from green cuttings is slightly lower than from lignified ones. But harvesting green cuttings is easier and does not require storage space in the winter. Lignified cuttings are collected from formation shoots, which are fewer on the bush than branching shoots, from which planting material for green cuttings is taken.
The cutting method is one of the only possible ways to propagate tall blueberry varieties.
How to root a blueberry cutting
Blueberries take a long time to take root, so before planting the cuttings, the lower cut is dipped in a special powder that stimulates the formation of roots. For heather crops, which include blueberries, root growth accelerators based on indolylbutyric acid are also used. If all growing conditions are met, the average survival rate of sprouts when cutting blueberries is about 50-60%.
How to propagate blueberries by dividing the bush
Blueberry seedlings can be propagated by dividing an adult bush. When dividing a bush, the mother plant is completely dug up. When propagated from one adult shrub, several independent plants are obtained.
The blueberry root system is superficial, so digging up the bush is not difficult. After removing the bush from the soil, shake off the soil and inspect the roots. Only a completely healthy plant is suitable for replanting. Damaged or dry roots are cut off. The bush is divided manually in such a way that each independent part - division - contains a well-developed root, more than 5 cm long. From an adult bush, 3-4 divisions are usually obtained. After separation, the roots are sprayed with disinfectants, as well as root formation stimulants.
When propagating by dividing a bush, it is important to prepare a place for transplanting new plants in advance. When planting, the roots are straightened so that they are evenly distributed in different directions, otherwise the plant will not take root.
Propagation of garden blueberries by layering
Blueberry propagation by layering is characterized by a long waiting time and low yield of planting material. But this method of propagation does not require special conditions for keeping the seedling; the plant grows strong and hardy.
For propagation by layering, without separating the side shoot of the mother plant, bend it to the soil and cover it with an acidic substrate for growing blueberries or sawdust from coniferous trees. During cultivation, shoots directed upwards grow from the place where the buds are located. They are cared for in the same way as an adult bush, maintaining soil moisture and acidity.
Rooting during propagation by layering occurs after 2-3 years. After the formation of their own roots, new plants are carefully dug up, cut off from the mother shoot with a sharp garden tool and immediately transplanted for further cultivation in a separate place. If the location is not determined, blueberries can be grown in a container with a suitable substrate.
How to propagate blueberries by root shoots
The root shoots of blueberries, which form independent plants not far from the mother bush, can also serve as planting material. In order to propagate a crop in this way, the ground around a separately growing shoot is dug up. A connecting root is found in the soil and cut off with a garden tool. The shoot along with the rhizome is dug up and transplanted to a new place or container.
Propagation of garden blueberries by radical pruning
A method in which the bush is completely replaced with several new plants. In spring, cut off all shoots. Complex mineral fertilizer is applied under the remaining root in double dosage. Sawdust from coniferous trees is poured on top. The sawdust layer should be about 30 cm.
A small greenhouse is installed above the growing site to maintain the necessary humidity and growing temperature, as well as to protect young plants from sudden cold snaps. New shoots will soon appear in place of the cut shoots. But the development of its own roots will occur within two years. They are formed above the original root system, in a layer of sawdust.
After 2 years, young shoots with their own root system are separated from the mother bush and planted separately. With the method of pruning the bush and growing new replacement shoots, the bush is grown for several more years to obtain the first berries.
Conclusion
Propagation of blueberries is a more complex and lengthy process than other berry bushes, and requires experience and dexterity from the gardener. Rooting occurs over several months. And the first berries can be collected from the bush 4-6 years after planting. But the vegetative propagation method is especially suitable for obtaining repeats of rare or favorite varieties.
