Content
Small, dark purple blueberries are rich in vitamin C and are rich in natural vitamins and antioxidants. Growing blueberries in a garden or summer cottage has features associated with the characteristic features of the crop. Caring for blueberries in the fall is important for further growth and a stable harvest.
When to plant garden blueberries: spring or autumn
Wild blueberry bushes grow mainly in areas where a moderately cold climate prevails. In garden plots it is grown as single bushes or entire plantations, if size allows. With proper planting and compliance with the rules of care, the bushes begin to bear fruit consistently in the 2nd – 3rd year of existence.
The timing of planting blueberry seedlings depends on the characteristic features of the shrub crop. The tree trunk stretches up to 1.2 m, the fibrous root system does not have hairs that help trees and shrubs receive nutrition from the soil, so the formation of the above-ground part of the plant occurs slowly.
In order for the bush to take root and take root, garden blueberries can be planted on the site in the fall or spring. The time for planting is chosen taking into account that the tree adapts before the onset of frost. In spring, blueberries are planted exclusively before the buds swell on the branches. Many gardeners believe that planting garden blueberries in the fall is preferable to spring because they do not have to take care of the bushes during the spring-summer period, when insects are common on the site, interfering with the adaptation of the bushes and facilitating the transmission of diseases.
How to plant blueberries in the fall
Planting blueberries in the fall is associated with subsequent pre-winter preparation. This means that it is necessary to correctly calculate the period so that there is enough time for preparation and adaptation. In the fall, blueberry seedlings are planted, which are grown from an adult bush over the winter, or seedlings located in flowerpots.
Recommended timing
To plant garden blueberries in the fall, choose warm days during the second half of September - the first half of October. Calculation of timing depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. There should be about 30 days left before the onset of sub-zero temperatures. This period will be enough for the culture to take root and adapt.
Site selection and soil preparation
Blueberries grow in garden plots where the bushes get enough sunlight. In addition, when choosing a site, observe the following rules:
- exclude places with through winds;
- choose flat areas;
- avoid places with high groundwater levels so that the root system of the plant is not constantly wet;
- take into account that there are no plantings of tall fruit and berry trees near the blueberries, which can shade the berry bushes with their crowns.
Acidic soils are suitable for planting blueberries. Soil acidity indicators should be between 3.5 and 4.5 pH. Loose and light soils are suitable for blueberries; this allows moisture to be absorbed faster and promotes the active development of a fibrous root system.
Soil preparation for blueberries depends on the initial composition.
Soil type | Preparation |
Light loam with groundwater occurring at a depth of about 2 m | Dig planting holes 60 cm wide and 40 cm deep. |
Heavy clay soil | They dig a 10-centimeter hole, fill it with sand, peat and sawdust, and plant the seedling on the formed mound so that the root system is buried to the level of the ground surface. The bush is mulched with a high layer of sawdust. |
Sand and peat | Dig a hole 1 m wide, 50 cm deep, cover it with a layer of nutritious acidic mixture (peat, sawdust, pine needles, sand), then place the seedling and cover it with the remaining soil. |
To increase the acidity of the soil in any area, acidification techniques are independently used. To do this, add dry sulfur powder or a solution of oxalic or citric acids.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Planting material for planting in the fall is purchased from specialized nurseries. 2-3 year old bushes are considered the best option. At the same time, berry varieties are selected that take into account the characteristics of the climatic zone. For Siberia and the Urals, varieties are chosen that can tolerate low temperatures. The branches of the seedlings must be strong and healthy, without damage or stains.
Container seedlings protect the roots from inspection, so they are specially prepared when planting. The container is spilled several hours before planting, then the lump of earth is carefully pulled out. The blueberry root system may bend inward during development due to the flexibility of the roots. When planting, the roots are straightened so that they are directed downward and freely located in the planting hole.
How to plant blueberries in the fall
Planting blueberries in the fall is followed by special care associated with the time of year, as well as preparation for winter. The speed of adaptation depends on whether the landing was performed correctly.
For a medium-sized seedling, dig a hole measuring 50 by 50 cm. On garden lands that are subject to active acidification, a special planting method is chosen using a 200-liter plastic barrel. It is placed at the bottom of the planting hole and covered with a layer of drainage. It can occupy from 10 to 20 cm. Then a small layer of the nutrient mixture is poured.
The seedling is placed in the center of the planting hole, filled with prepared nutrient soil mixture and compacted. About 1.5 m is left between the bushes; the roots most often grow in width, so they need a lot of space. The distance between rows is extended to 2 m.
After watering the berry bushes, it is recommended to mulch the soil around them. For mulch, choose acidic materials: acidic peat, pine bark, rotted pine sawdust. Mulch protects the soil from freezing, moisture loss and prevents the spread of weeds.
How to care for blueberries in the fall
When planting berries in the fall, caring for the bushes before winter takes less time than spring-summer care. During this period, it is necessary to take care of proper watering and fertilizing of the plant.
The top layer of soil should be moderately moist during the adaptation period. The amount of moisture consumed directly depends on the autumn weather. On rainy and cloudy days, you should not water the soil additionally, so as not to over-moisten the roots.
Dry weather requires weekly watering, about 10 liters of water for each planted bush.
In autumn, potassium sulfate or potassium nitrate is added to the soil. Liquid solutions are not suitable for fertilizer. The complexes are applied with dry granules and dug into the soil. In autumn, it is not recommended to fertilize blueberries with nitrogen-containing mixtures; they are suitable for spring feeding.
In addition, an important agrotechnical technique when caring for blueberries in the fall is complete pruning of the planted bushes:
- weak and damaged branches are cut out completely;
- strong and healthy branches are cut in half.
How to cover blueberries for the winter
In winter, blueberries are protected from freezing. Hybridized varieties, which are created for regions with sub-zero temperatures, are also covered to avoid the loss of garden blueberry bushes.
Preparation for winter begins in the fall after planting and includes several successive stages:
- Watering. Pre-winter watering of blueberries is plentiful. It activates spring bud formation. Abundant autumn watering is the entire volume of moisture that will nourish the bush in winter.
- Mulch. If the soil is not mulched after planting, then this must be done in preparation for winter. Mulch serves as a keeper of heat and moisture for the soil.Given the peculiarity of the development of the blueberry root system, mulch also helps to keep the roots from freezing.
- Soil acidification. If after planting there is a suspicion of a decrease in soil acidity, then it is additionally acidified in the warm autumn. With the onset of rainy and cold early autumn, acidification is shifted to the spring.
- Trimming. Blueberry bushes are pruned in the fall without regret. In the spring, thawed branches will begin to grow actively, and in winter they will not be able to freeze if they are pruned correctly and in a timely manner.
For winter shelter, use burlap or agrofibre. The material of the additional shelter must be dense, but breathable, so that rotting does not begin inside the shelter.
The trimmed bushes are wrapped in material, tied with nylon threads and secured with additional oppression.
Adult bushes begin to be bent to the ground in advance so that the branches bend well and do not break after tying. When the branches lie freely on the soil, they are covered, tied and additional holders are placed. Small heavy boards and bricks are suitable for this.
When snow falls, collected snowdrifts are additionally placed on the covered bushes. They will become a natural protective layer against freezing. At this point, caring for blueberries in winter can be considered complete.
In spring, snow is removed before it begins to melt. Then they begin to remove additional covers so that the bush is not covered with condensation at above-zero temperatures.
What mistakes do gardeners often make when covering blueberries for winter?
Beginners and experienced gardeners are not protected from typical mistakes when growing berries. Many people wonder when it is better to plant blueberries: in spring or autumn, what to do when planting in autumn, whether the bush will have time to adapt before frost.A mistake is the statement of novice gardeners: “If we plant blueberries in the fall, then they do not require any care.” This is a common misconception.
Typical mistakes that may occur along the way of growing blueberries:
- Excess moisture. Abundant pre-winter watering should not bring the soil to a swampy state. If the water does not have time to be absorbed before the temperature drops, then the blueberry bush will freeze in winter.
- Excess acid. During autumn soil acidification, the increased acid content leads to an increase in soil acidity. This negatively affects wintering and harms the further development of the bush.
- Loosening. Pre-winter loosening should not be deeper than 3 cm. Digging the soil deeper can damage the root system, which is located close to the surface of the crop.
Conclusion
Caring for blueberries in the fall is a complex of agrotechnical techniques. Their further adaptation depends on how the autumn planting of seedlings went. Sheltering for the winter and pre-winter care for adult bushes helps to preserve the bushes without loss and prepare them for spring budding.
