Blueberry is a deciduous shrub belonging to the genus Vaccinium from the Ericaceae family. Blueberries are widespread in the northern hemisphere and prefer temperate and cold climates. Grows in forests, wetlands, uplands and peat bogs. Blueberry bushes are low (grow up to 1 meter, on average 50-60 cm), the branches are straight with dark gray or brown bark.
Loose, well-drained, acidic soils with an acidity level of pH 3.5 – 5.0.
In the mornings and evenings twice a week, using at least a bucket of water for each adult bush. On hot days, additional spraying is added. Blueberries especially need watering in July and August.
Only with mineral fertilizers at the very beginning of the growing season.
May-July.
In spring, before the buds swell.
You can plant blueberries in the spring, before the buds swell, but the preferred time is in the fall.
Seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush.
Before planting, seedlings in containers are immersed in a container of water until the root ball is completely saturated with moisture.
Blueberry is a low (only 10–50 cm) shrub of the heather family. This plant is a northern resident, preferring moist and swampy soils. Blueberries usually grow in coniferous-deciduous forests, forming entire plantations.
Well-drained and acidic soil (pH 4.9-5.0).
2 times a month, but during droughts more frequent watering is needed: the soil under the bushes should be moist all the time.
Both mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable. For 2-3 years the soil is dug up with peat mixed with sand. For organic matter, compost and rotted manure are used, and for mineral fertilizers, solutions of superphosphate, potassium magnesium and ammonium sulfate are used. In summer, the bushes are treated leaf by leaf with a solution of microelements. Blueberries do not tolerate fertilizers containing chlorine!
May June.
The best time is the beginning of spring. From 3-4 years old, the formation of a bush begins by pruning. For fruitful development, you need to leave 8-9 young and strong shoots on the blueberries after pruning. To form the crown and stimulate the growth of shoots, it is necessary to shorten them by 20-25 cm, and once every 10-15 years, cut off all shoots at a height of 20 cm from the ground in order to rejuvenate the bush and give it new life.
In August-September or late spring.
By seeds and dividing the bush.
Scale insects, aphids.
The timing of planting blueberries is arbitrary; both spring and autumn planting of blueberries is allowed. Gardeners prefer autumn planting of blueberries, because over the winter the seedling will take root and begin to grow and develop with the beginning of spring.
Cranberry is an evergreen creeping shrub of the heather family. It has flexible thread-like stems from 15 to 30 cm long, with narrow oblong leaves, ash-white underneath.
Very wet to swampy, in an area with high groundwater levels, acidic (pH 3.5-4.5), peaty or mossy forest.
The first two weeks after planting – daily, then the soil is kept slightly moist. In May and June, watering should be moderate, and in hot weather – daily. From August to October, cranberries are watered regularly, trying to wet the soil to the depth of the roots.
Regular: in the first year – from spring to the end of July, once every two weeks with complex mineral fertilizers. The first fertilizing is applied three weeks after planting. In mid-August and mid-October, potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is applied. In the second and third years, cranberries are fertilized according to the same scheme, and starting from the fourth year, the concentration of fertilizers in solutions is weakened and 6 fertilizing treatments are carried out per season.
May June.
In May, the bush is formed for three years, and then only annual sanitary cleaning is done.
In early spring, when the soil thaws to a depth of 8-10 cm.
Seeds or green cuttings.
It is often attacked by pests: black-headed lingonberry moth, apple scale insect, gypsy moth and many others.
