How to grow blueberries? Zero to a hundred blueberry plantations, all in the supply of able business. If we want to look at the popular fruits in the world, blueberry is undoubtedly one of them. Blueberry is a shrub with purple fruits from Ericaceae family and Vaccinium genus, which can be grown, cultivated and produced in temperate and cold regions.
The most important blueberry cultivars include the wild blueberry or short bush (Lowbush) with the scientific name Vaccinium corymbosum, the highbush blueberry with the scientific name Vaccinium angustifolium and the Rabbiteye blueberry with the scientific name Vaccinium ashei, which is a native species of the southeastern United States, and each of these cultivars They have different growth conditions and needs.
How to grow blueberries? A to Z of blueberry plantings
There are certain tips for planting blueberries that we mention in this article:
1- Species selection
Blueberries are divided into 3 main varieties: northern highbush blueberries, southern highbush blueberries, and shortbush blueberries that grow wild. Northern high stem blueberries can be grown in colder areas, so it has a high resistance to cold weather conditions, while southern blueberries, which perform better in more temperate and warmer areas and have high resistance to heat and drought conditions, but as much as They do not grow in the north. So, choose the right variety based on your geographical area.
2- The best time to plant blueberries
Blueberry is a plant that can be grown mainly in temperate and cold regions. The best time to plant blueberries should be in a season with sufficient light. In temperate regions, spring or fall is the best time to plant blueberries. If you live in a cooler climate, you can sow the seeds in the fall to germinate in the spring. Therefore, the most important thing is to check the local conditions of the area and determine the time of blueberry planting according to them.
3- Soil preparation
Before planting blueberries, prepare the soil. First, clear the weeds and stones. Then enrich the soil with nutrients, such as compost or animal manure. The soil should be well-drained and have a suitable acidity, i.e. an acidic pH of about 4.5 to 5.5. Also, the soil should be well drained and contain organic matter. Using natural peat moss with acidic pH provides suitable conditions for seed germination and blueberry growth.
To plant blueberry seedlings in the garden or garden, the soil should not be clay, otherwise the blueberry bush will not grow and will not bear fruit. First, you should create a hole with dimensions of 1 meter by 1 meter, then remove the soil from the hole and mix it in a ratio of 1 to 1 with acidic peat moss and pine tree leaves (suitable for houseplants) or old and rotten forest leaves. Or the leaves of coniferous trees that have a suitable pH should be filled.
4- Planting blueberry seeds
For blueberry planting, chilled seeds should be used for better germination. It is better to use wide pots for planting blueberry seeds, because we will have less problems to transfer the blueberry seedlings to the main pots or the farm, and the holes built under the pot are more suitable for ventilation and drainage. First, in order for peat moss soil to receive better moisture, it should be mixed with water, and after pouring the soil into the pot, smooth it without pressing on the soil surface.
If the blueberry seeds are planted outdoors, the distance between the seeds should be about 30-60 cm so that the blueberry bushes have enough space to grow.
5- Providing light, humidity and suitable temperature for blueberry planting
It is better to use water spray to provide moisture so that the soil layers are not disturbed. Therefore, after planting the seeds, irrigate the planting soil with a spray and cover the surface of the pot with transparent plastic to maintain moisture, and note that the plastic cover is on the pot even after germination.
A very important point in planting blueberry seeds is that blueberry seeds need to receive enough light. Therefore, they should not go under the soil and should be spread on the surface of the soil. You should also consider a place to plant blueberries that has access to sunlight during the day. To get the light that nourishes the plant, it is better to put the pot under LED or fluorescent light for 8 to 10 hours.
Another important condition for the germination of blueberry seeds is the appropriate temperature, which should be between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, in this case, planting this plant in autumn and winter is possible in many areas.
How to irrigate blueberries in field conditions
Proper watering is very important for blueberries so that the plants grow properly and produce good quality fruit. Below we provide explanations about blueberry irrigation:
- After planting the seeds, during the growing season, blueberries need regular watering. But note that the soil is always moist and excessive watering can damage the roots.
- Blueberries need adequate moisture, but the soil should not be wet all the time. In general, blueberries need about 2 to 3 centimeters of water per week. But this amount may change depending on the weather and soil conditions of the region.
- Instead of abundant and scattered irrigation, it is better to do deep and regular irrigation. This means watering the soil to the depth of the blueberry roots. Avoid excessive watering and surface watering, because it may cause superficial rooting and sunburn.
- The best time to water blueberries is morning or evening. During these times, evaporation is less and plants can absorb water better. Also, avoid watering during hot and sunny hours to avoid diseases and sunburn.
- For irrigation, you can use different methods such as drip irrigation, direct irrigation on the soil or reel irrigation system (reel irrigation machine is a system that irrigates the field in a strip and for watering short and tall plants in clay and sandy lands, smooth and used unevenly) use. The main goal of proper blueberry irrigation is to provide water close to the blueberry roots.
- The most important thing about the number of watering times is to always check the soil moisture before watering. You can measure the moisture level with your fingers or using a soil moisture sensor. Water only when the soil moisture level is less than required.
How to prune blueberries?
To prune blueberries, you can follow these steps:
- The best time for blueberry pruning is the end of winter or the beginning of spring, that is, before the start of the plant’s active growth season.
- To prune blueberries, remove old and weak branches. Also cut back the branches that bore fruit the previous year, as blueberries will bear fruit on new branches the following year.
- Cut and remove branches showing signs of disease, blight or weakness. This helps prevent the spread of diseases and pests.
- Also prune the side branches of blueberries. Cutting the branches that have grown more than 30 cm from the ground level helps to balance and shape the blueberry tree.
- After pruning, collect and discard the cut branches and leaves. This helps to prevent the transmission of diseases and pests to healthy blueberry plants.
Blueberry cultivation problems and their solutions
In general, blueberries do not suffer from many pests and diseases. Watch out for common problems such as powdery mildew, vine aphids and aphids on young blueberry shoots. Caring for blueberry bushes includes proper nutrition, weed control, pest and disease management, and plant growth regulation.
Also, watch out for yellowing leaves, which can be a sign of chlorosis. This is due to the change in soil pH and if the soil pH is not adjusted, it will kill the blueberries. If you are growing blueberries in pots or if the soil is not naturally acidic, fertilize with fresh compost along with watering to adjust the soil pH and improve its structure.
Caring for blueberry bushes includes proper nutrition, weed control, pest and disease management, and plant growth regulation. Before planting blueberries, it is best to consult with a local farmer or an expert in this field to get the necessary guidance on planting and caring for blueberries in your area.
Tamin Tejarat Tavana Company offers farmers, ranchers, gardeners, greenhouse owners and all those who need to receive the necessary training in the field of healthy crop production, new and efficient irrigation methods, fertilization program, farm planning, garden management.
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