How to grow blueberries from seeds at home: planting and care

Common blueberry is a type of berry that is distributed wild in the northern hemisphere, where a temperate or cold climate prevails. Blueberries grow along rivers and streams. It occurs in the form of single bushes or extensive shoots. Blueberries are known for being hardy shrubs, but growing wild berries from seeds at home is difficult.

Features of the plant

The height of the shrub can reach 1 meter. With an excess of free space, branches begin to creep along the ground.

1. Barrel. Over time, the trunk becomes completely drowsy. The shrub branches in both directions, small semi-oval leaves covered with a wax coating grow on the branches.
2. Roots. Type of system - fibrous. Roots do not develop fine hairs, so nutrient uptake from the soil is slow.
3. Fruits. Small dark purple berries with juicy pulp and pale blue juice contain beneficial substances that help strengthen the heart muscle and normalize blood counts.

Blueberries are considered resistant to infections and pests. It needs acidic soil to thrive. In addition, it is a moisture-loving shrub, which, at the same time, does not tolerate an excess of water.

Blueberry planting material: what it looks like

The most common way of growing among gardeners is planting ready-made seedlings. But many summer residents try to germinate blueberries from seeds in the house. Seeds can be purchased at the store or prepared by yourself.

Seeds are obtained from ripe berries. They can be round or oval and range in color from light brown to dark brown.After separating the seeds from the pulp, they are washed with warm water and dried. The bones harden quickly, but this does not impair their planting qualities. The material can be stored for about 10 years.

Methods of reproduction

Garden blueberries are propagated in several ways:

1. Seeds. This method is considered the longest. Before breeding, the seeds are subjected to pre-treatment. Then they go through the rooting stage, after which they are planted in the place of cultivation.
2. Shanks. This path begins with the selection of a seedling and its planting.
3. Layers. The complex process of grafting depends on the type of scion, the correct choice of variety and compliance with the conditions for diversion from the mother plant.

Seed breeding begins with the selection of planting material. You can select seeds from berries ripened in August, then plant them in a country house or plot after the necessary processing. Planting material acquired after long-term storage is recommended to be planted in spring.

Outdoor

This method involves sowing material into prepared soil. Before sowing, preparatory work is carried out:

• fertilize the soil with peat,
• measure the level of acidity, correct it, if necessary, with additional mixtures;
• seeds are sown in the top layer of soil, the depth should not exceed 1.5 centimeters.

When planting, the level of soil heating should be taken into account. If the soil temperature is below +10 degrees, then the seeds may not germinate.

Warning! Fresh planting material is not germinated. In preparation, soaking the seeds is sufficient.

Indoors

This method is called seedling. Seeds are prepared and germinated at home, before planting on an open ground site in the spring. Early autumn is suitable for sowing seedlings. During the winter, the seeds take root, in the spring they are placed in open ground.

What varieties are suitable for

Not all varieties of blueberries can be grown from seed. Only some varieties fit:

1. Patriot. A variety of late fruiting, it is characterized as frost-resistant. Harvesting starts in early August.
2. Canadian nectar. The bushes of the variety can reach 2 meters, the berries ripen in early September.
3. Blue scattering. This is a hybrid variety with large berries.
4. Forest treasure. A hybrid with high yields, fruiting lasts longer than other varieties.
5. Blue con. Frost-resistant, high-yielding hybrid, ripens in the second half of July.

Necessary conditions for growing

Planting berries in the garden is the easiest step in growing blueberries. Care includes some features:

• shrubs grow in acidic soils, so acidity needs to be checked throughout the growing season;
• blueberries are not planted in the lowlands to eliminate the risk of waterlogging; the best option for planting blueberries is a sunny place, inaccessible to through winds;
• For the formation of high-grade fruits, blueberries need to receive a sufficient amount of sunlight, the minimum daylight period during fruit ripening is 10 hours;
• the advantage of the shrub is that before the first frosts the branches have time to become sallow, so they are called frost-resistant, they do not freeze out when the air temperature drops sharply;
• if the temperature drops below -20 degrees, then blueberry bushes are additionally covered with industrial materials;
• harvesting is carried out in stages, as the ripening of blueberries is uneven;
• gardeners advise planting different varieties on the plot, this helps to increase the yield of the species.

Soil preparation

Preparation of soil for planting blueberries begins long before the process itself. To achieve the required acidity index, the soil is treated with one or more means:

• colloidal sulfur;
• lemon juice;
• acetic acid.

After processing, loosening is carried out, then it is repeated every two weeks. To mulch the soil, use a cushion of cut grass, coniferous needles or sawdust.

Warning! The use of wood ash when planting blueberries is excluded. Wood ash reduces the level of acidity, which affects the development of the root system.

Germination

To accelerate the growth of blueberries, seeds are processed. Processing includes two steps:

1. Pre-stratification, that is, storage of planting material in the refrigerator, to increase the protective properties.
2. Soaking planting material to improve rooting ability.

After processing, the seeds are placed on the top layer of soil in a low container, sprinkled with sand. The container is covered with a plastic lid. The mechanism of action of the prepared structure is to create a greenhouse effect. This condition increases the ability of seeds to germinate due to the occurrence of condensation and an increase in soil temperature. The mini-greenhouse is left in a warm sunny place until shoots appear. The period from sowing to the appearance of shoots is about 30 days.

Agrotechnology

Features of growing blueberries are that the soil under shrubs is not fertilized with organic complexes throughout the growing season. The main task of gardeners is to prevent soil oxidation, which reduces yields and impairs the taste of blueberries.

A planting hole for a shrub is dug according to the formula: 60 by 60 centimeters. In the planting pit, the prepared seedling is placed vertically, while using the transshipment method of planting.

For blueberries, such an agricultural technique as weeding is important. Loosening is carried out carefully so as not to hook the root system. To increase yield levels, bushes are pruned regularly to prevent blueberries from growing uncontrollably.

Care

Caring for blueberry bushes includes several basic techniques:

1. Irrigation. Gardeners know from experience that blueberries do not like watering with cold water. Distilled water is used for irrigation. Watering is carried out in the early morning or late evening.
2. Mulching. An important agricultural practice. It is used to protect the soil from the hot sun. A thin layer of sawdust is considered a suitable material.
3. Landing. Rows of shrubs are planted at a distance of no closer than 2 meters from each other.
4. Cropping. Spring pruning involves removing damaged branches in spring, removing old branches in autumn.

Growing seedlings

After the emergence of shoots on the windowsill, the seedlings are removed to another place. The pot can be placed on the balcony or loggia of the apartment, where it is necessary to maintain the temperature regime from +18 to +23 degrees

In a few months, the shoot takes root, overgrown with 3-4 real leaves, the thin stem partially becomes stiff, then the seedlings begin to prepare for planting in a permanent place of cultivation. The deterioration of the appearance of the seedling indicates a lack of minerals or a change in the acidity of the soil.In this case, feeding blueberries with special sour mixtures will be a timely support measure.

Planting a shrub in a permanent place of growth

The danger that awaits gardeners on the path of growing blueberries in the garden is a decrease in soil acidity. Blueberries react to changes in acidity with a decrease in yield and inability to form full-fledged fruits. To prevent this, in regions where soil acidity changes rapidly, summer residents use an unusual method.

The bottom of the prepared hole is covered with plastic wrap, perforations are made in it, then a drainage layer is placed, covered with soil and a blueberry bush is planted. Reproduction of blueberries by seeds is a technology during which a full-fledged result is not guaranteed. The main task of gardeners is to control the acidity of the soil; and also it is necessary to monitor soil moisture.

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