Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Blueberry cultivation

The red fruits are widely cultivated both in pots and in the field and in urban gardens. For your planting to be a success you need to know some of the needs of the soil and care. We will focus on the cultivation of blueberries. His scientific name is Vaccinium myrtillus and their cultivation needs vary depending on the species.

If you want to learn everything about blueberries and how to plant them, keep reading 🙂

Planting requirements

Berries

The limiting factors that most affect blueberries are those of the soil. Its pH should be between 4,3 and 5. They only tolerate acidic soils, so it is necessary that the area where it is grown does not have strong winds. In this way we will avoid the fall of fruit that causes damage such as scratches. In addition, areas with winter frosts that affect their flowering time should be avoided.

Temperature is an important factor to take into account. The blueberry requires a certain number of hours and cold. From 7 degrees and lower, the plant remains in a dormant state. Each species we grow has a different temperature range to come out of dormancy. The most optimal range of temperatures for proper growth and development is between 16 and 25 degrees. Above 30 degrees the plant begins to suffer from extreme heat.

Moisture to keep the blueberry healthy

On the other hand, when temperatures drop below -5, they begin to damage the fruits and the harvest can be lost. Humidity is something to keep in mind as they need quite high relative humidity values. These humidity values ​​can be achieved in greenhouses. We must not confuse high humidity with waterlogging. By active and passive we must try to avoid that our blueberries end up wet and soaked by excess humidity or irrigation.

When we water too much and humidity becomes a problem, the root system of the plant begins to suffocate. The same happens when there is low humidity or there is drought. Humidity is an indication that the substrate or the land where it is grown must be watered. In addition, it must have a light structure, good drainage capacity and a high content of organic matter.

How blueberries are grown

Soil characteristics

Cultivation of blueberries in the field

Above a soil pH of 5, the plant begins to show poor development and chlorotic budding. Because of this, the pH must be kept between 4,3 and 5. On the contrary, if the pH falls below 4, the plant can be affected by manganese toxicities.

In soils that are limestone, we will have to reject the crop or it will have to be improved so that it has good acidification. This conditioning of the soil prior to crops It must be done at least 6 months in advance. Among the most used techniques for its cultivation is the contribution of acid reaction fertilizers. These should be mixed in a strip 20 inches deep so that it fits perfectly.

If we grow blueberries in containers in an urban garden or a terrace, we will not have the soil problem since we can use a special substrate for acidophilic plants.

Previous tillage

Cranberry Conservation Agriculture Street

Regarding the preparation of the land, it is advisable to carry out a tillage before planting. The tillage has to be subsoiled if it is done in urban orchards or gardens. It has to be tilled up to half a meter deep to achieve good soil aeration and increased drainage.

Once we have done the tillage, we will go through a rototiller to remove the land well. At this time it is used to make the bottom fertilizer in which we will contribute the organic matter.

If we do not grow in a container or grow bag, in the field or garden, it is necessary to make ridges on which they will be planted. This favors aeration and drainage. The characteristics depend on the variety and the cultivation technique used. To orient well, a ridge of about 100 centimeters wide and 40 centimeters high.

Irrigation and mulching

Cranberry mulch

The most suitable irrigation for blueberries is the localized one since it allows the water to acidify more easily. It can be achieved if we place a dispenser in the irrigation network that injects the product that acidifies (it can be nitric acid).

In the spring and summer months, the irrigations should be more intense for several reasons. One of them is for one increased amount of evapotranspiration. The second is because they are the thickening and ripening phases of the fruit and they need more water.

Let's move on to the padding. Mulch is needed, especially if it is planted in an urban orchard, field or garden. Thanks to the padding we will be able to keep the soil moisture before and during planting. The padding can be both organic and synthetic. If we opt for an ecological and environmentally friendly cultivation in our field orchard or garden, we recommend keeping the cultivation lanes with vegetation to avoid erosion by wind and rain.

Planting and maintenance

Blueberry plantation

The ideal time for planting is between late autumn and early winter. At this time the plant is in vegetative rest and later it will flower when the temperatures increase. The blueberry seedling is placed in a hole that we will make in the ridges. We slightly compact the ground and perform the padding. It is important to analyze that the roots do not remain bare or they could be easily damaged.

We must leave between each plant about 3 meters of space so they don't compete for food.

Blueberries need maintenance tasks that are reduced to pruning. They can be both training, cultivation or rejuvenation. In the case of formation pruning, it is carried out after planting. In this way we take advantage of its vegetative state and we will eliminate the damaged branches and the first half of the others. The other prunings serve to maintain a balanced structure, leaving about eight or ten branches to keep production stable and easy to care for.

Properties of blueberries

Blueberries and their properties

Blueberries have very favorable medicinal properties for those who need it. They have very low sugar content and high antioxidant and flavonoid values. Anthocyanins stand out. They are used to treat diseases in the urinary tract. Their antibacterial properties make them very suitable for cystitis and urine infection.

On the other hand, having half a cup of blueberries can serve as preventing infections in the kidneys and prostate. To improve kidney health, you also need a proper and healthy diet.

Cranberries and blueberries

Cranberries and blueberries

There are two varieties of red and blue blueberries depending on the plant pigments and their concentration. Both types belong to the same family. They are highly recommended for improving blood circulation and fighting infections such as cystitis.

It has a multitude of health properties:

  • They are very antioxidant.
  • They improve blood circulation and prevent varicose veins, heart disease, hypertension, cholesterol, thrombi, etc.
  • They improve the formation of red blood cells.
  • They protect the body against flu and other viral diseases.
  • They have antiseptic and antibiotic action, especially against urinary infections.
  • They help purify and eliminate fluid retention.
  • They improve the formation of collagen.
  • They improve muscle-joint resistance.
  • They help improve vision.
  • They prevent degenerative diseases such as macular degeneration.
  • They improve fertility.
  • They prevent and fight the formation of kidney stones.
  • They help alleviate the symptoms of stress.
  • They provide virtually no calories and help lower glucose.
  • They help improve intestinal transit.

With this information you will be prepared to grow your own blueberries and enjoy them fully.


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  1.   Alice E said

    The plant is very valuable for health and delicious to consume. Thank you very much for the information. In my case I will try in a family garden

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Thanks Alicia.