Top 7 blueberry varieties

The cultivation of blueberries in Poland is very popular, mainly because of the tasty fruits full of nutritional value. What should you know about this plant?

Blueberry – what should you know about this plant?

The highbush blueberry is one of the most popular shrubs in Poland because of its tasty fruit. It belongs to the heather family and it grows up to 2,5 m high. It blooms from April to May and the fruits are ripe from August to September.

Health-promoting properties of blueberry fruits

Blueberry fruits have pro-health properties:

• lower the level of bad cholesterol,
• they are good for work of intestines,
• have anti-cancer properties,
• they are low in calories,
• have a low glycemic level – ideal for diabetics.

Blueberries have a lot of nutrients and minerals, such as:

• vitamins:
  • C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6, A, E, K, folic acid;
• minerals:
  • potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, selenium, zinc;
• chemical compounds that have beneficial effects on health:
  • polyphenols – these are oxidants that prevent cancer,
  • phytoestrogens – regulate blood cholesterol levels,
  • anthocyanins – lower blood pressure,
  • fibre and tannins – improve intestinal function and are helpful in removing toxins from the body.

Top 7 blueberry varieties

1. “Bluecrop”

The most popular variety of blueberries. Characteristic features are:

• very fast bush growth,
• big amount of tasty fruits,
• resistance to drought and diseases.

This variety is very easy to cultivate, so it is recommended for amateur gardeners.

2. “Chandler”

Blueberry variety with very large fruits. It has an unusually long fruiting period – up to 4 weeks. It is recommended for cultivation in regions with light winters, because it is not resistant to frosts.

3. “Herbert”

A variety with large and tasty fruits. It is not resistant to frost, so it is suitable for cultivation only in regions with light winters

4. “Bluegold”

This variety has large and tasty fruits. It bears fruits for a long time, about 3 weeks. It is suitable for growing in containers on the balcony and terrace.

5. “Bonifacy”

Blueberry variety bred in Poland. It fruits very richly from August to the end of September, it is resistant to fungal diseases.

6. “Patriot”

An early variety of blueberry fruits already in July. It’s very frost hardy, tolerates wet and heavy soils. It is recommended for amateur cultivation.

7. “Draper”

Very fruitful variety, which fruits in July and August. It is frost hardy and self-pollinating, although it is recommended to be adjacent to other blueberry varieties,

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Growing blueberries

Growing requirements for highbush blueberries:

• sunny position, sheltered from the wind;
• acidic soil with pH from 3.8 to 4.8;
• the organic part in the soil must be above 7%;
• the ground water must be kept at a level of 30-60 cm; if it is not, the blueberry should be systematically watered;
• home cultivation of blueberries will work best on the plots near the forest, among the pine trees.

Soil acidification

The soil can be acidified by adding peat to it in a ratio of 1:1 to a depth of 30 cm. If blueberries are already planted, acidify the soil by adding a suitable fertilizer (100 ml per 10 l of water).

Planting blueberries

In home cultivation, the blueberries should be planted at a distance of 2.5 m between rows and 1 m between bushes. The bushes can be planted in spring or autumn. Spring planting is recommended, because then the plants are not exposed to frost.

>> See also: When to prune apple trees?

Pruning

Pruning blueberry bushes is an important procedure, which is done every year. For the first 3 years the blueberry pruning is limited only to the removal of sick and dry shoots. Intensive pruning takes place only when the bush is 4 years old, then all the older shoots are removed. In each bush on average there are 6-8 shoots.

The rules of caring for highbush blueberry:

• watering the shrubs regularly,
• mulching the soil with lightly shredded pine bark or needles,
• weeding out emerging weeds.