Pros and cons of "Bonus" blueberries, care features

Blueberries "Bonus" have appeared at the dachas of Russian gardeners relatively recently. When breeding this variety, the breeders were faced with the task of obtaining fruits as large as possible, the emphasis was on this. The taste and productivity of berries faded into the background. Blueberries were bred in Michigan with the participation of leading scientists from the local university, in particular, Professor D. Hancock. Today this variety is one of the largest in the world.

Characteristics of the variety

Blueberries "Bonus" are medium-late varieties, the harvest is harvested towards the end of July and in the first half of August.

Description of the variety:

• The plant is medium-sized, most often the bush grows 1.5 m high, in rare cases it can be 20-30 cm higher.
• Blueberries have erect shoots, but the crown is quite spreading (up to 1.3 m in diameter). The stems are strong, 2–3 cm thick, and can bear the weight of the crop well.
• Young shoots are green in color, later the branches woody and turn brown. By autumn, young stems and leaves of the shrub turn red, which gives the plant an extraordinary decorative effect.
• The variety is not too prone to thickening, needs moderate pruning.
• The most effective way of propagation is with green cuttings.
• Leaves are smooth, dark green, leathery. At the ends, the leaf plates are pointed, their length is up to 8 cm, and their width is 3-4 cm.
• The root system of the plant is of a fibrous type, highly ramified, without suction hairs. The roots go 40 cm deep into the ground.
• Blueberries "Bonus" are sensitive to the acidity of the soil; blueberries react to a decrease in the pH level by losing their bright color of leaves, yellowing.
• Flowers are small (up to 1 cm), collected in clusters of 10 or more pieces, are bell-shaped and white in color.
• Flowering begins towards the end of May and lasts almost a month.
• The variety tolerates returnable spring frosts well.
• Blueberry "Bonus" is a self-fertile species, but with cross-pollination, yield indicators are significantly improved. As pollinators, varieties with the same flowering time are suitable, for example, "Bluegold".

Best of all, blueberries feel when grown in central Russia and northern regions. The variety has excellent frost resistance; in winter, blueberries can withstand temperatures as low as -35 ° C.

Fruit characteristics

Those who see this blueberry for the first time are amazed at its unusually large size. The shape of the fruit is directly related to the number in the cluster. The more berries, the more flattened they have. On one plant, fruits are almost always present, heterogeneous in shape and size.

Characteristics of berries:

• shape - rounded, slightly flattened;
• the average diameter is 2 cm, some specimens can be much larger - up to 3 cm;
• average weight - 2.5 g, the largest berries can be 3.5 g;
• the pulp is firm, dense, juicy, greenish;
• the skin is strong, which allows the fruit to tolerate transportation well;
• blueberry color - light blue, with a pronounced waxy bloom;
• taste - rich, sweet, with a slight sourness;
• berries have a pronounced aroma.

Fully ripe fruits become in 1.5-2 weeks from the moment of staining. "Bonus" refers to varieties of universal use, berries can be eaten fresh, frozen, and cooked.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Any cultivated plant has its advantages and disadvantages.Blueberries "Bonus" are no exception. The advantages of the variety of summer residents include:

1. Strikingly large fruit size.
2. Harmonious taste and rich aroma of berries.
3. Good keeping quality and transportability.
4. Strong plant immunity.
5. Resistance to adverse external conditions.
6. Suitable for growing in northern regions.
7. High commercial quality, allowing you to grow berries for sale.
8. Decorative appearance.
9. Versatility of use.

However, the shrub has some features that can be regarded as disadvantages:

1. Due to the extended period of fruiting for the cultivation of "Bonus" blueberries for sale, it is necessary to plant several bushes at once, since with a one-time harvest it will not be possible to remove a large number of berries, the fruits ripen unattended. For the same reason, mechanized harvesting cannot be performed;
2. Due to the fact that the shrub usually grows no higher than 1.5 m, it is not possible to achieve record yields.
3. Due to the early staining of berries, it is difficult for beginners to determine the moment of ripening; it is necessary to judge the degree of maturity by how easily the fruits are separated from the stalk.

The successful cultivation of blueberries largely depends on the chosen planting site and further care for it. If the acidity of the soil is too low, the shrub will not be able to assimilate nutrients normally, since mycorrhiza, which is in a symbiotic relationship with the roots and helps the plant to extract trace elements from the soil, can exist only in an acidic environment.

Where and when is it best to plant blueberries?

For planting blueberries, it is better to choose a place with good lighting, a slight partial shade is acceptable. Site requirements:

• light drained soil with an acidity of 3.5-4 pH is suitable for shrubs;
• fresh organic matter should not be present in the ground;
• vegetables are unacceptable as crop precursors;
• It is best to plant blueberries in an area that has not previously been cultivated.
• there should be no tall trees nearby that create shade and draw moisture from the soil.

In the middle lane and to the north, it is best to plant blueberries in early spring. This must be done before the active movement of juices begins. As soon as the sun warms up and the snow melts, you can start planting.

In the southern regions, it is permissible to plant a shrub in the fall, the plant will have enough time to take root before the arrival of frost. It is better not to plant and transplant blueberries in summer, the arrival of heat can interfere with the normal rooting of the seedling.

Preparing the planting pit and seedlings

The blueberry pit is prepared about a week before planting. The depth of the hole should be 50 cm, and the diameter should be 60-70 cm.The fertile layer of the excavated soil is mixed with additives:

• high-moor peat;
• coarse sand;
• pine bark;
• rotted sawdust.

This potting mix is ​​ideal for blueberries as it provides the necessary looseness and correct acidity.

When buying seedlings, two-year copies are selected. You need to purchase them in large garden centers or proven nurseries. In this case, the health of the seedlings and their compliance with the variety will be ensured. It is best to choose plants with a closed root system sold in containers.

If the roots of the seedling are open, they will need to be soaked in warm water for several hours before planting. A healthy root system looks well developed. The seedlings themselves should not have dark spots, dried shoots, mechanical damage.

Landing procedure

It is better to plant blueberries together, it is more convenient. One person will hold the seedling in the correct position, and the other will act with a shovel:

1. A drainage layer of large chips or pieces of bark must be laid at the bottom of the planting pit. It is not recommended to use crushed stone, as it helps to reduce the acidity of the soil.
2. A layer of previously prepared soil is poured onto the drainage with a mound, and then a seedling is installed.Planting should be done in such a way that the bush is deepened by 4-5 cm compared to the previous level. The roots should not be bent upwards.
3. After the pit is covered with earth, the soil is carefully tamped with the sole of the shoes and watered abundantly, spending 10-12 liters of water (pouring gradually).

At the next stage, it is necessary to mulch the area of ​​the near-trunk circle with rotted sawdust, needles or high peat.

Mulch will inhibit the growth of weeds, the formation of a hard crust on the soil surface, and rapid evaporation of moisture. In the process of decomposition, organic matter will provide blueberries with nutrition and maintain the necessary level of soil acidity. When planting several seedlings, a distance of 1.5 m is observed between them. The row spacing should be at least 2-2.5 m wide.

Further care

Blueberry care includes certain agronomic measures.

The shrub will need:

• Watering 2-3 times a week (for each bush 1 bucket of water). In hot weather, you can spray blueberry foliage in the evenings.
• Top dressing. Fertilizer is applied 3 times per season, starting from the second year of planting. The procedure should be done in early spring, before flowering and after fruiting. For this purpose, complex fertilizers for berry crops or mineral mixtures (superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate) are used. You cannot use manure, chicken droppings, compost as fertilizers.
• Increase the acidity of the soil if necessary. For this, the bush is watered with acidified water. As acidifiers, you can use 9% vinegar (100 ml per 10 l of water) or citric acid (2 tsp per 10 l of water).
• Pruning. Up to 3 years of age, the bush is cut only for sanitary purposes, removing diseased, broken, frozen shoots. An adult plant needs formative pruning, which leaves the strongest skeletal shoots. Incorrectly growing branches thickening the crown are cut out.
• Preventive treatments. Despite the strong immunity, "Bonus" blueberries can attack fungal diseases, especially rainy weather. For preventive purposes, the bush is sprayed in spring and autumn with a 2% Bordeaux mixture or a 2% solution of copper sulfate. The train must also hit the ground in the trunk circle.

In cold climates in winter, it is better to additionally cover the shrub. For this purpose, you can use spruce branches, burlap, non-woven material. It is not recommended to use polyethylene, since under it the bush vomits.

Having seen the large "Bonus" blueberries once, it is no longer possible to forget them. Another advantage of the variety is its versatility, the fruits can be used for fresh food and processed. The benefits of berries are maximally preserved when they are frozen. The harvest can easily carry long-distance transportation, and this blueberry will have no competitors on the trade counter.