Pros and cons of Bluegold blueberries, planting and care features

The Bluegold garden blueberry gained its popularity due to its compact size, high yield and frost resistance. The variety was developed at the beginning of the last century in one of the North American states. First, blueberries gained recognition in their homeland, and later spread throughout the world. The varietal characteristics of the plant allow it to be successfully grown even in a cold climatic zone.

Description and characteristics of the variety

The name of the variety translates as “blue gold”, and this is no coincidence. During the fruiting period, the plant is literally strewn with clusters of large bluish berries. In autumn, blueberries become a decoration of the garden, donning a crimson outfit.

Detailed description of the variety:

• The shrub height reaches 1.2–1.5 m.
• The crown consists of strong, intensively branching shoots growing vertically.
• The blueberry of this variety has an average berry ripening period - in mid-July.
• The return of the crop is friendly, the fruits are removed at a time.
• The shrub enters the fruiting stage 3-4 years after planting.
• The leaves are elliptical, bright green, turning red in the fall.
• The shrub blooms in early June with small pink bell-shaped flowers.
• In terms of yield, the variety is in no way inferior to tall blueberries. On average, 5 kg of berries are obtained from each bush; with careful care, the yield increases by 1.5 times.

The berries have a round, slightly flattened shape characteristic of blueberries and weigh 2–2.2 g. The pulp contains a large number of seeds. The fruits of this variety are similar in taste to blueberries, but they contain more sugar. The skin of blueberries is dense, elastic, which allows the berries to be stored for a long time and transported over long distances.

Strengths and weaknesses of the variety

The variety gained popularity precisely because of its advantages.

Strengths of blueberries "Bluegold":

• the ability to withstand frosts down to -35 ° C - the plant does not freeze when planted in Siberia, the Urals and the Far East;
• self-fertility of a shrub - it does not need pollinators for full fruiting.
• the ability to give good stable yields for several decades;
• good transportability of fruits;
• the possibility of long-term storage of berries.

Despite the indisputable advantages, the variety also has some disadvantages:

• the shrub does not tolerate drought too well, especially during the fruiting period;
• the crown of the bushes of this variety is highly branching, therefore it needs more frequent pruning compared to other varieties, if you do not remove excess shoots, the quality of the crop will deteriorate;
• from extreme heat, berries are baked, they are mummified;
• fruits are prone to shedding, they must be picked on time.

You can partially eliminate these disadvantages with more thorough care.

To ensure that the quality of the berries does not decrease, blueberries are watered more often during dry periods. During the heat, the shrub is sprayed in the morning and evening. It is necessary to monitor the ripening process of the berries so as not to lose part of the harvest.

Growing conditions

Blueberries "Bluegold" can delight for many years with their harvests and attractive appearance, if you provide them with suitable growing conditions. Since the shrub will grow in one place for many years, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to choosing a site for planting and carry out planting work according to all the rules.

Choosing a place for landing, timing

In the wild, blueberries grow in areas with loose, nutritious, acidic soil, so the soil for the planting pit is prepared in advance, making the necessary additives. Fresh organic fertilizers are never applied to the shrub.

Requirements for the site:

• You should not plant blueberries in the place where cultivated plants, especially vegetables, grew before. Wild grasses are the best precursors for wild berries.
• Another prerequisite for successful crop cultivation is good lighting. The more sunlight the plant receives, the larger and sweeter the berries will be. Blueberries can also bear fruit in partial shade, but in this case the quality of the harvest will be worse.
• The plant does not like stagnant water, so planting in a lowland is not suitable, since in the spring the shrub will suffer from flooding by melt water.
• If it is not possible to find a flat area for blueberries, you can plant on an artificially created hill. At the same time, it is desirable to provide the bush with protection from strong winds.

Favorable dates for planting depend on the climate. In Siberia, the Urals and the Far East, in the middle lane, blueberries are planted in the spring, as soon as the soil thaws. In the southern regions, the culture can be planted in the fall; before winter, the seedlings will have time to take root and adapt in a new place. Summer landing is not suitable for any of the regions; it is used as a last resort. This is due to the fact that the shrub does not tolerate heat and drought.

Pit preparation, selection of seedlings, planting

The pit begins to be prepared about a week before planting. Its dimensions are: depth - 50 cm, diameter - 60 cm.The removed soil is combined with additives that maintain the desired level of acidity and looseness:

• high-moor peat;
• pieces of pine bark;
• rotted sawdust;
• river sand.

The root system of blueberries is fibrous, superficial, which is why the pit should be wide and shallow. A drainage layer made of pieces of wood or bark must be laid on the bottom. Crushed stone is not used in this case, as it reduces the acidity of the soil, which will harm blueberries.

It is better to buy seedlings in proven nurseries. The plants should look healthy. It is better to give preference to planting material with a closed root system. Before buying, blueberries are carefully removed from the container and the roots are examined; they should be branched, light in color. If the roots are bent up, they are soaked for 1 hour in water before planting, and then gently straightened.

When planting, pre-prepared soil is poured onto the drainage layer, a seedling is placed on top so that the root collar is 4-5 cm below the soil level. The bush is covered with earth and lightly tamped the surface of the trunk circle. Then the blueberries are watered, consuming 10 liters of water in small portions. After planting, the root zone is mulched with a mixture of peat with sawdust or needles.

Proper care of the shrub

When caring for Bluegold blueberries, special attention should be paid to watering, pruning, and timely harvesting. In all other respects, the cultivation of the variety can be called standard. Necessary agrotechnical measures:

• Watering. The land near the bush is moistened 2-3 times a week, pouring 5 liters of water in the morning and evening. Blueberries do not tolerate stagnant moisture, while the ground should always remain slightly damp. Drought is especially unacceptable during the period of ovary formation. The irrigation mode is adjusted depending on the weather conditions.
• Top dressing. In spring, nitrogen fertilizers are used for blueberries, and in summer, potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Nitrogen will help the shrub to build up vegetative mass, phosphorus and potassium contribute to fruiting and strengthening the roots. You can use special complex fertilizers for blueberries from Bona Forte, Dobraya Sila and other manufacturers. The granules are scattered in the near-stem circle of the plant, embedded in the soil and watered.
• Mulching. The mulch layer is replaced twice a season - in spring and autumn. If the mulch has deteriorated, an unscheduled replacement is made. For this purpose, peat, sawdust, pine needles are used. Mulch protects roots close to the surface from overheating and loss of moisture, prevents weeds from growing, and serves as a source of additional nutrition.
• Control over the level of soil acidity. The soil pH should be measured regularly with litmus strips. The lack of acidity can also be judged by the appearance of the plant, the leaves of the blueberry will become pale, begin to turn yellow. Watering with acidified water (2 tsp citric acid or 100 ml of vinegar per bucket of water) will help to correct the situation.
• Pruning. Due to the excessive tendency of the crown to branch, it is necessary to regularly cut off excess shoots. At the same time, the removal of diseased, broken, crookedly growing branches is carried out. Traditionally, pruning is done in the spring and fall. Additionally, you can thin out the crown after fruiting. At the age of 5, they begin to do rejuvenating pruning, replacing old skeletal branches with young shoots.
• Protection against diseases and pests. In order to prevent diseases, shrubs are treated in autumn and spring with 2% Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate solution. It is also necessary to shed the earth in the near-trunk circle with these preparations. If signs of fungal diseases appear on the shoots (spots, cannon bloom), use fungicides in accordance with the instructions. When pests appear, the shrub is treated with insecticides (preference should be given to biological products).

In the first winter after planting, it is better to cover the seedlings to protect them from freezing. To do this, use burlap, spruce branches, lutrasil. Mature mature bushes do not need shelter for wintering.

Blueberries "Bluegold" are quite a suitable candidate for planting in a summer cottage in all regions of Russia. When performing the necessary agrotechnical measures, the shrub will give stable yields of large berries for decades. Due to the fact that the fruits of this variety tolerate transportation and long-term storage well, they can be grown not only for personal needs, but also for sale.