Description of blueberry Bluecrop: features of the variety, pollinators, planting and care

Garden blueberry "Blyukrop" refers to a tall species. The variety has almost a century of history and has been tested by time. This plant, without exaggeration, can be called a reference plant: breeders are equal to "Bluecrop" when developing new products. Bred blueberries in the United States of America back in 1934. Its popularity among gardeners is due to its excellent yield, resistance to disease and the vagaries of the weather.

Description of the variety

Breeding work on the creation of the variety was carried out twice. It was first withdrawn and later improved. The selection of the final line of the variety was carried out from more than 1000 seedlings. The criterion was the characteristics set by scientists. The variety received its current name (Bluecrop) in 1952 and at the same time was released into the mass market. Blueberry was entered into the Russian State Register in 2018.

Description of the variety:

• The shrub has an average ripening period. In the south, you can start picking berries at the end of June, in the middle lane - in the first half of July.
• Blueberries are suitable for both manual and mechanized harvesting. In many countries, "Bluecrop" is grown on an industrial scale.
• The height of the bush can be up to 2.5 m, the maximum crown width is 1.7 m.
• Lateral shoots are prone to branching, so the plant requires regular pruning. If you neglect this rule, the quality of the berries deteriorates markedly.
• The roots lie to a depth of 40 cm. The root system is fibrous, well branched. There are no suction hairs on the roots.
• Leaves are dark green, dense, shiny, oblong, with a pointed tip, sit on short petioles.
• In autumn, the shrub is painted in golden-purple tones, so it is often used for decorative purposes, decorating the garden.
• Flowering time - late May - early June. Flowers are not afraid of recurrent frosts. The buds are bell-shaped, white in color. The size of the flowers is 1 cm, they are collected in long drooping brushes.
• The variety belongs to self-pollinated varieties. However, with the simultaneous planting of other varieties of blueberries, the yield increases significantly.

The bush is gaining maximum strength at the age of 5. At this time, up to 9 kg of ripe berries can be harvested from one plant. Over time, due to the accumulation of diseases and aging processes, yields become lower. Blueberries are resistant to most common diseases and are rarely attacked by pests, but the resistance to fungus in young shoots is reduced. The variety tolerates short-term drought, heat and frost up to -40 ° C well.

Features of fruiting

The shrub of this variety is prone to overloading during fruiting, this can cause insufficient bright color and crushing of the berries. To avoid this, it is necessary to make frequent sampling when the harvest is abundant. Part of the berries is best removed at the stage of technical maturity.

Fruit characteristics:

• shape - rounded, slightly flattened;
• size - 1.7–2 cm;
• average weight - 1.6–2 g;
• the skin is bright blue with a light bloom, dense, elastic;
• the pulp is light green in color, juicy, with a pronounced aroma;
• the taste is assessed by tasters as average, the fruits do not have a wide range of tastes, sometimes they are tart.

The first crop can be harvested in the second year of planting. The fruits are versatile, they can be eaten fresh, frozen, processed. The variety may well be used for growing for sale.The berries can easily be transported and stored well.

Suitable pollinating varieties

The tall blueberry "Bluecrop" is a self-pollinating hybrid and is capable of bearing fruit without transferring pollen from other plants. However, practice has shown: if you plant blueberries with the same flowering time next to it, the number of berries invariably increases.

The following varieties are suitable as pollinators for "Bluecrop":

• "Duke";
• "Bonus";
• "Blue Ray".

To obtain a high-quality harvest, agrotechnical measures are also of great importance, in particular irrigation. When forming the ovaries, it is necessary to water the shrub in a timely manner, otherwise the berries may wrinkle and not reach the required size.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

If this variety did not have indisputable merits, it is unlikely that it would have been able to hold the palm for such a long time.

The benefits of Blueberry blueberries include:

• large fruit size;
• bright aroma and balanced taste of berries;
• the resistance of the shrub to the vagaries of the weather;
• strong immunity;
• high rate of frost resistance;
• early entry into fruiting;
• the ability to harvest within 30-40 days;
• excellent transportability;
• good keeping quality;
• decorative appearance;
• universal use of fruits.

All positive qualities are manifested only if the planting site is chosen correctly and the plant is properly cared for.

Blueberry blueberry also has its weaknesses:

• due to overloading with fruits, the bush requires a regular selection of berries, this will take time;
• the tendency of the crown to thicken leads to the need for regular pruning, if the procedure is not carried out, the berries will become small and sour, the ventilation of the bush will deteriorate, which can provoke fungal diseases.
• blueberries are demanding for watering during the fruiting period;
• the taste of berries will not delight sophisticated gourmets - it is too simple and sometimes a little tart.

Today, the variety is rapidly gaining popularity among Russian summer residents. To appreciate it at its true worth, it is worth planting at least 1–2 blueberry seedlings "Bluecrop" in addition to other varieties on your site.

Features of agricultural technology

Planting and caring for garden blueberries is not difficult, but it has its own characteristics. For normal development, the shrub needs planting in a sunny place. The shrub is planted in loose soil with an acidity of 3.5–4 pH. You can measure this indicator using litmus test strips. You can not plant seedlings in the place where cultivated plants, especially vegetables, grew before. The ideal precursor for blueberries is wild herbs.

Planting in the middle lane and northern regions is carried out in the spring, as soon as the soil warms up. In the south, blueberries can be planted in the fall. In summer, due to a possible drought, it is undesirable to carry out planting work.

The pit is prepared a week before the work. The primer removed to the surface should be mixed with additives that provide the necessary looseness and suitable acidity. As additional components, add:

• rotted sawdust;
• high-moor peat;
• river sand.

If the land is too poor, you can add granular mineral fertilizers intended for berry crops. Top dressing is used in the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

Landing rules

If there are several seedlings, they are planted at a distance of 1.5 m from each other. The spacing between the rows should be at least 2.5 m. If this rule is ignored, adult bushes will have to be replanted in the future. Seedlings should be purchased from reliable vendors with all the necessary certificates.

Better to buy 2-year-old plants with a closed root system. The appearance of the seedling should indicate its health. You also need to check the condition of the root system by carefully removing the bush from the container. The roots should be well branched and light in color.The roots bent upwards are soaked for an hour in warm water before planting, and then gently straightened.

Landing Algorithm:

1. Laying drainage from large pieces of bark or wood chips. Crushed stone reduces the acidity of the soil, so it is not used.
2. Filling the hole with part of the soil. The earth is covered with a mound.
3. Placing the seedling in the center of the pit at such a level that after planting, the root collar is deepened by 4–5 cm.
4. Filling the remaining space with earth
5. Easy soil compaction.

After planting, the seedling is watered using a bucket of water. You need to pour water gradually, waiting for it to be absorbed. Planted blueberries are mulched with high-moor peat, pine needles, rotted sawdust. Mulch will help retain moisture in the ground and prevent weeds from growing. By decomposing, organic matter will feed the roots of the plant.

Bush care

Blueberry blueberries require culture-standard care procedures. These include:

• Watering. A bucket of water is added under each bush 2-3 times a week in moderately warm weather. In the heat, blueberries are watered more often, during the rains, watering is suspended. Particular attention should be paid to moistening the soil at the stage of berry formation.
• Replacing the mulch layer. This is usually done in spring and autumn, if necessary, the procedure can be performed more often (for example, if the mulch has decomposed due to frequent rains.).
• Maintaining the required pH level. For this, measurements of the acidity of the soil are periodically carried out. If the pointer goes beyond 3.5–4 units, the soil is poured with acidified water (100 ml of vinegar or 2 tsp. Citric acid in a bucket of water).
• Loosening the soil. The procedure must be carried out very carefully, trying not to touch the roots, therefore, the blueberries are loosened to a depth of no more than 5 cm. Loosening is carried out on damp earth in the zone of the trunk circle.
• Top dressing with mineral fertilizers. In the spring, fertilization is carried out with nitrogen, for example, urea. In summer and autumn, phosphorus and potassium preparations are introduced under the plant. Fertilizers are used in the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. You can use special complex fertilizing for berry crops.
• Pruning. Up to 4 years of age, the shrub is pruned for sanitary purposes, removing broken, diseased shoots thickening the crown. Pruning is usually done in the spring before bud break. For an adult shrub, formative and rejuvenating pruning is carried out, which allows maintaining the quality of the crop at the proper level.
• Preventive treatments. In March and October, it is necessary to process blueberries with a 2% Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate solution. This will give protection against fungal diseases. It is necessary not only to spray the bush, but also to shed the earth around the plant.

In cold regions, it is advisable to provide shelter for the blueberries for the winter. For this purpose, covering non-woven materials are used (film cannot be used), spruce branches, burlap. The branches are pre-bent to the ground and fixed in this position. After the snow falls, you can throw it over the bush.

Even today, many people consider blueberries to be a capricious plant, nevertheless, summer residents willingly plant shrubs on their plots and try to "make friends" with them. The Bluerop variety is considered a classic, but is still popular in many countries. With proper care, the plant can produce good yields for many years. The benefits of these berries have been appreciated by doctors and cosmetologists, and the healing properties of blueberries should definitely be used.