Description of the blueberry variety "Patriot": characteristics, planting and care, pollinators

Among other varieties of blueberry "Patriot" stands out for its high yield, frost resistance, decorative qualities. The shrub is unpretentious to care for, and its berries are distinguished by excellent taste. The variety was bred by American breeders in the last century; today it is also popular with Russian gardeners. The Patriot blueberry will be able to fully reveal its potential when properly planted; for abundant fruiting, the shrub needs cross-pollination.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Breeders bred this blueberry variety for decorative purposes to decorate gardens. Later it turned out that he gives quite tasty berries. "Patriot" belongs to the group of tall blueberries, the height of the plant in suitable conditions reaches 1.8 m. The branches of the bush are erect, not prone to strong branching. Young leaves are distinguished by a reddish tint, and later acquire a rich dark green color.

The flowering process begins in mid-May and ends in early July. The fruits ripen on the bush in mid-summer. The plant is considered self-pollinating, but when several specimens of another variety are planted next to each other, the yield increases several times. The flowers of the plant are small, collected in a brush, and have a white color.

Garden blueberry "Patriot" is distinguished by strong immunity and staunchly resists various diseases, in particular, root rot and late blight. However, this does not negate the need for preventive treatments of the shrub in spring and autumn. The plant can withstand frosts down to -35 ° C and tolerates short-term drought well.

A description of the variety would be incomplete without specifying the characteristics of the fruit:

• skin color - blue, with a light bloom;
• shape - slightly flattened;
• the average diameter of the berries is 1.5-2 cm;
• the pulp is greenish, dense, juicy.

The fruits are not prone to shedding, after ripening they can persist on the branches for up to 10-12 days. Blueberries are also characterized by good transportability and long shelf life (up to 2 weeks) without loss of marketability. The fruits have a universal purpose, they can be served fresh, frozen, dried, canned, used to make jam, jam, jelly and compotes.

Pros and cons of the variety

After familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of the Patriot blueberry, its advantages are obvious. The main advantages of the variety are:

• high yield (up to 8-9 kg per bush);
• decorative qualities;
• strong immunity;
• excellent fruit taste;
• frost and drought resistance;
• good portability;
• long shelf life of berries.

Of the minuses, it should be noted the exactingness of the characteristics of the soil, however, this is a feature of all garden blueberries. The soil for this culture must be loose, nutritious and sour. In addition, some consider it a disadvantage that by the end of fruiting, the berries become smaller in size. The introduction of dressings to maintain the strength of the plant during the formation of berries will help to correct the situation.

Planting and leaving

In order for the planting and caring of Patriot blueberries to be correct, you need to study the needs of the culture and take them into account when growing shrubs. The quality of the planting material is also important. It is better to buy seedlings in proven nurseries.In the new place, two-year-old bushes with a closed root system, without signs of diseases and mechanical damage, take root well

Landing dates

For planting in central Russia and the northern regions, early spring is best suited. They start planting work when the snow melts and the earth warms up a little. In summer, the shrub is planted only as a last resort, since the hot period prevents the adaptation and rooting of blueberries. At the slightest dryness of the soil, the bush may die.

In the fall, planting blueberries is permissible, but only in regions with warm winters. When planting blueberries in the fall in Siberia and the Urals, the seedling may not have enough time to take root normally, so there is a great risk of death of the bush in winter.

Site selection, preparation of the landing pit

For planting seedlings, it is better to choose an illuminated place with protection from drafts. It is good if the soil is loamy or sandy loam in composition. Before planting, it is necessary to measure the acidity of the soil. A suitable indicator for blueberries is 3.5-4.5 pH. To determine the acidity level, litmus paper is used. To make the soil more acidic, add to the soil removed from the pit:

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

For looseness, you need to add sand. The root system of blueberries is shallow, so the pit should be wide (60-65 cm in diameter and 50 cm deep). Soil preparation is done 1-1.5 weeks before blueberry planting. At the same time, you can add mineral fertilizers, they also increase the acidity of the soil. It is better to use special complexes, for example, "Fertilizer for blueberries and wild berries" from "Bona Forte".

Planting a seedling

Before planting, the seedling is taken out of the container and the roots are examined. If they are bent upwards, the bush is soaked for half an hour in water, and then the root system is carefully straightened. In the event that everything is in order with the roots, you can skip this step and plant the plant along with an earthy clod.

Step-by-step planting procedure:

1. drainage from large pieces of bark or wood is laid at the bottom of the pit (crushed stone cannot be used, it reduces the acidity of the soil);
2. then part of the prepared soil is poured, forming a mound from it;
3. a seedling is placed vertically on the ground and sprinkled on it, the root collar after planting should be 4-5 cm below the soil level;
4. the soil is slightly compacted and watered abundantly with water.

When planting several seedlings at once, an interval of at least 1.5 m is observed between them.If blueberries are planted in several rows, a row spacing of 2-2.5 m is left.

Suitable pollinators

For a more abundant fruiting of Patriot blueberries, suitable pollinators are needed. Instances of a shrub of a different variety with the same flowering time are planted next to the bush, for example:

• "Spartan";
• "River"
• Duke.

With a single planting, instead of 8-9 kg of berries, the bush will yield 2-3 times less harvest. You can attract bees to the site by planting herbs and fragrant flowers. Insects flock to the smell of mint, cosme, rudbeckia, verbena, lavender, sage, basil, thyme. Bees will also like access to water, for this you can equip a small artificial reservoir in the garden.

Further care of blueberries

Blueberry care "Patriot" includes standard procedures. The shrub will need:

• watering - 2 times a week, 10 liters of water;
• fertilizing with mineral complexes - 2-3 times a season, starting from the second year of planting;
• mulching - in spring and autumn with needles, tree bark, rotted sawdust, peat;
• loosening the soil - carried out after watering or rain, acting carefully so as not to hurt the roots;
• crown pruning - up to 4 years of age in spring for sanitary purposes, then for rejuvenation and correction of the crown shape;
• preventive treatments - watering the shrub and the tree trunk circle with 2% Bordeaux liquid in early spring and late autumn.

In the first year of planting, all flowers are cut off on the bushes, preventing the berries from tying. This will help the plant save energy for growth and development. From the second year, blueberries enter the fruiting period. In the cold zone, the shrubs are covered with spruce branches for the winter and snow is thrown on top. Nonwovens can be used as insulation for young plants.

If you want to grow garden blueberries on the site, it is quite possible to plant the Patriot variety, it is suitable even for beginners. The shrub only needs to provide a bright place, the required level of soil acidity, regular watering and feeding. For better fruiting, do not neglect the planting of pollinating varieties with the same flowering time.