The best blueberry varieties for central Russia

For planting in their summer cottage, gardeners often choose tall blueberries. This is due to the fact that tall bushes give the most abundant harvest. Today in this group there are many popular varieties adapted for cultivation in the climate of central Russia. Among the compact varieties of blueberries, there are also favorites, suitable for planting in the Moscow region. For those who are just thinking about purchasing forest berry seedlings, it will be useful to get acquainted with the most popular varieties of the culture.

The best tall varieties

In recent years, garden blueberries have replaced other berry crops. This became possible thanks to the breeding of unpretentious varieties that can bear fruit for decades in their summer cottage. At the same time, blueberry berries are extremely useful due to the content in them of a significant amount of vitamins, trace elements, antioxidants.

Most popular varieties of tall blueberries are suitable for central Russia. The top 5 includes the best representatives of culture:

1. "Nelson". The cultivation of this variety is possible in all regions of Russia. The bush grows up to 1.8 m in height, sometimes slightly less. The plant has upright erect shoots. The shrub blooms in the second decade of June, the berries are formed in 40-50 days. The variety gives stable yields, belongs to the late varieties. One bush can collect 7-9 kg of berries. Ripe blueberries are large and tasty. The shrub needs frequent pruning.
2. "Jersey". The description of the variety can begin with its merits. The shrub is distinguished by high frost resistance, unpretentiousness, pleases with large volumes of yield and stable fruiting. The only drawback is the not very large size of the berries. Blueberries "Jersey" are high (about 2 m) and have late ripening periods. The plant adorns the garden in autumn with its crimson foliage. The variety is perfect as a pollinator for other crop varieties.
3. "Blue Ray". The variety is not included in the State Register of Russia, however, it is popular. The bush grows up to 1.8 m in height, has a spreading crown. Ripening periods are average - you can remove the first berries in mid-July. The variety does not require cross-pollination, tolerates severe frosts well, and has a decorative appearance. From one bush you can get 5-6 kg of berries. The disadvantage of this blueberry is the spreading crown, which requires a lot of space for planting a bush.
4. "Herbert". This variety can be called a real giant. The bushes can grow up to 2.2 m in height. The berries of this blueberry are large, uniform. From each bush, you can get up to 7 kg of fruit. The pulp is saturated with sugars and has a delicate taste. The disadvantages of the variety include the need for sampling - under too much weight of the fruit, the branches can break off. In addition, the shrub needs regular pruning.
5. Legacy. The height of the bush reaches 2 m. The plant is distinguished by its late maturity. He has a spreading crown, consisting of strong shoots. The variety is distinguished due to the large size of the berries (up to 2 cm). The fruits are saturated with a large amount of sugars, but at the same time have a pronounced sourness. During the season, the bush is capable of producing up to 10 kg of harvest. Fruits for universal use. Of the shortcomings, they note the exactingness of the irrigation regime, low frost resistance (up to -25 ° C).

Proper planting and caring for blueberries largely determines how fully a variety can reveal its characteristics. For culture, you need to choose a sunny area with loose, fertile and acidic soil. The acidity level of the soil should be in the 3.5–4 pH range.This can be achieved by adding rotted sawdust, high moor peat, pieces of pine bark mixed with fertile soil to the planting pit. In the future, the desired acidity is maintained by irrigation with acidified water (2 tsp lemons or 100 ml of vinegar per 10 l of water).

The best undersized varieties

Compact blueberry bushes are ideal for small, densely planted areas. Due to their smaller size, their yield is slightly lower than that of tall varieties, but the berries can be no less large, healthy and tasty.

Top low-growing blueberry varieties:

• "Well". In the process of growth, blueberries form a spreading bush with a height of 1.2–1.6 m. The bush has an average ripening period, the harvest can be obtained in the second decade of July. "Nui" has a large fruit size (up to 3.5 g). The berries are collected in long clusters. A relative disadvantage of the variety is the significant foliage of the shrub, which requires more frequent pruning and can provoke fungal diseases.
• Jorma. Low-yielding (100-120 cm) late-ripening variety. Shrub with upright shoots, prone to branching. Average frost resistance. Fruiting is wavy. The berries are intensely colored, medium-sized, with a delicate sweet pulp. The fruits are recommended to be consumed fresh.
• Northblue. The variety has an average ripening period, the harvest is harvested at the end of July. The plant is compact in size, its height is only 60–90 cm. Fruits are of medium size (1.6–1.8 cm), collected in bunches. Blueberries look very decorative, but yield low yields. 1.5–2 kg of berries are harvested from one bush per season.
• Polaris. A relatively new promising variety with medium ripening periods. The height of the bush is 100–120 cm. The crown is dense and branched. The berries have a pleasant taste with a slight sourness, very aromatic. The shrub begins to bear fruit in the 3-4th year of life. 1.5-2 kg of berries are obtained from one plant.

To increase the yield, blueberries need additional feeding. Fertilizers are applied 2-3 times per season. In early spring, the bushes are fed with nitrogen fertilizers, the next dressing should contain more potassium and phosphorus. You can use specialized complexes "For forest berries".

In case of excessive crown density, thinning pruning will be required. It is carried out simultaneously with sanitary measures (preventive spraying with a 2% Bordeaux mixture, removal of frozen, broken and diseased branches) in early spring and autumn. In addition, the shrubs need watering 2-3 times a week, mulching the soil with coniferous litter or sawdust, and periodic loosening.

The best early varieties

Those who want to harvest blueberries as early as possible will be interested in information about early varieties of the crop. Among them are:

• Bluetta. Low-growing blueberry, which is appreciated by summer residents for the compact size of the bush and early fruiting. Blueberry fruits are not large, but have a pleasant sweet and sour taste. The berries tolerate transportation well. The yields are stable. The average height of the bush is 140 cm. The plant has a high frost resistance.
• "River". A tall shrub with erect shoots, growing up to 2 m. The advantages of the variety include its high frost resistance and good yield. Up to 8 kg of sweet large berries are obtained from one bush. The fruits tolerate transportation well, they are stored for a long time.
• Bluegold. The bush of this variety is compact, with a dense crown. The maximum plant height is 1.2 m. Blueberries tolerate frost well. The yield indicator is 5–7 kg of berries per plant. The fruits are delicious. The variety is resistant to diseases, does not require special care.
• "Legation". One of the most high-yielding early varieties. One plant yields up to 6 kg. The bush is medium-sized - 1.4–1.8 m. The fruits are large, collected in a cluster. The variety has high winter hardiness, it tolerates return frosts well. The harvest ripens by mid-July. The berries are delicious.

Early blueberry varieties are suitable for growing not only in central Russia, but also in cold regions, where frosts come in August.

You should not plant a shrub in a lowland, where the air temperature is always lower, otherwise the plant during flowering may suffer from late spring frosts - and there will be no harvest. In case of a sharp cold snap in May, the bushes can be covered with non-woven material at night. It is also advisable to cover young seedlings before wintering. To do this, use lutrasil, spruce branches, burlap.

Growing garden blueberries is not difficult at all, considering all the requirements of the culture. The main one is planting in acidic soil and further maintaining the acidity at the desired level. The rest of the plant care can be called standard. When choosing a seedling, it is imperative to take into account its characteristics (the degree of growth, ripening time, winter hardiness, taste and size of the fruit).