Garden blueberry is considered an unpretentious crop to care for. But when planting and growing a plant, the gardener needs to take into account the requirements for the soil, pay special attention to the level of acidity of the soil. In the article, we will consider which soil is better to grow a plant, how to acidify the soil for blueberries, rules of care and watering, why blueberries grow poorly, reasons.

Soil for planting garden blueberries

In a forest environment, blueberries grow near swamps or rivers, but garden berries do not develop well with strong soil moisture. What peat to use for blueberries, what place on the site to choose for planting a bush?

The cottage should be well lit and windless. Loose soil (peat bogs, sandy loam, loam) is suitable for a garden hybrid. When planting young seedlings, it is better to choose an area with soil that blueberries like.

If blueberries are planted on a summer cottage for the first time, then before planting it is necessary to study the composition of the soil. Using special devices and laboratory tests, it is determined:

  • Soil composition (mineral and organic particles);
  • Type of soil (sandy, clayey, peat bog);
  • Acidity (acidic, neutral, alkaline).

Depending on the data obtained, you can select special tools and adjust the composition of the soil.

To get a good harvest, blueberries need a complete feeding. Therefore, it is important to pre-prepare the ground. Mineral and organic fertilizers are added to the soil. They are spread evenly over the blueberry area.

Blueberry

Fertilizers for blueberries per 1 sq. m:

  • Potassium - 35 g;
  • Phosphorus - 15 g;
  • Nitrogen - 20 g;
  • Humus or manure - 7 kg.

After fertilization, the soil is dug up 50 cm deep. For better aeration of the soil, river sand is added to the site (per 1 square meter up to 5 kg). For digging, it is better to use a shovel bayonet. It is recommended to prepare the soil in the fall.

On a note. If the site is fertilized in the spring, then fresh manure cannot be added to the soil. Fertilizer can kill the plant.

Why blueberries love acidic soil

Heather plants (blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries) need acidic soil for normal growth and development. The shrub requires soil with an increased level of acidity due to the special structure of the root system. There are no fine hairs on the roots of blueberries, thanks to which other plants are saturated with nutrients from the soil and water. The conductor of the shrub is mycorrhiza (a large number of micro-fungi that coexist in symbiosis with the root system of the plant).

Endotrophic blueberry mycorrhiza. The fungus cell is located in the root bark. The mushroom absorbs useful trace elements from the soil and gives part to the shrub. Blueberries, in turn, share organic matter with the fungus. Mutually beneficial cohabitation is important for the growth of both the blueberry and the fungus.

Mycorrhiza develops only in acidic soils. A neutral acidity level prevents the fungus from functioning properly. Therefore, even in fertilized nutrient soil, blueberries can wither away, since they will not receive useful trace elements from the soil.

Mycorrhiza

If the acidity level is in the range of 4-4.5 pH, then the shrub will be able to receive adequate nutrition, even with a minimum content of nutrients in the soil.

On a note. An area with acidic soil for planting blueberries should be regularly checked for pH levels, if necessary, acidification of the soil is carried out.If the acidity is higher than normal, then the plant begins to suffer from chlorosis. This is because mycoses die from excessive acid, because of this, blueberries do not receive enough nutrients, nitrogen.

How to make acidic soil for blueberries

If a gardener in May or June noticed that the leaves of a shrub turn red, then this is the first sign that the soil for blueberries is not acidic enough. In this case, the plant stops developing, the buds stop growing, the bush freezes. Insufficient acidity is the answer to the question of why blueberries do not bear fruit. In autumn, reddening of the leaves is normal, as the plant prepares for the winter period.

Aggressive substances are used to acidify the soil, so the gardener must work with rubber gloves, plastic glasses and a mask. If the acidic solution gets on the skin or mucous membranes, then work should be stopped immediately and the area should be rinsed with soda water to neutralize the action of the acids.

It is not advisable to bring acidic solutions into the house, they emit vapors that negatively affect the mucous membranes. Use solutions only outdoors.

Fertilizers should be kept outdoors

If the soil in the selected area is not acidic enough, then it can be independently oxidized using effective means. Tips on how to quickly acidify the soil for blueberries:

  • Lemon acid. Dilute 5 g of citric acid powder in 10 liters of water. The solution is poured over the area for blueberries (enough for 1 sq. M). Experience shows that the agent acts quickly, acidification will not last long;
  • Vinegar (apple cider or regular) Acidification with vinegar is done as a last resort, if you want to quickly increase the acidity of the soil. For acidification, prepare a solution: 10 liters of water with the addition of 100 g of acetic acid. Frequent use of this method can negatively affect the plant and kill beneficial insects in the soil;
  • Sulfuric acid or colloidal sulfur for blueberries. The sulfuric acid solution is prepared immediately before use. For 1 liter of water, 1 drop of concentrated acid is required (enough for 1 square meter);
  • Oxalic acid. To prepare a solution for 1 sq. m, take 5 g of oxalic powder and dilute it in 10 liters of water. Means to water holes with shrubs;
  • Electrolyte. Acid batteries are filled with electrolyte. To acidify the soil, an acidifier is prepared: 30 ml of electrolyte per 10 liters of water (per 1 sq. M);
  • Powdered sulfur for blueberries. The powder is spread on the ground under the blueberry bush. For 1 sq. m will require 15 g of powder. Before adding powdered sulfur to the soil, the soil is well watered, then sprinkled with powder. The procedure is carried out in spring or autumn before planting a blueberry seedling.

On a note. When using aggressive products to increase the acidity level, it is important not to let the solution get on the leaves and trunk of the shrub, as the product can cause burns in the plant.

You can acidify the soil with organic matter. You can make homemade dressings suitable for blueberries with your own hands. Before planting in the blueberry hole, add:

  • Peat;
  • Needles;
  • Sand;
  • Semi-decomposed peat;
  • Sawdust.

On a note. To make soil for blueberries with your own hands, it is recommended to take high-moor peat. It consists of organic matter and sphagnum moss. Knowing what kind of peat is needed for the active growth of blueberries, you can avoid problems with growing a bush.

Mix the components well, add them to the soil, they increase the acidity level. Three times a year, a hole with blueberry bushes is mulched with a layer of sawdust and coniferous bark. If the acidity level has decreased over time, then alternative methods are used to acidify the soil for blueberries.

The acidity must be maintained constantly. Using the listed products to increase acidity has a temporary effect. To make the soil acidic, ammonia additives should be used as top dressing:

  • Urea;
  • Potassium sulfate;
  • Ammonia sulfate;
  • Nitroammofosk;
  • Ammonium nitrate.

In addition to acidifying the soil for the development of shrubs, other agrotechnical measures are required:

  • Watering;
  • Loosening;
  • Weed removal;
  • Top dressing;
  • Treatment against diseases and pests;
  • Pruning.

Planting and watering rules for blueberries

Healthy planting material is the key to active growth of the shrub. Young two-year-old seedlings are suitable for planting. The root system must be closed. Saplings are planted in the spring or autumn.

For young seedlings, it is important to choose a windless, well-heated area. In the sun, the plant will grow well, the berries will ripen sweet, the bushes will be healthy.

Instructions for planting blueberry seedlings:

  • Site selection: soil preparation, fertilization, determination of the acidity level; digging, loosening;
  • It is necessary to dig holes (diameter - 1 m, depth - 0.5 m), the distance between them is 1.5 m. Pour a peat mixture from high-moor peat and coniferous sawdust into the hole, do not tamp the layer;
  • It is good to moisten the earthen lump around the roots of the seedling, if it is very dense, then gently knead it, but so that it does not crumble. There are important mushrooms in the ground, which in the future will participate in the nutrition of the bush;
  • Pour 5 liters of water into the hole, place a seedling in the middle, sprinkle the empty space with earth, compact the earth a little near the bush;
  • Mulch the hole with a layer of coniferous sawdust, make the mulching layer 5-10 cm. The procedure will avoid the appearance of weeds.
  • Loosening is carried out for better air permeability, which is important for the root system. The roots are located close to the surface of the ground, so loosen should be done carefully so as not to injure the bush. Weeding must be done manually, without gardening tools. After removing weeds, water and mulch the hole.

After planting a young seedling for the next season, fertilization will be required. You can make mineral fertilizing yourself. Manufacturing proportion:

  • Ammonium sulfate (90 g);
  • Superphosphate (110 g);
  • Potassium sulfate (40 g).

Mix mineral fertilizers thoroughly, apply under the bush in the spring.

On a note. The main condition is that potassium chloride cannot be used from mineral fertilizers. He can destroy the plant.

Pruning is an important procedure in bushes care. In the third season, sanitary pruning is carried out for better shrub growth. When pruning, remove dry, damaged branches, thin out the crown of the bush a little. A tall bush is formed by pruning, giving the bush an aesthetic appearance.

In order to prevent diseases, after pruning blueberries, the bushes are treated with fungicidal agents (Euparen, Topsin).

Tips for watering garden blueberries:

  • The blueberry hole should be moist, but no stagnant water should be allowed. The roots are located close to the surface of the earth, therefore, with excessive moisture, they begin to rot;
  • It is important to prevent the soil from drying out and crusting on the ground. Soil moisture must be maintained at 60-70%. It is better to water from a watering can. If the soil is moistened with a hose, the jet can erode the mulch layer;
  • Watering frequency is every three days, twice a day. Favorable hours for watering are morning and evening. An adult bush will require 5 liters of water;
  • The bushes need abundant watering in July and August. During this period, the formation of flower buds of the future harvest occurs;
  • If the days are hot and sunny, then besides watering, the bushes can be sprayed with cool water. The procedure helps to cool the plant and increases the rate of photosynthesis.

When growing garden blueberries on the site, you need to choose a bed with acidic soil or acidify the soil yourself. When using products to increase acidity, you must follow safety rules. If you follow the agrotechnical rules for growing and caring for a shrub, the plant will develop well and bring a good harvest for many years.

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