When can you pick blueberries? Garden blueberry plant (Vaccinium): description and cultivation (with photo). Step-by-step landing instructions

The bushes of this berry are unpretentious, but grow slowly, are frost-resistant, light-loving, are not affected by pests and can live up to 100 years. They begin to bear fruit at 11-18 years of age. It blooms in late spring or early summer. Tender berries ripen at the end of July and August; up to 200 g can be collected from one wild bush, and up to 3 kg per bush from cultivated varieties.

In rainy summers, blueberries produce higher yields. The berries are difficult to pick and store without damaging them because they are very soft. Whole blueberries can be stored fresh for up to 3 weeks at a temperature of 0-+4°C, and frozen for a year. Externally, blueberries are similar to blueberries, but differ in taste, juice color, size and appearance of the bush.

Attention! Blueberries are 2 times higher in the amount of anthocyanins than blueberries. It also contains tannins, carotenoids, quercetins, bioflavonoids, rutin, 6 essential amino acids and antioxidants. The iron contained in this berry is completely absorbed.

In terms of its chemical composition and beneficial effects, blueberries are ahead of many berries and fruits:

• proteins -1 g;
• fats – 0.5 g;
• carbohydrates – 6.6 g;
• organic acids – 1.4 g;
• vegetable dietary fiber – 2.5 g;
• the vitamin composition of the berry is unique: ascorbic acid, A, PP, E, K, P, thiamine, riboflavin;
• minerals: iron, silver, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus.

Useful properties and methods of using blueberries for medicinal purposes

1. Blueberries are a highly effective remedy for scurvy. A decoction of dried berries will help with dysentery.
2. Eating this berry will be useful for pancreatitis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, worms, arthritis, gastric catarrh, scrofula, and nosebleeds.
3. It is rich in anthocyanins, which improve memory, concentration and movement, and prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. It is recommended to be used for glaucoma, since blueberries help restore vision by reducing tension on the optic nerve.
4. This berry has a strong antioxidant effect, so it is recommended for consumption in environmentally unfavorable areas, as a preventative against cancer and for protection against radioactive radiation.
5. Eating berries raw prevents the development of iron-containing anemia and increases blood clotting. Therefore, it is especially recommended for use in cases of significant blood loss, after operations, and childbirth.
6. A decoction of blueberry berries and leaves has an anti-inflammatory and antiviral effect, therefore it is actively used for colds and fever.
7. Using a decoction of blueberry leaves has a laxative effect for constipation, and also relieves the symptoms of gastritis and enteritis.
8. It should definitely be included in the diet of people working in hazardous conditions, since its coarse fibers and pectin substances effectively bind and remove toxins and heavy metals.
9. Blueberries are recommended for obesity as a product that helps burn subcutaneous fat. In addition, it has a positive effect on the functions of the pancreas and intestines.
10. Blueberry leaves and berries have a rejuvenating effect on the skin, so they can be used as a face mask.
11. Eating blueberries has a choleretic effect, helps reduce puffiness, the appearance of pimples and bruises under the eyes.
12. The complex polymers that make up this berry have an anti-inflammatory effect in cystitis.
13. Eating blueberries stimulates the production of the hormone dopamine, or as it is also called “the hormone of optimism.”

Advice! A decoction of dried young blueberry leaves is an effective preventative against anemia and prostate adenoma. To do this, steam a tablespoon of crushed leaves in a thermos like tea. The infusion can also be used to wash purulent wounds and as a cough suppressant for bronchitis.

Harmful properties and contraindications

Despite the fact that blueberries are a very healthy berry, they still have a number of properties that can be harmful to health:

1. The antioxidants contained in it, when consumed excessively, can accumulate in the body and block the supply of oxygen to muscle tissue, causing disruption in their functioning.
2. Excessive consumption of blueberries can cause intoxication of the body due to an oversaturation of biologically active substances.
3. By increasing blood viscosity and coagulability, eating blueberries can cause harm in cases of thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.
4. Despite the fact that the number of recorded cases of blueberry allergy is very small, cases of individual intolerance to the berry are still possible.
5. It is not recommended to consume blueberries if you have biliary dyskinesia, pregnancy or lactation.

Attention! Blueberries have earned caustic nicknames: gonoboy, fool, drunkard, gonobobel, blueberry and others. This is due to the eternal companion of blueberries - poisonous wild rosemary, which evaporates essential oils that can cause headaches and dizziness.

Where does it grow and how is it used?

Blueberries are found in the Northern Hemisphere from Iceland and Spain to Japan and Mongolia, as well as in Canada, the USA, the Caucasus and Ukraine.

In Russia, blueberries grow in the north of the European part: Karelia, Komi, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Leningrad, Kostroma regions, as well as in the Urals, Altai, Siberia and the Far East. The main habitat is coniferous forests and peatlands, but it can also be found in the mountains and arctic tundra.

You can grow blueberries yourself using garden varieties

Some wild blueberry species are protected, but you can easily grow them yourself using garden varieties that differ in the size of the berries and the height of the bush.

Attention! In 1908, the American botanist Coville developed the first garden blueberry variety; in the 20s of the 20th century, cultivated blueberry varieties were brought to Europe. Since 1964, scientists have been studying its properties, and in some countries, it is more popular than black currant.

The most popular varieties of garden blueberries:

• Weymouth;
• Blue Ray;
• Rencocas;
• Darrow;
• Northland.

There are also varieties of blueberries that grow in hot climates. It is often bred in nature reserves because it can provide animals with both food and shelter. It is also one of the first plants to easily colonize areas affected by fire.

Blueberries are widely used in cooking and dietary nutrition, folk medicine and cosmetology. Medicines are made from its berries, shoots, leaves and bark. In everyday life, blueberries are used to make juice, jelly, jam, compotes, kvass, jelly, wine, filling and addition to porridges and desserts. And in the past, farmers boiled blueberries in milk to make gray dye.

The beneficial effect of the northern blueberry on human health is an important reason for its use in the nutrition of children and adults.

Beneficial properties of blueberries - video

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Spicy pickled watermelon is a savory appetizer for fatty meat. Watermelons and watermelon rinds have been pickled since time immemorial, but this process is labor-intensive and time-consuming. According to my recipe, you can simply prepare pickled watermelon in 10 minutes, and by the evening the spicy appetizer will be ready. Watermelon marinated with spices and chili can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure to keep the jar in the refrigerator, not only for the sake of safety - when chilled, this snack is simply licking your fingers!

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Blueberry- fruits of a plant of the Heather family. In addition, there are also its names: drunkard and gonobobel. They are so specific because the berries seem to intoxicate and make you dizzy.

Blueberries are often confused with blueberries because they look very similar. The fruits, blue in color, are covered with a bluish coating on top (see photo). Ripe berries reach an average length of 1.2 cm. Inside, the fruits have fleshy, juicy green pulp. The taste of the berries is moderately sweet with a slight sourness. They will appeal to those who do not like cloying sweetness in taste.

Blueberries are found almost everywhere in the northern hemisphere. Forests, mountains and wetlands are considered natural conditions for the growth of this shrub.

Where and how does it grow?

Blueberries grow mainly in wetlands, mountains, forests, and tundra. However, the plant can be planted in any other area. The main thing is that the area is characterized by high humidity. As for the choice of soil, here too scientists claim that blueberries can grow in any soil and withstand severe frosts, sultry heat and even flooding of the soil.

The plant grows in the form of a small bush that reaches only one hundred centimeters in height. The branches of the plant are gray in color, smooth and curved. The leaves are small, three centimeters long. The inflorescences are small, painted pink or white. Blueberries are dark blue in color. The skin is covered with a bluish coating. The fruits of the plant are edible, they are quite juicy and moderately sweet.

When can you pick berries and how to do it correctly?

People who planted blueberries in their garden for the first time ask the following question: “When do blueberries ripen and how to pick the berries correctly?” Experts say that blueberry season falls in the middle of summer, or more precisely, at the end of July. Therefore, the berries can be picked as early as early August. But there is no point in delaying this matter, since the fruits of the plant may become overripe and fall off.

If there are not many bushes with blueberries growing on the site, the berries can be collected manually or using a comb (scoop), which is easy to use and, most importantly, leaves do not get into it, so sorting the berries is quite quick.

If a whole plantation of such plants is planted and each bush begins to bear fruit abundantly, then it is best to use a special harvester for picking berries. It can replace several people, so it is considered a fairly economical means of picking blueberries.

How do blueberries differ from serviceberry, honeysuckle, and blueberries?

Blueberries differ from serviceberries in that the latter grows as a tree that reaches almost five meters in height. And blueberries grow on a bush that is no higher than one hundred centimeters in height. Also, the difference between the two berries is that serviceberry belongs to the Rosaceae family, and blueberries belong to the Heather genus. As for the fruits of the two plants themselves, there are differences here too. Blueberries are very juicy and sweet and sour, while serviceberry berries are less juicy, a little sweet, almost tasteless.

The difference between blueberries and honeysuckle is that the berries of the latter ripen much earlier (in June), and the fruits of the former only at the end of July. Blueberries taste sweet, with a slight sour taste, and honeysuckle can be sweet, tart, sour and even bitter. The taste of the berries depends on what variety is grown. There is also a difference in the color of the berries. The color of honeysuckle fruits varies: they can be blue, white, black, red or orange. And blueberries have berries that are colored a rich dark blue.

Blueberries and blueberries, although they belong to the same family, still have a number of differences. The blueberry bush is even smaller than the blueberry bush. The stems of the latter, unlike the former, are harder and lighter. The difference is also noticeable in the fact that the blueberry bush almost spreads along the ground, while the blueberry bush, on the contrary, grows upward. The latter plant can adapt to any conditions and soil, and blueberries grow only in pine forests. The juice released from blueberries is dark in color, while the juice of blueberries is clear. In addition, blueberries, unlike blueberries, are larger and oblong in shape. Blueberry fruit pulp is characterized by a dark blue tint, while blueberry pulp is greenish in color.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of such wild berries are very diverse. Blueberry has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system, for example, the walls of blood vessels become stronger after eating berries, and the process of hematopoiesis also improves. It is also worth considering beneficial effect of blueberries on the nervous system. This may be due to the magnesium content, which acts like a sedative.

The berries have strong antimicrobial properties. Taking this into account, blueberries are recommended to be consumed as a preventive measure against various infectious diseases, such as dysentery. In addition, blueberries is an excellent natural antioxidant, which allows the berries to be used as a general strengthening, restorative and tonic agent.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the ability of blueberries to break down fats. In addition, berries are low-calorie foods. Considering this, they can be used during weight loss and to maintain ideal shape.

It has been noticed that with regular consumption of blueberries, you can relieve eye strain and restore vision.

Blueberries contain a lot of phyllochionine, which is actively involved in blood clotting.

Blueberries contain a huge amount of vitamins, such as B, C, E and PP, as well as minerals: iron, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Berries contain proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water.

The plant is very useful for women because it has medicinal properties. Due to their low energy value, blueberries are considered a low-calorie product; therefore, the berries are recommended for weight loss, since the plant is capable of breaking down fats.

Blueberries are also good for the skin. It can restore tone to the face and rejuvenate it. To do this, it is recommended to prepare the following mask. In a bowl, grind two teaspoons of berries with a tablespoon of sour cream, then add a drop of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of olive oil. Mix the mixture well and spread over the skin of the face. After about fifteen minutes, the mask should be wiped off with a damp sponge, and then washed.

In addition, blueberries are good for the eyes. It is recommended to eat the berries of the plant during daily eye strain.

Blueberries are useful for gastritis, but only when the acidity of the juice in the stomach is low. Proponents of alternative treatment advise pouring a tablespoon of berries with two hundred milliliters of boiling water and setting aside to infuse for fifteen minutes. After the infusion of blueberries, you need to strain. The medication should be drunk before meals, seventy milliliters. Before use, the infusion should be slightly warmed to keep it warm.

Blueberries can become stronger if you eat dried berries. For constipation, you need to steam a tablespoon of dried and ground leaves of the plant with a glass of boiling water, let it stand for about an hour, and then filter the infusion. Drink half a glass up to four times a day.

With pancreatitis, blueberries are allowed to be eaten, but not at the time of exacerbation of the disease. During the period of remission, you can cook compote and jelly from blueberries.

Eating blueberries also helps lower blood pressure.

Below is a video about the beneficial properties of blueberries.

Use in cooking

Blueberries are widely used in cooking: they can be consumed both fresh and cooked.

Most often, preserves and jams are prepared from the fruits, which retain many useful substances even after heat treatment. Blueberries are used to prepare various drinks, for example, compotes and jelly are made from the berries, juice is also made and the berries are used in the alcohol industry.

Blueberry fruits are widely used in baking. They can simply be added to the dough or used as a filling.

You can make a tincture from blueberries. Wash two kilograms of fresh blueberries, dry and crush so that the berries release juice. Pour the blueberry puree into an airtight container, add two hundred and fifty grams of granulated sugar, pour in a liter of vodka, stir well, and then close. Place the container with the contents in a fairly dark place and leave for fifteen days at room temperature. The container should be shaken once every two days. Afterwards, the tincture must be strained using a gauze cloth, then poured into a glass bottle and sealed (you can add granulated sugar if desired). Let the tincture sit for another five days, and then try. Blueberry tincture has a ruby ​​color and a berry aroma.

What can you substitute for blueberries in a recipe?

Blueberries can only be replaced with a few berries in the recipe. For example, if a pie requires blueberry filling, you can replace them with fresh blueberries, cherries, or sea buckthorn.

To decorate the cake, you can use blackcurrants instead of blueberries.

If you can't find blueberries, but want to make a smoothie, you can replace fresh berries with currants.

In addition, experienced cooks replace blueberries with red currants, raspberries or strawberries in many recipes.

Storage and preparation of berries

To store blueberries, it is necessary to select only ripe, large-sized fruits. There are two ways to store berries according to timing:

1. Not for long. The fruits can be stored at room temperature for three days.
2. Long lasting. If the berries are washed, dried, distributed in glass containers and placed in the refrigerator on the top shelf, the fruits can remain fresh and edible for ten days.

Blueberries can also be prepared for the winter in such ways as freezing, drying, candiing, soaking in water and making jam from the berries.

To freeze the fruits of the plant, they should be sorted, the tails cut off, washed under water, dried, folded in layers in an airtight container (each layer must be sprinkled with sugar) and placed in the freezer. The shelf life of frozen blueberries is twelve months.

To prepare the berries using the soaking method, you need to wash the blueberries, dry them, distribute them into glass jars (you will need a container that holds five hundred milliliters), fill them completely with cold boiled water and boil for about ten minutes. Afterwards, the jars should be preserved and then placed in a cool room (cellar or on the top shelf of the refrigerator). This storage method will ensure the freshness of the berries for at least six months.

For candied blueberry fruits You need to grind the washed berries using a meat grinder, and then pour the berry puree into a deep enamel container. Then pour granulated sugar into the puree (per kilogram of berry puree you will need about five hundred grams of sugar) and put the container on the fire to heat the berry mass. You also need to boil glass jars for about twenty minutes, and then pour the puree into containers and preserve. It is advisable to store candied blueberries in a cellar or refrigerator for no more than twelve months..

To prepare blueberries jam, the berries need to be sorted, washed and dried. Now you need to make the syrup. To do this, pour five glasses of water into a deep enough bowl, add five hundred grams of sugar and boil until the sugar melts. Next, add the berries to the prepared syrup and simmer over low heat for about four hours. Afterwards, pour the jam into a sterilized container and seal. Store in the cellar for about two years.

Harvesting blueberries for the winter by drying implies the following. Distribute clean berries on a baking sheet and place in the oven, preheating the oven to fifty degrees. There is no need to close the oven door completely, leaving it ajar. At a temperature of fifty degrees, blueberries are dried for two hours, then the temperature must be increased by another ten degrees and the berries dried for about an hour. Place dried blueberries in an airtight container and store either in the refrigerator or cellar for six months..

Blueberry benefits and treatment

The benefits of blueberries have been discovered through numerous scientific studies and experiments. Scientists have proven that regular consumption of berries increases the body's protective functions, which allows it to resist the effects of radioactive substances. Vitamins and microelements found in blueberries promotes the removal of toxins and heavy metal salts from the body.

In folk medicine, many diseases are treated with blueberries. For example, a decoction is prepared from branches and leaves, which helps in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Besides, A decoction of the leaves can be used as a mild laxative.

Blueberry juice is widely used in folk medicine. Basically, it is recommended to use it for fever, gastrointestinal diseases, as well as during periods of increased secretion of gastric juice.

Harm of blueberries and contraindications

Blueberries can cause harm if the berries are abused; eating berries in large quantities can provoke allergic reactions. In addition, headache, nausea and even vomiting may occur.

It is worth reducing the amount of berries consumed by pregnant and breastfeeding women, as they can provoke the development of allergies in the child.

There are contraindications to consuming blueberries in case of biliary dyskinesia.

Characteristics of the best varieties

Today, a large number of blueberry varieties have been developed, which differ in ripening time, color, taste, as well as region of cultivation. Let us consider and characterize the best of them.

Blueberry varieties	Description
Blugold (translated as “blue gold”)	The variety is bushy, tall (grows up to one and a half meters in height), frost-resistant, self-fertile, does not tolerate extreme heat, the berries ripen after the twentieth of July. The fruits are light blue in color and sweet. A blueberry bush bears fruit for approximately sixty years. In autumn, the green leaves of the plant turn yellow and then scarlet.
	Belongs to those varieties whose fruits ripen by early August. Blueberries are large in size, bright blue in color, the skin is covered with a blue coating. Bluecrop blueberries taste moderately sweet, with some sour notes. This variety is also characterized by good resistance to severe frosts.
	A plant with a late period of fruit ripening (the berries ripen in early August). Blueberries are round in shape, bright blue in color, and sweet. This variety is self-fertile, frost-resistant, and can be transported for a long time.
Denis blue	Blueberries, although they ripen late, are pleasing with their large size, dessert taste and good transportability. The pulp is sweet and sour. The bush is tall, with average frost resistance.
	Variety "Duke" of the early period of fruit ripening. The berries are large in size, rich blue in color, the skin is smooth, covered with a coating, the pulp is tart-sweet. Tolerates long-term transportation well. Good frost resistance, but it is better to cover it for the winter.
	Late variety with good frost resistance. You can reap a good harvest from a tall bush. The berries are blue in color, large in size, with a sweet taste. Thanks to their strong skin and dense pulp, blueberries can be transported over long distances.
Northland (translated as “northern country”)	The variety is suitable for growing in northern regions, frost-resistant, low-growing. Characterized by early ripening speed of berries. The fruits are blue and sweetish. Many gardeners plant Northland blueberries as ornamental shrubs to decorate their garden plots.
	The variety is low-growing, frost-resistant, self-fertile, not susceptible to diseases and pests, with an average period of berry ripening. The fruits are slightly flat, quite large, light blue.
	It is a tall shrub that is characterized by fairly high resistance to cold and disease. Ripe berries are harvested after the twentieth of July. Blueberry fruits taste sweet and sour, are small in size, and have a deep blue color. The plant begins to bear fruit three years after planting the seedling..
	A tall shrub of an early variety that produces relatively large fruits. The berries are blue, round, slightly flattened, sweet in taste, but have a tartness. This blueberry variety has average frost resistance.
	This variety has an average rate of ripening of fruits, which at the time of harvest are colored bluish-blue and acquire a round shape. The skin is smooth, covered with a waxy coating. The plant is frost-resistant, but can develop a fungal disease.
	The variety is characterized by large blue berries and a late ripening period. Harvest can last more than four weeks. It tolerates severe frosts well, when the temperature ranges from -24 to -28 degrees. Transportability is low, since blueberries are very delicate and can crack.
Elizabeth	It belongs to varieties with an average speed of berry ripening and good resistance to many diseases and pests. It may not withstand severe frosts, so it is suitable for growing only in warm areas. The fruits of the plant are round, with elastic skin, and have a sweet taste.
	Erliblue blueberries are characterized by fairly early fruiting and high resistance to severe frosts. The berries grow in the shape of a ball, medium and large in size, light blue in color, with a tart, sweet and sour taste. It resists diseases such as powdery mildew well, but the fruits may be subject to mummification. Not subject to transportation or long-term storage.

In addition to the main varieties, other varieties of blueberries have been bred, which are also very popular among farmers. Conventionally, plant varieties can be divided as follows:

• tall: “puru”, “berkeley”, “north country”, “sunrise”, “chantecler”, “bluejay”, “blueray”, “meader”, “xxl”, “atlantic”, “blue berry”, “bluetta” ", "Weymouth", "Huron", "double", "Kaz Plishka", "Collins", "Sierra", "Boniface", "Jersey", "Elliot", "Goldtraube", "Hannas Choice", "Hardiblu" ", "Brigitta Blue", "Herbert", "Darrow", "Pink Lemonade", "Rencocas", "Legacy";
• low-growing: “North Blue”, “Chippewa”, “Alvar”, “Blue Giant”, “Wonderful”, “Shegarskaya”, “Polaris”.

There are a lot of blueberry varieties, and each of them has different taste qualities, fruiting and life spans, as well as areas and areas for planting. Therefore, you can always choose the option that suits you.

Growing: planting and care

The technology for growing blueberries consists of proper planting, care and harvesting. The plant can be grown in a greenhouse, in a garden or on a personal plot.

So, as for the correct planting of shrubs. Before planting blueberries in the garden, you need to select high-quality seedlings, that is, so that they are healthy and have green leaves without spots. Blueberries should be planted in early spring before the buds ripen, choosing a sunny and windless place in the garden. To plant a plant, you first need to completely soak the pots with bushes in cool water for about three hours (so that the earthen ball is saturated with moisture). After this, you need to carefully remove the blueberry bush from the pot, turning the plant upside down to break the lump from the ground. Now you should plant the bush in the hole, carefully straighten the roots and cover it with substrate (a mixture of sawdust, bark, sand, red peat and pine litter). Next, in a circle near the bush, you need to make a small hole, soak it well with water, and then add mulch (you can use straw or bark). The distance between seedlings should be at least one meter.

To transplant blueberries to a new place in the garden, the bush needs to be planted in the ground only to the depth at which it was previously located. Although some gardeners recommend planting blueberries in the soil five centimeters deeper. For replanting, it is best to dig up a young shrub that has reached two years old, cutting off the green shoots and buds.

When the planting stage is completed, you can move on to the blueberry care stage. Throughout the season, it is necessary to loosen the soil several times, as well as mulch. It should also be remembered that a shrub plant needs timely watering, pruning and feeding.

Blueberries should be watered no more than twice a week. For each adult bush, one bucket of water in the early morning and the same amount of water in the evening will be enough. During the fruiting period, blueberries need to be watered very often. If the plant becomes thirsty, this can have a detrimental effect on yield.

Feeding blueberries is not particularly required, but the plant is very fond of mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, which should be added to the soil in early spring, at the time of sap flow and during the appearance of buds. But as for organic fertilizers for blueberries, experienced farmers categorically prohibit their application to the soil. The most optimal fertilizers for plants are:

• ammonium sulfate;
• potassium sulfate;
• zinc sulfate;
• superphosphate.

Ammonium sulfate should be applied to the soil three times: during the movement of sap, then at the beginning of the third month of spring, and then at the beginning of June. And there is no need to put more fertilizers in the ground for blueberries until next spring. The only thing you can feed blueberries with in the fall is superphosphate (one hundred grams are required for one bush).

You also need to regularly prune blueberries. This is done to ensure that the plant bears fruit well. Pruning in the spring is carried out until the buds swell on the branches. If there are diseased branches on the plant in the fall, they should be cut off immediately and not wait until spring. All flowers are cut off from an annual bush so that the plant develops well. In four-year-old shrubs, weak, diseased, frozen branches and shoots (over five years old) are pruned and shoots are removed.

During the flowering period, the plant requires pollination. The best pollinators for blueberries are bumblebees and sometimes bees. When the blueberry flowers turn white, there are four days left for them to be pollinated, otherwise after two weeks they will change color to dark pink and eventually bear no fruit.

Some blueberry diseases include:

• white spotting;
• drying out of branches;
• stem cancer;
• gray rot.

To reduce the risk of developing the disease, you need to treat the bushes with Bordeaux mixture every year with the arrival of spring and after harvesting. If the bush still gets sick, it should be treated three times with Topaz (the break between treatments is exactly a week).

Thanks to proper plant care, blueberries begin to bear fruit within four years after planting, and full fruiting begins after seven years. Blueberry productivity is very high.

Caring for blueberries in the fall is also important. It involves covering the bush for the winter, since the frost resistance of blueberries is average; in severe frosts, the plant may freeze. After collecting the fruits, the branches of the bush should be pulled to the soil, a wire loop should be thrown over the top, the bush should be secured, and then covered with a bag on top and sprinkled with spruce branches. In warm regions, blueberries overwinter in the open, without shelter.

Blueberries can be propagated from seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush.

Breeding blueberries by dividing the bush occurs as follows. The dug plant must be divided so that each part has roots seven centimeters long. Divided bushes should be immediately planted in the place where they will constantly grow.

Blueberry propagation by cuttings is carried out at the very end of March. So, in order to properly cut blueberries, you will need to cut off the branches in winter and put them in boxes with holes filled with peat. The boxes should be stored in a well-ventilated room at a temperature of five degrees Celsius. With the arrival of spring, you need to cut blueberry cuttings using the lower parts of the branches. The length of the cutting must be at least twelve centimeters. The cut at the bottom is made at an angle and under the bud. The upper cut is made above the kidney by about one centimeter. Afterwards, the cuttings must be treated with a growth stimulator. To root blueberry cuttings, they need to be planted in beds with a layer of well-drained soil and covered with film. After three months the film can be removed. With the arrival of spring, when the soil warms up well, the cuttings can be planted in a permanent place.

Blueberries propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush bear fruit in the fourth year after the plant is planted.

To propagate blueberries from seeds, you should collect the berries, remove the seeds from them, dry them a little and plant them in temporary beds with acidic peat. The air temperature should be at twenty-five degrees. Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied in the spring, when the seedlings are two years old. After this, the seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent site. Blueberries propagated in this way begin to bear fruit only after seven years.

Sometimes difficulties may arise with blueberry agricultural technology. If blueberries turn yellow, it means the plant does not have enough nitrogen. If the leaves on the bush begin to fall, it means you need to acidify the soil for the blueberries. You can use sulfur powder, which should be added to the moist soil where the seedlings were planted. If blueberries do not bloom, it means that there is stagnant water in the soil, it is very humid, or the plant was planted in a shady area. Therefore, the soil should not be over-moistened and seedlings should only be planted in a well-lit place.

In the garden, blueberries are compatible with other plants such as blueberries, lingonberries and cranberries. Blueberry bushes also get along well with corn, thyme, parsley, rosemary, zucchini and cucumber. However, it is not recommended to plant blueberries next to flowers and fruit trees.

Syn.: marsh blueberry, lowbush blueberry, water drinker, cabbage roll, blueberry, gonobob, gonobobel, gonoboy, gonobol, fool, fool, fool, fool, drunken berry, drunkard, drunkard, drunkard, blue grapes, blueberry.

A woody plant, in life form a shrub with brownish-brown bark and bluish berries. Valuable food vitamin-rich plant. It has many therapeutic effects: hypoglycemic, antiscorbutic, antisclerotic, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, cardiotonic, choleretic, diuretic, etc.

Ask the experts a question

In medicine

Although bog blueberry exhibits many beneficial medicinal properties, it has no direct use in scientific medicine; there are no pharmaceutical preparations of blueberry and it is not used in medicinal preparations. The use of the medicinal properties of bog blueberry in practical medicine is still isolated. Doctors note positive dynamics when consuming blueberries and often recommend them for vitamin deficiencies, vitamin C deficiency, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, coronary heart disease, hemorrhagic diathesis, anemia, hypertension, colitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, gastric catarrh, enterocolitis. In addition, according to the biochemical laboratory of the All-Union Institute of Plant Growing (VIR), fresh blueberries are an excellent antiscorbutic remedy.

Blueberries have recognized therapeutic, preventive and nutritional value. First of all, bog blueberry berries and juice are an excellent dietary product that enhances metabolism and the effect of sugar-lowering drugs; they also strengthen the walls of blood vessels and normalize the functioning of the digestive organs and heart. Therefore, modern nutritionists recommend including the berries of the plant in the diet of people, especially in the northern regions, with a lack of vitamin C, after severe long-term illnesses and operations, as a general strengthening agent. Blueberries are also useful to add to the diet for vision problems, as they are rich in carotenoids. Fresh blueberries, rich in vitamins and microelements, are also very useful to include in children's menus.

Contraindications and side effects

No direct contraindications to the use of blueberries have yet been identified, and there is no consensus among experts about its side effects. However, when consumed in large quantities, conditions similar to intoxication may occur: nausea, vomiting, headaches. There is an opinion that these negative effects of blueberries are due to the fact that they often grow together with wild rosemary and the essential oils of the latter end up on the berries when harvested. In any case, before consuming blueberries, it is advisable to consult a doctor to avoid any complications.

In cosmetology

In recent years, blueberries have been increasingly used in cosmetology. They are included in skin-nourishing masks, especially for oily skin. They have a resolving effect, reduce skin oiliness, and tighten pores. Blueberry masks are also used to improve skin tone. From the juice of ripe dove berries, together with dairy products (cottage cheese, cream, sour cream), nourishing masks are made for the skin and neck.

In dermatology, infusions and decoctions of blueberry leaves in the form of compresses and washes are used for various skin diseases, sweating of the hands and feet, weeping eczema, and lichen.

In cooking

Blueberries are often used in cooking. First of all, they are eaten fresh and processed. They make very tasty preserves, jams, marshmallows, jellies, desserts, various mousses, compotes, jelly, juices, fruit drinks, kvass and all kinds of drinks with many beneficial properties, as well as liqueurs and wine. In addition, blueberries have long been used by all peoples who live in the area where they grow. They are used in baking as a filling for pies, cookies, and dried for future use.

In other areas

A decoction of dried and juice of fresh blueberries with alum is used to dye fabrics, for example, purple. Bog blueberries are also used to color wines. The entire plant is suitable for tanning leather. Blueberries also serve as food for many game animals and birds.

Classification

Swamp blueberry (lat. Vaccinium uliginosum) - belongs to the genus Vaccinium (lat. Vaccinium) of the subfamilies Vaccinioideae of the heather family (lat. Ericaceae). The genus includes woody plants (from small trees to small shrubs), widespread in temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere (mainly Eurasia and North America).

Botanical description

Swamp blueberry is a deciduous, highly branched shrub with a height of 30 cm to 1 m. Stems are erect, rounded in cross section. The bark is brown-brown. The leaves are xeromorphic in structure, obovate or elliptical, short-petiolate, entire, dark green above, bluish below with a thick waxy coating. The flowers are bisexual, regular, 5-6 mm long, in drooping sparse racemes located in the axils of the leaves. Double perianth. The corolla is white or pink, fused-petaled, bell-shaped or pitcher-shaped. The calyx is fused-leaved. There are 10 stamens. The fruit is a blue berry with a bluish tint and green flesh, 8-10 mm in diameter. Endotrophic mycorrhiza is characteristic. Reproduces mainly by seeds. Blooms in May-June.

Spreading

In Russia, bog blueberry is distributed mainly in the non-chernozem zone. It usually grows in taiga, tundra and highlands, damp coniferous and deciduous forests. It prefers acidic soils and a fairly humid climate, so it is more often found in wetlands (damp forests and sphagnum bogs).

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

Medicinal raw materials are mainly berries. They are collected in dry sunny weather, usually by hand. The berries cannot be stored for a long time; they wrinkle easily and quickly ferment. For drying, the berries are collected ripe, cleaned of rotten and overripe ones, washed in cold water, poured into a sieve in a thin layer and dried in an oven or drying cabinet at a temperature of no more than 60 ° C. During drying, the fruits are mixed. The shelf life of dried berries is 1 year. The leaves are collected during flowering. Dry under a canopy in the shade, after drying in the sun for 30 minutes. The shelf life of dried leaves is 2-3 years.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of bog blueberries has been studied quite well. The plant as a whole is rich in many biologically active substances (BAS): the shoots contain triterpenoids (oleanolic and ursolic acids), steroids (β-sitosterol, β-D - sitosterol glucoside), flavonoids (quercetin 3-galactoside); in the leaves - flavonoids (quercetin 3-glucuronide) and higher aliphatic hydrocarbons (heptadecane, nonadecane, tricosane, tetracosane, heptacosane, etc.). Fruits are significantly richer in biologically active substances; they contain phenolcarboxylic acids and their derivatives (protocatechuic and syrenic acids, vacciuligins A, B), flavonoids (quercetin, myrecitin, rutin, hyperin, isoquercetin, myrecitin, etc.), catechins (epicatechin, epigallocatechin), anthocyanins (delphinidin, malvidin, etc.), organic acids (malic, benzoic, citric). In addition, the fruits contain sugars, vitamins (C, PP), carotene, tannins and dyes, iron and manganese compounds. Tannins are also found in the leaves.

Pharmacological properties

Swamp blueberries have a wide range of medicinal effects: they strengthen the walls of blood capillaries, normalize the functions of the intestines and pancreas, strengthen the immune system, reduce blood sugar levels and thereby help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and also improve digestion, which is especially useful for people with low acidity of gastric juice. In addition, the berries have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of bronchitis, influenza and pneumonia, and also have diuretic, choleretic, stimulating, strengthening and unique antioxidant properties. Blueberry fruits have a positive effect on the function of the thyroid gland and genitourinary system, and also prevent cystitis, alleviate enterocolitis, bloating and stomach colic, and remove harmful substances, toxins and radionuclides from the body. The high content of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, PP, especially K helps strengthen bones in children, improve dental health and blood clotting, and generally has a positive effect on vitamin deficiency. Blueberry leaves increase the activity of the stomach, intestines and heart.

Use in folk medicine

In folk medicine, bog blueberry has long been valued as an antiscorbutic and antidysenteric remedy. A decoction of branches with leaves in a ratio (1:10) is used in folk medicine for heart disease and colitis. Traditional healers recommend infusion and decoction of leaves for diabetes, anemia and to improve metabolism. In addition, blueberry leaves are also used in various herbal preparations and decoctions for the treatment of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and constipation. A decoction of shoots is used as a hypotensive and cardiotonic, mild laxative. In folk medicine, the fruits of the plant are used much more widely. Fresh berries and a decoction of dried fruits are used as an antipyretic, as well as a general tonic for dysentery, colitis, gastritis, pyelitis, cystitis and anemia, gastric catarrh; and also as an antiscorbutic and vitamin (for C-vitaminosis) remedy. A decoction of dried fruits and juice of fresh fruits - for fever, anemia, helminthiasis. Fruit juice - for diarrhea, inflammation of the renal pelvis, cholecystitis, diseases of the liver and pancreas, general weakness in the postoperative period and after serious illnesses. Fresh blueberries are recommended to be consumed daily for colitis, enteritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, diabetes, and juice from them for colds. Blueberry infusion is used for gastritis, colitis, kidney and pancreas diseases.

Swamp blueberry is also valued as a medicinal plant in other traditional medicines. In Tibetan medicine, a decoction of blueberry shoots is used as an astringent for diarrhea; in Korean, the fruit is used for diabetes and vitamin C deficiency.

Literature

1. Biological encyclopedic dictionary / Ch. ed. M. S. Gilyarov) 2nd ed., corrected. M.: Sov. Encyclopedia. 1989.

2. Gubanov, I. A. et al. 1011. Vaccinium uliginosum L. Blueberry, or Gonobobel // Illustrated guide to plants of Central Russia. In 3 vols. M.: Scientific T. ed. KMK, Institute of Technology. issl., 2004. T. 3. Angiosperms (dicots: dioecytes). P. 25.

3. Kozhevnikov Yu. P. Heather family (Ericaceae) // Plant life. / Ed. A. L. Takhtadzhyan. M.: Education, 1981. T. 5. Part 2. Flowering plants. pp. 88-95.

4. Elenevsky A.G., M.P. Solovyova, V.N. Tikhomirov // Botany. Systematics of higher or terrestrial plants. M. 2004. 420 p.

5. Mazurenko M. T. Blueberries // Heather shrubs of the Far East (structure and morphogenesis) / Rep. ed. A. P. Khokhryakov. M.: Nauka, 1982. pp. 120-127.

6. Plant resources of Russia / Wild flowering plants, their component composition and biological activity / Rep. editor A.L. Budantsev. T.2. St. Petersburg; M.: Partnership of scientific publications KMK, 2009. 513 p.

7. Shantser I.A. Plants of central European Russia. 2007. pp. 418-419.

Where do blueberries grow? This question can have a double meaning. The word “where” in relation to a plant can mean its habitat or natural growing conditions. Let's look at both of these concepts.

Common blueberry and its habitat

This plant has many names. In different regions it is called:

• water drunk,
• cabbage roll,
• gonobobob,
• gonobobelem,
• gonoboy,
• gonobolom,
• stupid
• fool.
• drunken berry
• drunk,
• drunkard
• blue grapes
• northern grapes
• blue tit.

All this variety of names reflects the two most noticeable characteristics of this plant. This is color and the ability to produce good wine. The berries of this plant are colored blue, but have a blue coating on top. For this reason, the most popular name is blueberry. This plant is called a grape for the property of its berries - to produce good wine. In fact, blueberry wine is no worse, and maybe even better than grape wine, it’s just that no one has yet decided to produce it on an industrial scale.

Blueberry is a small shrub belonging to the genus Vaccinium of the heather family. Its range covers all of Eurasia and most of North America. The species is concentrated mainly in the zone of coniferous and mixed forests, as well as in the tundra and forest-tundra.

In addition to mainland Eurasia, this species grows in Iceland, the British Isles, and the northern islands of Japan. Occasionally, this species is found in the Balkans, the Iberian Peninsula and even in North Africa.

In North America, the berry grows under the same conditions as in Eurasia. Its range covers most of the continent from Alaska to California.

In Russia, blueberries are found mainly in Siberia, the Far East, and the north of European Russia. In addition to a continuous habitat, blueberries are also characterized by fragmentary islands. A striking example of this is the growth of blueberries in the Caucasus.

How to grow blueberries (video)

Natural conditions and plant communities

You can find her:

• in the swamps;
• on high mountain plateaus;
• along the banks of rivers;
• on permafrost among larches;
• as part of tundra lowland communities;
• on the edges of spruce, pine and larch forests.

You can’t help but wonder what type of vegetation this shrub might belong to? Is it a forest, swamp, mountain or tundra species?

The place where this species is most often found is usually characterized by excessive moisture, long winters, and hot but short summers. Moreover, sometimes what blueberries grow on cannot be called soil. This is a soil consisting of thick moss cushions, a small layer of poor soil and permafrost.

In the mountains, blueberries can be content with a thin layer of soil (about 10 cm) on the stones. In the bends of taiga and tundra rivers, this plant can form continuous thickets on waterlogged sand, a layer of moss, and marsh sedge hummocks.

Blueberries can tolerate temporary flooding, the cold breath of permafrost, the heat and drought of a short but stormy summer.

The high level of tolerance allows this plant to be classified as a tundra species. Indeed, in the forests and on the mountain tops, these northern grapes huddle where conditions characteristic of tundra communities develop. You can hardly find it on well-warmed, gentle mountain slopes and on plains with good soil conditions. However, this does not mean that gonobobel does not accept comfort. Like many tolerant species, this plant huddles where others cannot grow, but plant it in normal soil and it will respond with good growth and a bountiful harvest.

Blueberries in culture

Recently, it has become common to grow blueberries in garden plots. Entire blueberry plantations are being formed in Europe and North America. In Russia, farmers pay little attention to this plant. Perhaps this is explained by the folk traditions of going to the forest to pick berries. What grows in nearby forests is not grown under cultural conditions. However, they appear in shops and markets and are bought up mainly by city residents.

Breeders are working on developing varieties. In cultivated forms of gonobobel it is possible to combine unpretentiousness, endurance, resistance to pests and diseases with increased yield and large berry sizes.

Blueberries require specific soil. Under natural conditions, this plant manages to exist on very acidic soils. The place where blueberries form entire thickets often has a soil pH on the borderline of the acceptable level - 2.5-3. In cultural conditions, the soil for blueberries sometimes needs to be specially acidified, bringing the pH to 4-5.

Another feature of blueberries is their requirement for moisture. The paradox is that small, leathery leaves are usually characteristic of drought-resistant plants.

The fact is that species living in cold water often cannot absorb it with their roots. In this case, evaporation always occurs. For this reason, plants in cold places adapt to extreme environments, much like cacti. They reduce the leaf blade and cover it with a dense skin. As a result, evaporation is reduced, and the plant can live in cold water, catching rare moments when the water warms up to a physiologically acceptable temperature. Our fir trees, pines and other coniferous inhabitants of extreme environments live by the same principle.

Despite the fact that in artificial conditions blueberries can be created at a quite comfortable temperature regime, you still need to choose a moist place for planting them. Plant gonobobel bushes somewhere in the lowlands, where groundwater lies at a depth of 50-60 cm.

It should be remembered that blueberries have a superficial root system, due to which they can take moisture and minerals not only from the soil, but also from the loose layer of organic matter that forms on the soil. Due to this property, gonobobel can safely grow and bear fruit in conditions of virtually no soil, taking root in a thick layer of dying and even living moss.

To create favorable conditions between the blueberry bushes, you need to lay a thick layer of mulch, consisting of a mixture of sawdust and leaves. Ideally, of course, you need to add moss, but it is difficult to create conditions for its growth in an agrocenosis.

A thick layer of organic matter on the soil will not only create an optimal moisture regime, but will also maintain the desired PH level. The acidity of the soil depends on the amount of hydrogen ions that enter it mainly with decomposing organic matter. In this case, there is no need to specially acidify the soil.

Blueberries, like many inhabitants of cold swamps and forests, survive due to mycorrhiza, that is, symbiosis with fungi. This is often a difficult obstacle to overcome on the path to plant cultivation.

Fungal hyphae develop in soil where there is always moisture and a lot of decaying organic matter. If you decide in a place where the earth has been dug up for many years and organic matter has been constantly removed, then there is nowhere for mushrooms to come from. There is only one way out - to bring the spores along with the soil from those places where the natural conditions for the formation of forest soil with fungal hyphae have been preserved.

Garden blueberries: description and cultivation (video)

Find an area somewhere in the forest with a constant high level of humidity, but without the effect of swamping. A layer of litter should be formed on this soil, which is a perennial layer of fallen organic matter. As a rule, the litter is completely permeated with fungal hyphae. Dig up a layer of soil 15-20 centimeters deep with litter and transfer it to the blueberry planting site. In order to populate a blueberry plantation with mushrooms, it is enough to bring a small cube measuring about 20 by 20 cm. If you create favorable conditions for the mushrooms, then your blueberries will appreciate the comfortable conditions, thanking you with a good harvest.