Slightly sweet, the blueberry is a dark red to purple fruit that is distinguished by its richness in vitamins including vitamin K, trace elements and mineral salts. Indeed, this small fruit contains significant amounts of magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc or even vanadium. Derived from the blueberry tree, a shrub of the Ericaceae family, blueberries are both tasty and low in calories. To harvest blueberries, you can learn how to plant the shrub at home.
In various sweet preparations such as pies, muffins or juices, blueberries retain their taste while offering a host of benefits to the body. Cultivated for its fruits, the blueberry can grow in the garden or in a large pot placed on the balcony. To succeed in your gardening and grow this fruit tree , here are our tips.
The blueberry: two species to distinguish
Blueberry – Source: spm
There are two species of blueberries:
- The Vaccinium myrtillus , a wild blueberry that measures between 20 and 50 cm in height and has evergreen foliage. The latter is generally grown in heathland in the moors, or in woods and clearings.
- Vaccinium corymbosum , a shrubby blueberry 1.5 to 2 meters in height that is easily grown in pots, in garden soil or in the vegetable patch.
From May, clusters of white bells appear on the shrub.
Clusters of bluebell white bells – Source: spm
In summer, the berries appear and ripen for consumption . Some blueberry trees pollinate themselves and you can simply plant them to fruit.
How to plant blueberries at home?
You can plant a blueberry tree in a pot – Source: spm
Blueberries should be planted in sun or partial shade. In addition, this shrub flourishes in a very acid soil, well drained and devoid of limestone. If your garden is not suitable, you can plant the shrub in a fairly wide container and line the bottom with a layer of clay pebbles or gravel. Then, it will be necessary to fill the tray with heather soil, 1/10 of compost or potting soil to ensure that the substrate retains water as much as possible. Moreover, to have a good harvest, try to plant your shrubs in the fall to promote rooting. If you plant them in the spring, remember to water them regularly to allow them to grow optimally.
How to maintain the blueberry tree?
Sweet berries – Source: spm
From the month of March, the blueberry bush will need to be provided with a special rhododendron fertilizer. It will be necessary to mulch the shrub with pine bark or pine needles in autumn to preserve the acidity of the soil. When the climate is dry, make sure that the waterings are regular and use non-calcareous water. In winter, remember to eliminate dead wood without pruning the blueberry tree. In addition, the blueberry is propagated by cuttings, by division and by layering.
Thanks to these tricks, you can plant your own fruit bushes and enjoy saving money.
