Blueberries / Blueberries: 10 Tips for Planting

Blueberries are not only delicious, they are also easy to grow. We'll give you ten tips for growing blueberries in your own garden.

Besinge, blueberry or cranberry - those Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is known and loved by many names. No wonder, after all, the blue berries are not only incredibly tasty, but also very healthy. For example, the berries are said to have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. But of course their sweet taste is also responsible for the fact that the blueberry is now one of the most popular berries among Germans. But even if you don't feel like looking for the small berries in the forest for hours and not even for cultivated blueberries from the If the supermarket wants to fall back on it, you don't have to do without the delicious berries - because blueberries are also uncomplicated in the garden plant. We'll tell you how you too can soon be snacking on blueberries from your own cultivation.

The small, blue berries are very popular. Because they not only convince with their sweet taste, but are also very healthy. We have ten tips for you that will definitely make growing blueberries or blueberries a success.

1. The right blueberry / blueberry variety

Anyone who picked blueberries in the forest as a child quickly realizes that there is a difference between wild and cultivated blueberries. In fact, the cultivated blueberries do not come from our native wild blueberries, but from the American blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) away. The plants offered in specialist shops are also often cultivated blueberries. These have the advantage that they grow faster and bring greater yields. The wild blueberry, on the other hand, is easier to care for, but often only bears a few berries. In order to be able to harvest a significant amount of berries later, it is therefore advisable to choose cultivated blueberry varieties. But here too, with over 100 different cultivars, there is a huge selection of plants that differ, for example, at harvest time and in terms of their robustness. The 'Vaccinium Bluecrop' variety is considered to be particularly robust and resilient, but the 'Pilot', 'Elizabeth' and 'Duke' varieties have also proven themselves in hobby gardens.

2. Special soil for blueberries / blueberries

Most fruits and vegetables love neutral soil, as found in most gardens. The blueberry, on the other hand, needs a very special soil - as a moor and forest plant, it is adapted to acidic soils and only feels comfortable here. The perfect conditions for blueberries are pH values ​​between 4.0 and 5.0. But these are not achieved in most gardens, which is why you have to use some tricks when growing blueberries. Instead of placing the plant in normal garden soil, a slightly larger hole should be dug. In this can then special Blueberry soil or Rhododendron soil filled and the plant buried in it - this is how the blueberry feels comfortable in your garden even without forest soil.

3. Location and neighbors for bilberries / blueberries

When choosing a location for blueberries, it is not only important to look at the right soil: the right neighborhood is also crucial for the plant. There should be a distance of at least 70 cm between the individual blueberry plants - otherwise the sensitive roots of the plants will quickly get in each other's way. Although blueberries are self-fruiting, it is best to grow different varieties at the same time. On the one hand, you can extend the harvest time by using varieties that ripen at different speeds. On the other hand, the mutual fertilization also increases the yield of the individual plants. But blueberries are also compatible with other plants: the lingonberry, which is related to the blueberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and the large-fruited cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon), also as cranberry known, are, for example, well suited as a neighboring plant for the blueberry. But also that rhododendron (rhododendron), the currant (Ribes) and the Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) are not only an appealing addition to the blueberry. With all planting partners, however, a sufficient distance between the individual plants must be maintained.

4. Proper planting of blueberries / blueberries

Once the right conditions have been created for the blueberry, it can finally be planted. As the ideal season for Plants of blueberries and blueberries are used in autumn and spring. However, autumn is preferred by most gardeners as it gives the plant more time to adapt to the new Get used to the location and reduce the risk that the plant will break down during fruiting in summer takes over. Dig a hole about 60 cm deep and one meter wide and attach a film to the sides so that no calcareous discharge comes into the plant. Put the blueberry in and fill the hole with your special soil. Then the plant should be properly watered so that it can grow well.

5. Mulching of bilberries / blueberries

Mulching is an insider tip if you want a good blueberry harvest. A layer of bark mulch, leaves or tree needles simulates the blanket of raw humus that would occur in the natural habitat of the blueberry. This has three advantages: On the one hand, the mulch layer helps to keep the soil acidic in the long term, which is very good for the lime-sensitive plant. Furthermore, the mulch layer acts like a natural fertilizer and gradually releases nutrients so that the blueberry remains supplied over the long term. Finally, the mulch layer also acts as a protection against evaporation. The blueberry consumes a lot of water, especially in summer, and quickly loses its fruit when it is dry - a good layer of mulch can work wonders here.

6. Proper watering of blueberries / blueberries

The blueberry consumes enormous amounts of water, especially in summer, which is why it is particularly important to water the plant regularly. However, when it comes to the right amount, a sure instinct is required: the floor should always be moist, but it must not cause waterlogging. If the soil around the blueberry dries out, it will only produce small or no fruit. With repeated waterlogging, on the other hand, root rot occurs and the plant begins to become ailing. Furthermore, not all water can be used to irrigate the blueberry: Since the plant is very sensitive to lime, tap or well water are often not suitable. On the other hand, rainwater that is collected in a container is better suited.

7. Use organic fertilizers for blueberries

The mulch layer provides the blueberry with nutrients over the long term, but further fertilization does not harm the plant. Organic fertilizers are again particularly suitable here. Compost is suitable for that Fertilizing the bilberry not, because it often contains too much lime. Most commercially available mineral fertilizers are also unsuitable for blueberries because of their lime content - it is best to use them a primarily organic universal fertilizer, as this slowly releases the nutrients and thus the risk of over-fertilization minimized. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer with long-term effects is ideal for blueberries or blueberries, for example.

8. Cutting blueberries / blueberries

The blueberry does not need a pruning in the classic sense - the plant can produce good yields for a long time even without regular trimming. However, if the yields decline, it can Cutting the blueberry still worth it. Particularly old or diseased branches should be carefully removed, and very sprawling shoots can be shortened. However, it is important that only individual branches are removed - the plant cannot withstand radical pruning. The perfect time to cut is in autumn or winter, when the plant has already lost its leaves. However, under no circumstances should it freeze during the cut: in the worst case, the plant could die after the cut.

9. Pests and diseases of bilberries / blueberries

Fortunately, when it comes to pests and diseases, the blueberry is a very robust plant that is rarely lacking. The plant only reacts particularly sensitively to lime, as this prevents it from absorbing nutrients. Leaf chlorosis, i.e. the yellow discoloration of the leaves, is a clear indication of an excessively high lime content in the earth. Birds are another enemy of the blueberry: the feathered animals also love the taste of the sweet berry and like to steal the delicious fruit from the tree. So that the blueberry is not completely harvested by thieving birds, you should cover a net lay the plants - this way the animals stay away and you can take your own blueberries in peace to harvest.

10. Harvesting and storing blueberries / blueberries

Of course, one would like to try the sweet fruits when they are just ripe. But the wait is particularly worthwhile when it comes to blueberries: only when the red hint around the base of the stalk has disappeared does the full taste unfold. The delicate berries are best harvested by hand. The so-called blueberry comb can also be used to help with harvesting - but it takes a bit of practice necessary to harvest quickly and efficiently without having to pick numerous unripe berries will. After harvesting, the blueberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, but they lose their aroma quickly. It is best to enjoy the berries fresh or process them as quickly as possible into delicious jam. Blueberries are also excellent boil down, freeze or dry.

Tip: The berries taste particularly good with quark, ice cream or pancakes.

Would you like to have more berries in your garden? Then give it a try Currants! The tasty red fruits are a great addition to any garden.