HabitatThe inhabitant of highlands and marshes, the blueberry is known for its exquisite taste, as well as its gorgeous view. On a miniature tree grows a dishonest multitude of small( up to 1 cm) dark blue berries with a bluish bloom. The sugary-sweet aftertaste of this delicacy remains in the memory for a long time, which prompts many tourists to return here again and again. 
This berry is known under such pseudonyms as gonobol, bad and watery. Blueberry got such fancy nicknames thanks to the places where it grows and the plants that live next to it.
Habitat
Meet branched shrubs reaching 1-3 m in height, most often in a cool and humid climate. Rainy summer - a pledge of a rich harvest for him. The temperate latitudes of Russia, Western Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, the Urals and the Far East are the birthplace of the bad. Yet her home is Canada and the United States. Scientists in Germany and Poland have learned how to cultivate and produce blueberry hybrids, some of them are shown below.
Vodopyanka belongs to the undemanding plants of the heather family, therefore it feels great in acidic and depleted soils. The main habitat of its habitat are:
- peat bogs;
- mixed forests( needles, pine and larch);
- mossy slopes;
- rocks;
- overgrowth of elfin pine;
- tundra.
Next to blueberries, Ledum roseum grows most often. Because of the specific and intoxicating aroma that envelops the shrub, he received such unusual folk names.
It is also possible to grow this wild berry in the country. However, you should first choose the appropriate and best varieties of blueberries for the Moscow region in order to get excellent results. Here are some of them:
- Blyukrop and Blyugold. An excellent choice for this climate, because the berries have a solid and dense structure.
- Patriot. Bred specifically for these places.
- Duc. Came out of North America, where similar climatic conditions.
Gardeners recommend not to dwell on one form, but to plant several at once. If one weather disappears because of the weather, the others will remain. These varieties successfully tolerate a sharp drop in temperature. Such anomalies( -7 ° C) withstand even the color of the plant. In this region, you can harvest in the last days of August.
Berries should be picked carefully so as not to rip the poisonous leaves of wild rosemary. If this happens, you need to remove the fruit in contact with the basket, and then disinfect your hands.
Description and Benefits of
A common mistake made by many is that they confuse dove with blueberries, therefore it is important to know all the signs of its description. Outwardly, these close "relatives" are similar. However, the inside is completely different. Blueberries have burgundy flesh and light green ones are bad. At the same time, the fruits of the water-bottle are larger. Also, it does not stain the clothes. Externally, blueberries are distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Shrub. Young stems have a greenish color, but over time they become brown. They grow straight and very thick.
- Leaves. Hard with bright streaks on a light green background. At the edges, they are slightly bent, and the length of each of them is about 3 cm. The inner side of the elliptical form of the leaf has a bluish wax coating. At the onset of cold weather, they acquire a bright red tint, and then fall off.
- Flowers. White slightly pale pink elongated bells with a jagged edge. Blossoms grow on 2-3 flowers from one petiole. Short pedicle under the weight of the jug is bent. The first shoots appear in May and decorate the majestic mountain slopes for a whole June.
- Fruits. Ripen by July, and you can collect them until the end of September. The weight of the 1st fruit is about 3 g, and the diameter is up to 1-2 cm. Often in shape it looks like a ball. Although there are varieties of blueberries with pear-shaped, elliptical and cylindrical berries.
Luxurious dark blue velvet color with a bluish tinting makes it a precious pearl of the marshes. The watery greenish flesh leaves behind a sweet, even cloying, sour taste.
Read also: Subtleties of cutting blueberries: correctly hold the secateurs
Collect water-bottle - the whole art. The bushy branches of the bush are held captive by tiny berries. Therefore, you need to work hard to get yours. As a result, you can make compote, jam, wine, juice, jam, mashed potatoes and kvass from the fruit. It is very useful to eat fresh berries. They contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which:
- improves eyesight;
- increase hemoglobin;
- lowers blood glucose( diabetes);
- inhibit the formation of cancer cells;
- promote bile production;
- increase immunity;
- relax the intestines;
- develop appetite;
- remove toxins from the body.
Such an impressive summary of this representative of the genus Vaccinium encourages many gardeners to grow berries in their backyards. The first 3 years of luxurious greenery of the shrub only decorates the garden and only in the 4th year produces a crop, and it will bear fruit for more than 90 years. What sort of blueberries to choose for your residence?
Garden
The blueberry garden originates from the northeastern territories of Canada and the USA.It is in this area that a large number of bogs, coniferous and deciduous forests are concentrated, which are flooded most of the time with water. In such a humid climate shrubs reach more than 2-3 meters in height. Therefore, they serve as the middle tier for a densely growing forest.
Unlike other members of the Heather family, tall blueberries are not poisonous( without harmful esters and resins), so it can be planted near a house or garden. In addition, decoctions, teas, as well as other medicinal drugs are prepared from leaves and shoots. The peculiarity of this kind of drunken berry is:
- Erect brown stalks that do not creep along the ground. The thickness of the branches is 1–4 cm.
- The lobular root system, which is retained on the ground surface. On the roots there are no suction hairs.
- Branches do not lean to the ground and cannot root in the ground.
- Fruits are larger and sweeter in taste.
- The yield per bush( up to 8 years old) is more than 5 kg. Collection begins on the 15th of August.
The disadvantage of tall varieties are instability to frost. But a type of Berkeley, on the contrary, can withstand sudden changes in temperature, but deteriorates during transportation and long-term storage. 
Shrubs of tall crops should often be pruned to increase the growth of saplings. It is worth doing in the first half of the 3rd year. Cut need weak, affected and low-growing stems, leaving a maximum of 5 shoots.
Blyukrop
It can be grown for both personal use and for commercial purposes. The variety was bred by American breeders. Of all industrial land in Western Europe, more than 60% are blueberry Bleukrop. This choice is due to the following culture characteristics:
- Ripen fruits not at the same time. Beginning of the collection in late July and all of August.
- tolerates frost( -30 ° C, and during flowering -7 ° C) and drought. Maintains temperature fluctuations. Resistant to pest and disease invasion.
- Shrub height from 1.6 to 2 m.
- Large berries( 2 cm in diameter) have an elastic, dense structure. A distinctive feature is an unusually light patina.
- During transportation, they do not crack or spread. Well kept.
- Productivity from 5 to 10 kg from a bush.
- A lush crown of wide, large leaves will serve as a hedge for the garden. Actual for the early or late season.
Read also: Maturity of potatoes
The natural habitat of this hybrid is the climate of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Most moderate latitudes, where the mountains, marshes and forests. 
This culture can be propagated by layering. The long branch should be prikopat in a specially prepared hole in the 3rd from the bush and tied to the bar.
Patriot
Another variety that is frost resistant and calmly withstands temperatures of -30 ° C.The shape of the fruit of the blueberry Patriot resembles an ellipse, flattened above and below. In comparison with their relatives, the fruits of the Patriot, when ripe, have a red color, not light green. Ripe berries become royal blue with a bluish bloom. They are harvested in rich clusters, so the primary crop should not be harvested mechanically. 
The benefits of Patriot culture include:
- The root system is resistant to late blight and rotting.
- Able to self-pollinated. If you plant bushes close, it leads to cross-pollination.
- The first fruits are large, but the subsequent batches are a bit smaller.
- High yield. Up to 7 kg from an average plant. The height of the shrub reaches 2 m.
This species of gonobol grows in very unfavorable, almost depleted soils, because it can adapt to harsh conditions. Maintains wet soils, prone to flooding.
The shrub thickens very quickly, throwing out new branches. In this regard, it should be hard to cut. Shoots are in dire need of thinning.
Bonus
Millions loved blueberry Bonus, a relatively young variety of culture. The large berries( d = 30 mm) and the large fruitfulness of the spreading shrubs are two reasons why saplings are in such demand. For planting should be used:
- rotten bark;
- fresh needles of conifers;
- branch spruce.
An important place in the description of the variety of blueberry Bonus should be given to the acidity of the soil. PH rate for root system: 3 - 5.5.To achieve these indicators, orthophosphoric acid or ammonium sulfuric acid salt is added to the soil six months before planting. The dense habitat of coniferous and deciduous forests serve as the natural habitat of the Bonus. Having planted such luxury on the personal plot, it is possible to receive excellent "bonus" at the end of summer.
Vinegar or citric acid removes beneficial substances from the soil. Therefore, gardeners are not advised to use them for the oxidation of the earth.
Duke
From a business point of view, the American variety of Duke blueberries is considered economically significant( the reasons are listed below).When storing berries acquire a rich tart taste. The advantageous characteristics of the Duke variety include:
- Frost resistance. Due to the dense structure of wood and kidney can withstand temperatures below 34 ° C.However, excessive humidity and a cold climate can reduce the fertility of the plant.
- High self-fertility, because it is not pollinated by neighboring species.
- Suitable for long term storage. Perfectly transported, because it has an elastic and durable skin.
- It blooms late, and fruits early( since July 15).So, spring frosts never destroy flowering.
- Needs regular pruning.
Read also: Features of agrotechnics of plum cultivar Peach
The fruits ripen quite amicably and quickly. You can collect them in several visits( 2-3).
The fruits are very densely covered with stalks. During ripening, the branches may break under the weight of the berries, so they need to be tied up.
Sunrise
The homeland of this tall bush is the central part of Canada. However, in the northern territories of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, the blueberry Sunrise can freeze( -25 ° C).The tips of the branches and the kidneys most often suffer from this.
Crohn razlohaya, but stretches up to 2 m. Shoots a little, so does not need pruning. It is valuable that the fruits are not mummified from the heat. On the edge of a bluish berry there is a red edging in the shape of a crown. It resembles the rays of the sun in the eastern sky, which corresponds to its name.
Blyugold
This compact( up to 120 cm in height) and medium leaf lush bush is also grown for decorative landscaping. Moreover, Bluegold blueberry has a sweet-sour taste, which can be enjoyed already in the middle of summer. 
Withstands a variety of severe winters( -34 ° C) and is suitable for the climate of the northern regions of Russia. However, it should be remembered that the fruits in the scorching sun:
- dry up, turning into dried fruits;
- become lethargic;
- bushes have a sprawling look.
The hem is very small, and the size of the fetus is medium with a light wax coating. It is easily grown as it does not need organic fertilizers, but more in mineral fertilizers.
Berries ripen quickly enough so they can crumble. They need to be collected on time.
Pink Lemonade
From English this name is translated as pink lemonade. This is true because the small berries( 5-7 mm) have a bright pink shade. Pulp juicy with sourish smack. Up to 5 kg of crop can be harvested from one bush. As it grows in the southeastern margins of the United States, it feels confident in the heat and drought. Moreover, the cultivation of blueberry Pink Lemonade does not require compliance with the norms of soil acidity. They adapt to the environment PH = 6 and above. A powerful shrub reaches a height of 3 meters, but does not withstand temperatures below 24 ° C.
However, in order to grow these amazing varieties of Canadian and American blueberries, you should know some of the characteristics of planting and caring for the crop. Otherwise, the burned-out money and damaged nerves will be the only acquisition of a gardener.
How to choose a blueberry variety for your garden -
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