Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are among the most popular fruits. They enchant with an incomparable aroma and are very healthy. Gathering in the forest is tedious and the wild blueberries are quite small. In recent years, breeders have devoted themselves to breeding a cultivated blueberry that combines the taste and health-promoting properties of the wild blueberry with larger fruits. The results are to be proud of. So what could be more obvious than growing cultivated blueberries in your own garden or on the balcony?
Growing blueberries in a pot
Full flavor but less blue
The commercially available cultivated blueberry is derived from the American blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), not the wild European variety Vaccinium myrtillus. The difference to the wild blueberry is not only in the size of the berries, but also in the light-colored flesh. Consuming cultivated blueberries therefore does not lead to the usual blue discolouration in the mouth.
The cultivated blueberry convinces with its wonderful aroma and is a real pleasure on its own as well as in desserts, jams and on cakes.
No space in the garden? No problem for the blueberry!
You can grow the blueberry in the garden or on the balcony. It is excellent as a container plant if its requirements are given sufficient attention.
The blueberry is not only a popular cultivated plant because of the tasty fruits, with good care it develops a beautiful shape and quickly becomes an eye-catcher on your terrace.
The right time for growing young plants is in the spring. It should be noted that blueberries are flat-rooted and should not be planted too deep in the bucket. Covering the pot surface with leaves or bark mulch is recommended.
location
The most important demands on the location:
- very sunny
- protected from wind, heavy rain and hail
- continuous hydration
- Provide buckets with drainage holes to avoid waterlogging
The size of the pot has a decisive influence on the development of the plant. Under no circumstances should a pot that is too small be chosen. It should have a capacity of at least 70 to 100 liters. This is the only way for the roots to develop optimally.
Cultivated blueberries, derived from the European Vaccinium myrtillus, grow to about a meter tall. Most cultivated blueberries, which originate from the American variety Vaccinium corymbosum, can reach a height of up to two meters and a width of up to one meter under favorable conditions. Blueberries that are cultivated as container plants should be planted in a larger pot every two years.
tip: Use the usual black construction containers for your blueberry. Wooden barrels or terracotta pots are also good. If not available, be sure to drill enough drainage holes in the floors to prevent waterlogging. The planters should be winterized.
pollination
are blueberries self-fertile. They have both male and female flowers. Nevertheless, it is recommended to buy two or more plants. Bees and bumblebees are attracted more and nothing stands in the way of a good harvest.
floor
Pay attention to the soil quality!
The blueberry belongs to the heather family. These belong to the bog bed plants and require very acidic soil. The pH should be between 3.5 and 4.5 and should be similar to the forest floor.
Normal garden soil does not meet these requirements. The use of rhododendron soil or ericaceous soil is recommended. Chemical finishing of ordinary garden soil is often offered as a solution. However, chemical treatment can only achieve short-term success. Before planting, prepare a thick drainage layer of gravel and cover with fleece. Use good rhododendron or bog soil on top. Cover the surface with foliage.
maintenance
pour
The blueberry in the tub needs continuous watering. Because the soil in the planter dries out faster than in the bed. It is essential to avoid drying out the soil with the blueberry. Especially before the harvest, the plant needs enough water to be able to develop the fruit well.
Calcareous irrigation water would neutralize the acidic pH of the soil in a short time. It is therefore best to use soft, neutral rainwater to water the blueberries.
Fertilize
The blueberry in the planter requires special attention when fertilizing. For those who want a bountiful blueberry harvest, begin fertilizing in spring, before new shoots form. Further fertilization is required in the summer before the fruit develops. Special blueberry fertilizer, which is available in garden shops, is suitable for fertilizing.
To cut
With newly planted blueberries, it is advisable to pinch off the blossoms in the first year. Although this means that no berries can develop and the harvest does not take place, it helps the young plant to grow.
Until the fourth year, it is not necessary to prune the blueberry plant. Thereafter, one should be annually in the fall taper cut take place and very dense areas are thinned out. Old shoots are woody and easy to recognize due to the cracked bark. Plants whose old shoots are not removed produce fewer and fewer young shoots and the yields drop significantly as a result. A topiary of the blueberry is also possible and increases the decorative effect of the container plant.
Diseases
Even the blueberry in the planter is not immune to diseases. It is important to recognize them quickly and treat them carefully.
Disease caused by fungi and pests
Fungal infestation can often be observed on blueberries. If you find a fungal infestation, cutting the affected shoots is a quick and effective remedy.
Destroy the affected branches as soon as possible to prevent spread. The affected parts of the plant should be burned or disposed of with the residual waste. If you store diseased plant parts on the compost heap, you risk the disease of other plants.
Blueberries are often attacked by gray mold, which damages both shoots and fruit. The affected parts must then be removed as quickly as possible.
Blueberries are also often visited by aphids, scale insects and caterpillars. Use pest control agents that are as environmentally friendly as possible.
illness due to poor nursing care
If yellow leaves form on your blueberry and then fall off, check the moisture in the planter. Too dry soil but also waterlogging can lead to discoloration of the blueberry leaves.
Blueberries are also sensitive to excessive lime content in the soil. This is shown by the formation of leaf chlorosis. Check the pH and replace the soil if necessary. Blueberries on the balcony or terrace should also be protected from heavy rain or hail.
wintering
Overwinter blueberries in a bucket
Blueberries can overwinter outdoors. This also applies to potted plants. It is not necessary to bring the plant into the basement or into the house, the upper part of the blueberry tolerates both low temperatures and rain and snow in winter. You can sink the bucket into the ground to protect it in winter or wrap it in bubble wrap.
harvest
However, it takes a little time for the blueberries in the pot to produce a good yield. After two years, berries form for the first time, after four to five years a plentiful harvest can be expected. You can then harvest and process the berries from the end of July.
tip: Be careful, you are not the only one interested in the delicious fruits. Because the birds are also looking forward to the blue treats. It is therefore best to protect your plant with a bird deterrent made of aluminum foil.