Description and cultivation of the Patriot blueberry variety
Description
Blueberry Patriot is a medium-ripening garden variety. The berries ripen in mid-July. It is a perennial plant. The bush is quite large, its height can reach up to 2 meters, for the most part it is 1.5 m. However, the branching of the plant is not too developed, the stems have a rectilinear shape. Those who are fortunate enough to grow Patriot blueberries note the high decorativeness of the bushes, therefore planting this variety on the site will delight not only with excellent yield, but also with a wonderful appearance: in spring - a beautiful decorative flowering, in autumn - a cheerful color of foliage.
Top dressing should never be done with organic fertilizers! No manure, compost or anything else. Only mineral fertilizers are used.The berries have a slightly flattened shape, their average diameter is 17-19 mm, which allows us to call the fruits quite large. Unripe berries have a characteristic red color, while ripe berries are light blue. On the bush, the fruits gather in bunches. The taste of garden blueberries is very pleasant, so experts recommend eating fresh berries. The peel of the fruit is elastic, the berries are well stored and tolerate transportation.
Dignity
Garden blueberry Patriot has a number of advantages over other varieties:
- The yield of each bush with proper care can reach record sizes. Each bush will bring the gardener up to 9 kg of berries annually. Such a high yield allows the variety to be used for growing berries on an industrial scale;
- The berries are well stored and very tasty;
- The plant is frost-resistant, capable of perfectly tolerating even severe frosts in winter. It easily tolerates temperatures down to -29 ° C. At lower values, the bush tolerates the cold well if it was previously covered. Therefore, the Patriot is quite suitable for growing in any regions with a rather harsh climate;
- The variety is bred selectively, it is inherent in grafted protection against common blueberry diseases caused by fungal infections, such as late blight, root rot and stem cancer;
- Due to the straightness of the branches and the low branching of the plant, the fruits receive a sufficient amount of light for ripening, therefore, the planting of bushes on the site may be somewhat thicker, which will save you the allotted space for the plantation;
- The average ripeness of the fruits shows that the plant does not bloom in early spring, therefore, the possibility of frost damage during the flowering period is reduced. The critical temperature for a flowering bush is +1 degrees;
- Harvesting at the end of July will allow you to grow the Patriot even in the conditions of not too long summer;
- The berries do not fall from the bush when ripe, they stay on it for up to 10 days, so you will invariably have time to harvest the entire crop.
Care
Planting and caring for the Patriot variety is almost no different from growing blueberries on the site.
The plant thrives in a sunny area, sheltered from the wind. Saplings are planted in early spring or autumn in prepared soil. Ordinary land from the garden is not suitable. The plant needs acidic soil with good drainage, which should be prepared separately. It is necessary to achieve a pH of 3.5-4.5, and a maximum of 5.If you overdo it, the bush will die. A favorable mixture of soil for planting contains sand, peat and soil from a pine forest.
The root system of blueberries is close to the surface, so when planting, try to ensure that excess moisture is drained out well. Many gardeners recommend digging a trench or planting a bush on a small mound.
Blueberry care consists in timely watering and feeding. It is important not to allow the plants to dry out, but also not to overdo it. In order for the soil to retain moisture well, the bushes are mulched with pine bark or last year's needles, by the way, this also helps to get rid of weeds. Water for irrigation must also be acidified.
When the bush reaches 5 years of age, it can be thinned and pruned. It is better to carry out work in early spring before budding begins or in late autumn, as the leaves fall off. All the activities are simple, and done on time and correctly will help you achieve excellent yields.
Video "Features of growing Patriot blueberries"
From the video you will learn how to properly plant, grow and care for Patriot blueberries.