American blueberry is usually characterized by high frost resistance, but low temperatures can be very harmful to young seedlings and some sensitive varieties. There are several ways toprotect blueberries for winter . They can be combined with each other or used separately. Seehow to protect blueberry for winterandwhich blueberry varieties require protectionagainst frost!
How to protect blueberries for the winter?
Which blueberries need protection for the winter?
Protection for the winter is primarily required by young, newly planted blueberry bushes . Older bushes are less susceptible to frost.
Blueberry roots are quite shallow, so it is especially importantsecuring the root ball and the base of the bush for the winter by moundingThis way, all new blueberry seedlings planted in the fall are protected. Covering the shoots is recommended only for varieties most sensitive to low temperatures, depending on the temperatures in the growing area.
Frost resistance of American blueberry varietiesis characterized by the table below.
Which varieties of American blueberry require protection for the winter?
When to protect the American blueberry for the winter?
In autumn, after the first frosts have occurred, we startsecuring blueberries for the winter You should not rush with casing, because too quick casing will increase the temperature of the substrate and encourage the blueberry to vegetate. Thus, it will delay the plant's transition to winter dormancy.To protect the American blueberry for the winter, therefore, waituntil the temperatures drop below 0 ° C and the top layer of the ground freezes.
Securing blueberries by mounding
Making a mound of bark, earth or peat at the foot of the bush is a simple and effectiveway to protect blueberries for the winterMounding protects the base of shoots and blueberry roots from frost. The mound should be about 20 cm high.The pine bark used for this purpose not only protects the blueberry from freezing, but also maintains constant soil moisture and helps to maintain the acidic pH of the soil. Mounding is necessary for all young, newly planted blueberries. They are also recommended for the cultivation of older shrubs.
How to protect the American blueberry for the winter - a shrub sprinkled with pine bark
Securing blueberries with tuning
If you wantto protect the American blueberry for the winteryou can cover the shrub with sprigs of coniferous trees. The branches protect the base of the bush and the roots from low temperatures. You usually arrange spruce or fir twigs as additional protection on a previously prepared mound of bark, peat or soil.
American blueberry is covered with agrotextile
In order to protect sensitive varieties of American blueberries in the winter, it is worth using an agrotextile that protects against wind, while allowing air and water to pass through. Nonwoven agrotextile is a fabric readily available in garden stores. You can buy it both cut into pieces, e.g. 1.6mx2m, and in a beam, e.g. 1.6mx50m.American blueberry is best wrapped with a cloth 2-3 times and tied with string If we want to save time for covering plants or we do not have many of them, it is worth reaching for winter protective hoods for plants made of agrotextile with a ready-made string sewn in at the base of the hood.
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Good qualityagrotextile winter covers , such as white winter agrotextile roll, ready protective covers for plants and verycomfortable agrotextile sleevescan be ordered in our store. We guarantee high quality goods, low prices and fast shipping. To view the offer, press the button below.
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MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
Based on: Moving plants. Which are we carrying and which are we covering for the winter? in: My Beautiful Garden, No. 10/2012 p. 46; Bąbelewski P., Before the frosts come … covers for plants, in: My Beautiful Garden, No. 11/2014 pp. 50-51; Kawecki Z., Kryńska W., Fruit and vegetable farming, PWN, pp.31-33 Fig. pixabay.com and © Joanna Białowąs.
