Planting and caring for garden lingonberries, propagation and cultivation in the country

Few people doubt the beneficial qualities of lingonberries, because these small berries contain vitamins, micro- and macroelements. That is why more and more often owners of summer cottages are growing these bushes, which, with minimal time and labor costs, generously reward them with delicious fruits. Growing garden lingonberries, as well as planting and caring for them, will not cause any particular difficulties even for inexperienced gardeners - the crop is undemanding.

Technical characteristics of the crop

Before embarking on an exciting process, it is recommended to study the characteristics of the berry crop; this will help prevent shortcomings in the first stages of cultivation. It would also be useful to find out the description of the plant and the basic requirements.

Lingonberry is a low shrub that rarely exceeds 45 cm. The plant is evergreen and does not shed its leaves even in winter. Flowering occurs in mid or late spring. The first fruits ripen in August, but in cool regions the bushes bear small red berries even in October.

Frost resistance and drought resistance

The peculiarity of lingonberries is that the bushes do not die even in severe frosts (up to 30 degrees). Thanks to this, the crop is grown in cold regions; shelter is required only for young plants.

Garden lingonberry is a moisture-loving plant, so it tolerates drought rather poorly. You will have to take care of a layer of mulch or water regularly.

Disease resistance

Diseases on garden lingonberries are extremely rare, but frequent rainfalls or unstable weather conditions can lead to moniliosis or exobasidiosis. There is only one way to prevent diseases - regular preventive treatments of bushes.

How fast does the bush grow?

Lingonberries grow quite quickly, although after growing to the required height, their development sharply slows down.It is recommended to carry out pruning, which will turn the plant into a lush compact bush. Every few years you need to prune the plant completely, this helps to rejuvenate the lingonberries and increase productivity.

What year does it bloom and bear fruit?

Flowers appear on the bushes already 1-2 years after planting the bushes. Fruiting will not be abundant. The peak yield occurs in the 3-6th year after planting. If you carry out drastic pruning, fruiting will not decrease for several decades.

Where are the fruits of lingonberry bushes used?

Lingonberry fruits are universal - used for canning, baking, and desserts. Berries are very popular in alternative medicine; due to their unique composition, home remedies are recommended for use against many diseases.

Berries are often frozen or dried, but the beneficial qualities do not disappear.

How to properly plant lingonberries on a plot

Even an inexperienced beginner will not have any difficulties in growing lingonberries; the crop is extremely undemanding. If you properly prepare the soil and follow the basic recommendations, the bushes will delight you with rapid growth and fruiting.

Required soil composition

Under natural conditions, the bush densely occupies peat bogs and marshy areas. Be sure to ensure that the soil for the plant is acidic or peaty. Heavy loams are not welcome; lingonberries can die.

The best soil composition for lingonberries:

• peat;
• a small amount of sand;
• garden soil.

The amount of peat should predominate in the mixture, this will affect the size of the fruit.

Best place to drop off

Lingonberry is a light-loving plant. The area in the dacha for growing bushes should be in a sunny place.Be sure to take care of the absence of groundwater; an abundance of water will lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plants. It is better not to grow the crop in the shade of large trees on a personal plot; flowering and fruiting will be poor.

Planting dates and technology

It is better to plant lingonberries in the fall, before the onset of stable cold weather. It’s better to hurry, the plants must have time to take root in order to survive severe frosts without loss. Spring planting is recommended for residents of cold regions.

Plant the bushes at a distance of 25-30 cm. Also make the row spacing small - up to 30 cm. Be sure to water the lingonberries generously after planting. A mulching layer - with conifer needles or crushed bark - would be useful. Mulch will both protect and increase the acidity of the soil, which is necessary for plants.

What is needed for good growth

In addition to preparing acidic soil, you will have to take care of proper plant care. To grow generously fruiting bushes, follow certain rules. Caring for lingonberries is not difficult, but a few mistakes are enough to destroy the plants or be left without a harvest.

Basic growing requirements:

• watering;
• introduction of nutritional compounds;
• preventive treatments against diseases and pests;
• timely pruning.

Another requirement is loosening the soil and updating the mulch layer. If you do not remove weeds, the growth of bushes and fruiting will decrease, the weeds will take some of the nutrients from the soil.

Watering and loosening the soil

You will have to irrigate the soil in the garden in areas where lingonberries are located often, especially in the summer heat. It is recommended to water the bushes at least twice a week.Monitor moisture; excess moisture is detrimental to plants and can cause root rot. Be sure to use warm water or use drip irrigation.

Before each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil surface; the hard crust that forms on the soil prevents the penetration of air to the root system. Do not carry out deep loosening; there is a risk of damaging the roots, which are located near the surface.

Mulching

It is not recommended to use compost or humus for mulch; the plants will develop luxuriantly, but bear little fruit. It is better to use materials that increase the acidity of the soil - conifer bark or chopped spruce branches. The use of mulch will reduce the number of waterings and loosening of the soil.

Fertilizing plants

For better growth and fruiting of lingonberries, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers, especially in spring. It is better to apply liquid solutions; they are more effectively absorbed by plants. It is advisable to water the bushes at the root; if fertilizer gets on the leaves, it can lead to the appearance of unsightly spots.

After the buds appear, it is recommended to use manganese sulfate (also a liquid solution). Some gardeners completely refuse to fertilize during this period and simply mulch the soil surface with sand.

Formative and rejuvenating pruning

Formative pruning should be carried out annually in the fall. Do not shorten the branches of the bushes too much; just cut off the very ends. This will affect the general condition of the lingonberries, the plants will be more lush.

Anti-aging pruning is best done once every 5-7 years. It is advisable to leave only part of the main trunk and 3-5 side shoots. It is recommended to rejuvenate the bushes in the fall; with the onset of spring warmth, the plants will rapidly grow.

Preventive treatment against insects and diseases

Often bushes are affected by fungal diseases, against which chemical solutions will have to be used. Bordeaux mixture is usually used - three times of treatment is enough for the infection to recede. It is also recommended to use the product as a preventive measure.

Of the insects, lingonberries are usually occupied by the leaf roller, which can damage the leaves and buds of the bushes. It is recommended to use “Fufanon”, “Karbofos”, “Aktaru” against the pest. Among folk remedies, a decoction of wormwood has proven itself to be excellent (brew a bucket of boiling water and infuse 500 g of chopped leaves of the plant).

Should I cover it for the winter?

The peculiarity of lingonberries is their excellent frost resistance. Only young plants that have not had time to take root in open ground will need shelter. In cold regions, it is also better not to risk bushes; you need to put agrotextiles or a layer of spruce branches on the bed.

How to propagate a bush

There are several options for propagating lingonberries, each of which has its own pros and cons. Maternal characteristics are preserved regardless of the method chosen.

Growing from seeds

Using seeds to propagate lingonberries is a rather unpopular method, since you will have to wait several years before the first fruiting. Another disadvantage of the technology of growing bushes from seeds at home is that you will need to stratify the planting material, otherwise the sprouts will not appear.

It is recommended to send seeds into the ground in the fall. If planting is carried out in the spring, be sure to keep the planting material outside during the winter months. When germinating seeds at home, it is recommended to place the container on a bright windowsill; without light, the sprouts will not appear.

Green and root cuttings

Cuttings are a simple and effective way to propagate lingonberries. Both green and woody shoots take root well. It is recommended to start this fascinating process both in spring and autumn - the cuttings quickly take root. The only condition is to build a temporary greenhouse made of film, which will protect the shoots and create the necessary microclimate.

There are no special care requirements; the main condition is to regularly moisten the soil, especially if the cuttings are planted in the spring. Loosen the soil carefully so as not to damage the fragile roots.

Dividing the bush

Dividing lingonberry bushes is another way to increase the number of plants. It is recommended to carry out the process in the spring, before growth begins. Residents of warm regions can start dividing even in the fall; the bushes will have time to take root before frost.

Popular varieties of lingonberries

Almost every year, breeders present lingonberry fans with new varieties that are distinguished by fruiting and hardiness. Some of them have already gained recognition among gardeners, among them:

• Coral. A high-yielding variety, which is distinguished by its compact bush (only 30 cm) and beautiful shape (spherical). Coral blooms and bears fruit twice a season.
• Ruby. A variety that easily tolerates low temperatures. Fruits abundantly, the berries have a pleasant sweet and sour taste.
• Red Pearl. Bush lingonberries grown to obtain a bountiful harvest. It blooms twice a year and, with the correct application of nutrients, produces a full harvest.
• Kostroma pink is another variety worthy of attention. The height of adult plants is up to 15 cm. Fruiting occurs in August.

Lingonberry is a plant that will not cause any trouble even for a novice gardener.It is enough to study the requirements of the bushes once to make caring for them a pleasure. For your efforts, lingonberries will certainly reward you with delicious and healthy fruits.