Description of the Bonus blueberry variety, planting, cultivation and care

America is the birthplace of blackberries, where they are widely grown on industrial plantations and gardens. In the CIS countries, the demand for it is increasing every year. Even inexperienced gardeners strive to plant it. Bonus blueberries are perfect for them. The plant is easy to care for, produces sweet berries, and has many advantages. The bush belongs to the North American tall species. It is worth familiarizing yourself in advance with the planting process, selection of blueberry seedlings, and care.

Description and characteristics of blueberries Bonus

It is useful for even experienced gardeners to familiarize themselves with information about the variety.

1. The description of the Bonus blueberry variety says that the berry is one of the largest species, up to 3 centimeters.
2. The shoots grow up to 1.5 meters, 1.25 meters wide, the habit of the bush is spreading, slightly raised.
3. The plant ripens in early August.
4. Blueberry fruits are large in size, up to 30 millimeters. Some are larger than Chandler, light bluish in color, round, with a pleasant taste. They have a waxy coating on them and are collected in tight brushes. The pulp of the berry is sweet, the peel is strong.
5. Transportation and storage are possible for a long time, with refrigeration.
6. Blueberries can withstand severe frosts, but require shelter. In most regions of the CIS, for example, in the Moscow region, bushes are mulched with agronomic fiber, according to the principle of grapes and roses.

The variety pollinates on its own, but it is advisable to help it with this.

History of creation

The species was bred at the University of Michigan, United States of America in 1978. It is classified as a northern variety, American highbush blueberry. Breeders focused on creating large fruits, and then on their taste. The berry competes with the Chandler variety.

Strengths and weaknesses of the variety

The plant suggests good and bad sides that will help you make your choice.

A sign that blueberries are suitable for harvesting is when they tear off the stem without effort.

Boarding time

Experienced summer residents advise planting blueberry seedlings in the fall, then the roots will be fully formed. There is a risk of the bush freezing if it is not covered correctly. In spring you can plant without fear, from mid-March. It is advisable to wait until it warms up and there is no frost at night.

Selection of site, soil

The Bonus variety loves light, well-drained soil, containing enough organic matter and well-ventilated. Sandy loam soil, peat bogs, soil with a small leaf litter are suitable. The plant does not survive well in loamy soil. Blueberries most often grow in thickets; for a high-quality harvest with high sugar content, open areas with sunlight are required.

The acidity of the soil should be pH 3.5-4.8. If the level is low, you can add peat, sulfur or acid ammonium. The optimal acidity concentration is further maintained by watering the bushes with water containing citric, oxalic or acetic acid.

Elevated levels are reduced with lime or wood ash. Due to the low acidity of the soil, this blueberry variety is affected by diseases, and at a high level, growth stops and the plant stops producing crops. Liming is carried out three times a year. Any manipulations with the soil are done 6 months before planting.

Planting process

2 or 3 year old blueberry cuttings are best suited for planting. A number of activities should be carried out in advance, in particular:

1. Measure the pH level of the soil.Make sure there is a sufficient acidity level.
2. Dig a 1*1 meter hole for each bush, keeping a gap of 1.5-1.8 meters. If blueberries are planted in trenches, their depth should be at least 60 centimeters. The optimal size between rows is 3 meters. Bushes should be planted from north to south.
3. If groundwater is close to the ground, provide the plants with adequate drainage. Pour expanded clay into the bottom of the hole in a layer of 10 centimeters.
4. Place the container with planting material in a glass of water until the soil is soaked.
5. Fill the holes with water and wait until completely absorbed.
6. Plant young blueberry bushes in prepared holes, straightening the root system horizontally, and sprinkle with acidic soil. The most productive symbiosis is high-moor peat combined with pine needles, bark and cones in a 1:1 ratio or peat with the addition of 10% sand.
7. Mulch the trunk circle of each blueberry bush with pine needles or rotted dust with peat to a depth of 10 centimeters.

Do not use fresh sawdust, as the risk of nitrogen starvation increases.

Blueberry care

The Bonus blueberry variety does not require much effort in care, the main thing is to do it correctly. It is necessary to thoroughly weed the soil, destroy weeds, and loosen the soil to ensure access to oxygen.

Caring for blueberry bushes consists of the following measures:

• watering - do not allow the soil to dry out, it should always be moist;
• pruning - remove diseased, dry and broken branches in late autumn;
• fertilizing - fertilize the soil from the first days of planting, using mineral or organic fertilizers.

With proper care, garden blueberries produce a good harvest of healthy berries.

Watering and fertilizing

You need to water frequently, as the soil quickly dehydrates. It is necessary to add a bucket of water to each bush, approximately 4 times a week, depending on weather conditions and humidity levels. If it's hot outside, cool the bushes by spraying in the evening.

Blueberry bushes need to be fed 3 times a year: at the beginning of the growing season, when the buds open and after picking the berries.

1. In March, give preference to 50% nitrogen fertilizers.
2. When buds open, sprinkle ¼ of nitrogen, ammonium sulfate 35-40 grams per bush or ammonium nitrate 25-30 grams per bush, superphosphate 50-60 grams.
3. After the berries appear, cancel nitrogen fertilizers and replace them with calcium. It makes blueberry fruits firmer and larger.
4. Upon completion of fruiting, add potassium sulfate and phosphorus 30-40 grams per bush.

You cannot feed the berries with organic matter - manure, compost, chicken droppings. They have a negative effect on the delicate rhizome.

Bush formation

Trim the bushes at the 3-4th year of their life, to a height of 40-45 centimeters. You need to cut out drooping shoots at an angle of 50 degrees. Affect the periphery of the crown to a greater extent, since the plants belong to a semi-spreading species. Leave the healthiest, strong shoots, more than half a meter high, and cut off the rest next spring.

Preparing for winter

In November, cover the bushes with spruce branches, burlap, and spunbond, bending the branches to the soil. It is undesirable to use polyethylene film; it does not allow air to pass through. In the spring, when there are no night frosts and the temperature rises to above zero, you can remove the mulch.

Protection from diseases and pests

Blueberries Bonus are famous for their increased resistance to pests and diseases, but for prevention it is advisable to treat them with fungicidal agents.

1. Do 3 sprays before flowering with an interval of 1 week and the same amount after harvesting.
2. In March and November, treat the plants with Rovral 0.1-0.2% or Bordeaux mixture.

If symptoms of disease or beetle damage are found on the bush, treat it with the given means, strictly following the instructions.

Breeding berries

A variety with a developed root system is widely bred by dividing the bush. Its parts are used as planting material. The selected shrub is dug out of the ground, and suitable shoots with the required number of roots are carefully separated. Their length should be at least 5-7 centimeters on each seedling. If necessary, use a knife or pruning shears.

Harvesting and storage

Blueberry bushes bear fruit from mid-July. Large berries are easily collected and do not fall off on their own. For convenience, use a comb. You can store pure blueberries in the refrigerator, usually for no longer than 2 weeks in glass containers. Fresh blueberries can be used to create fruit purees and desserts.

Frozen fruits retain all useful components. You should not wash blueberries before freezing; their skin will become too tough. When candied or dried, the shelf life is no longer than 1 year.