Description and characteristics of the Duke blueberry variety, planting and care

Delicious, rich in vitamins, blackberries were previously a rare berry found only in the forest. Thanks to the work of breeders, the shrub can be planted in the garden. One of the best types is the Duke blueberry. The plant is tall, famous for its amazing productivity and resistance to low air temperatures. To successfully grow a bush, you need to become familiar with all the features of planting technology, care, and propagation.

Description and characteristics of Duke blueberries

The tall shrub has a mid-early ripening period and allows you to get a decent harvest; as a rule, the first blueberries can be consumed in the second year after planting. Blackberries have a fibrous rhizome and form up to 5 shoots per season. The height and circumference is about 2 meters. The bushes are erect, skeletal, and turn brown in the sun.

There are usually few branches, due to which the fruits are well heated by ultraviolet rays. They are thin, with a bend, as a rule, as the bush grows it becomes quite dense. The leaves are oval, up to 8 centimeters long, 4 centimeters wide, with short stalks.

In accordance with the description of the Duke blueberry, in the fall it acquires a red tint and is collected in clusters of up to 10 pieces with a bell shape 1 centimeter wide. Blueberries require insect pollination to ensure a decent harvest. The procedure increases the size of the berries, stimulates their rapid ripening and guarantees a symmetrical shape of the fruit.

Blueberries are large, round in shape, 20*12 millimeters in size, not uniform. Weight reaches 2 grams. The skin is bluish, with a bluish tint, smooth. It contains many seeds, the taste is sweet with a piquant tartness. According to reviews from experienced gardeners, the Duke blueberry variety is an economical plant.

Cultivation history

The Duke blueberry variety was first selectively bred in America around the end of the 20th century. And by the beginning of the 80s, the berry became available to most gardeners. In nature, blueberry fruits appear after 15 years, and garden varieties produce fruit in the second year.

Positive and negative sides

The berry has a number of advantages and disadvantages that must be familiarized with before planting.

Features of cultivation

The bush can be grown without problems in the northern regions of the countries of the former Soviet Union, where temperatures drop to -40 degrees. Blueberries also grow well in mid-latitudes. They love moisture and require a lot of water to keep the entire root system wet.

Site selection

The bush is planted in areas illuminated and warmed by sunlight. It also takes root in partial shade, but in low light the fruits will not be as sweet. The variety will grow in the shade, but will not produce a harvest, since it requires enough light to form. It is advisable to plant bushes along the fence. Blackberries should not be planted in areas where vegetables are grown. Areas where grass crops have been growing for many years and where organic fertilizers have not been used are best suited.

Light sandy, sandy loam, and acidic soils are suitable for this blueberry variety. The roots are located in the surface layer 20 centimeters deep. It is worth choosing a place where groundwater flows at a distance of 60 centimeters from the ground.

Selection of seedlings

2-3 year old seedlings are best suited for growing. You should buy blueberry seedlings only at the market or specialized stores, where strict control is carried out and you can get professional recommendations. Before purchasing, carefully inspect the seedlings. It should be like this:

• flexible, not dry branches;
• there are no spots on the bark and leaves, they serve as a sign of disease;
• the soil lump should be complete, braided with thin roots.

Planting material is sold in peat containers. It is not advisable to buy it with bare roots; they may not take root.

Landing dates

It is advisable to plant blueberries in spring or September. In November, it is better to keep the seedlings in containers and postpone planting until the spring so that the seedlings have time to take root. Measures should be carried out after measuring the pH of the soil in the planned rows and between them. Monitor the indicator regularly.

How to plant blueberries correctly

Shoots are planted in this way:

• cluster method - holes are dug 40 centimeters deep, 80 centimeters in diameter, at a distance of 1.5 meters from each other;
• trench method - if there are a lot of seedlings, it is better to plant them in trenches 50 centimeters wide, 40 centimeters deep, leaving 2-3 meters between rows.

Place the rows from north to south.

Recommendations for caring for blueberries

Shrubs will bear fruit abundantly if you provide them with comfortable conditions. It is necessary to provide sufficient watering, fertilizing, timely pruning and preparation for wintering. In addition, it is necessary to loosen the soil in time, weed between the beds, and remove weeds.

Watering rules

Water the plants with low acidity water. The soil should be wet until the root system develops. For large plantings, drip irrigation is optimal - they are installed at a distance of 20-25 centimeters. Excessive moisture is fraught with a lack of air - the roots suffer and are subject to fungal attacks.

Necessary fertilizers

It is advisable to feed the plant at the beginning of the growing season by 50%, in 2 doses before flowering and during the flowering period.

1. In industrial plantings, it is necessary to correctly calculate the ratio of the components of the NPK complex, taking into account their concentration in the ground. Chlorine-containing fertilizers are undesirable.
2. When it comes to organic matter, give preference to fresh mullein, goat, or bird droppings – no. You can use overripe manure.
3. The emphasis is on nitrogen, ammonium nitrate is excellent for soil, with an acidity of 4.0-4.5.
4. On acidic soil it is better to use urea and ammonium sulfate. Their acidifying properties are weaker.
5. Of the dry species, give preference to complex mineral supplements: Florovit, Agrecol. They are pre-mixed with soil to ensure complete watering.

Do not apply nitrogen after fruiting - this increases the level of shoot growth and reduces winter hardiness.

Bush formation

Bushes are pruned in the first 3 years. When the plant becomes spreading, formative pruning can be done.

1. In early March, remove blind growth on the green cone, thickening the plant and lower branches.
2. Of the large annual shrubs, leave the 5 strongest ones and cut out the rest. Due to such pruning, an upright, spreading bush is formed.
3. Plants older than 8 years old that produce a weak harvest and small fruits undergo anti-aging pruning. Up to 20% of old branches are completely excised, stimulating the development of new ones.

It is worth considering that too much pruning can lead to a reduction in the number of fruits.

Preparing for winter

In winters with little snow, young bushes may freeze. It is advisable to mulch them in late or mid-autumn. The shelter is done in this way:

• before frosts, mulch the root zone within a radius of 0.5 meters using peat and pine needles;
• Install wire arches next to the bushes, bend the branches to them and secure them with twine;
• Before frost, cover the bush with burlap or agronomic fiber, put spruce branches on top, they will protect the blueberries from hares.

From mid-March - remove insulation, cut off frozen branches.

Prevention of diseases and pests

With proper care and planting, the plant is less likely to be affected by pests. To destroy fungal pathologies, fungicide treatment is used in early spring.

Blueberry propagation

Blueberry bushes in nurseries are propagated by seeds, but such seedlings produce a harvest after 8 years. The most convenient way is cuttings and layering. The berries are planted on the site after the formation of the root system in 2-3 years.

Harvest and storage

Blueberries must be harvested and stored manually or mechanically. To keep the fruit fresh for 2 weeks, it is important not to damage the thin skin. To preserve the harvest for a long time, it can be dried, frozen and processed for winter preparations. Blueberry jam increases the body's protective properties, enriches it with nutrients and warms you up in the cold.