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Blueberries forever at home? I love this idea! It is one of the best fruits to always have on hand, and with the right trick you can ensure a continuous harvest. The secret to growing blueberries “forever” at home lies in understanding their specific needs and, most importantly, in propagating them by cuttings.
The magic trick: cuttings
Blueberries can also be propagated by seeds, but this takes a long time to bear fruit (3-4 years) and does not guarantee that the new plant will have the same characteristics as the mother plant. Cuttings (branch cuttings) are the most efficient and fastest way to propagate blueberry plants, ensuring that you have clones that are identical to the best plants.
How to take blueberry cuttings:
Choose the cutting: In the fall or early winter, when the plant is dormant, select healthy, woody branches (about one year old) from the mother plant. They should be about 10-15 cm long and about the size of a pencil.
Cutting preparation: Cut diagonally at the base of the cutting, just below the node (where the leaves attach). Remove all the leaves from the bottom of the cutting, but leave only 2-3 leaves at the top. You can also make a straight cut at the top, above the node.
Rooting hormone (optional, but recommended): Dip the cut base of the cutting in a powder or gel-based rooting hormone. This greatly increases the chances of success.
Planting: Prepare a small (well-draining) pot with light, acidic potting soil, which is ideal for rooting. A mixture of peat moss and coarse sand or perlite works well. Make a hole in the potting soil with a pencil and insert the cutting, about 2/3 buried.
Ideal environment: Keep the cuttings in a bright, indirect light and high humidity. You can cover the pots with a clear plastic bag (with a few holes for ventilation) or place them in a propagation chamber to create a humid microclimate. Keep the potting soil moist, but not soggy.
Patience: Rooting can take several weeks or even months. Once you see new shoots and roots starting to emerge from the drainage holes, the cutting is ready to be transplanted into a larger pot or its final location.
By doing this regularly with mature bushes, you can ensure the continuous growth of new plants, which means blueberries that last forever!
Basic conditions for happy (and eternal!) blueberries
In order for blueberries to not only reproduce, but also bloom and produce delicious fruit year after year here in Ternopil, it is essential to meet their specific needs:
Acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5): This is the most important requirement! Blueberries are an acidophilic plant.
How to get it: Mix topsoil with peat, ground pine bark or earthworm castings. You can use agricultural sulfur powder to acidify the soil. Avoid chalky or very clayey soils.
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