Blueberry is a flowering plant that is found perennially. They are generally grown for dark berries. You can eat these berries raw with breakfast, and curd or jam is made from ripe fruits. Blueberry, also known as Nilbadari, is a fruit with incredible nutrition and multiple health benefits. Blueberry is a blue-coloured fruit that is small, round, and somewhat sour-sweet in taste. Belonging to the Ericaceae family, it is a summer crop that is cultivated mostly in North America because the soil and climate there are suitable for its yield.

Blueberry Cultivation Requirements And Future 

Blueberries are cultivated in Canada, Europe, India's Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu Kashmir. Blueberry cultivation is very less in India, but due to excellent health benefits, there is a possibility of cultivating blueberries in large quantities in the future. So, below are the necessary steps for cultivation. 

Suitable Climate For Blueberry Cultivation

You can grow blueberry crops in different types of climates with a Sonalika tractor. But its plants grow well in hot climates. So when you are ready to do blueberry cultivation, check the climatic conditions of your area with the Department of Horticulture.

Soil For Blueberry Cultivation

More acidic, aerated, moist, fertile, and well-drained soil is suitable for blueberry cultivation. Soil should have a pH range of 4.0 to 5.5 for optimum growth and yield. If the pH value of the soil is high, then adding some amount of sulphur to it can reduce the pH value of the soil.

Land Preparation And Planting

In blueberry cultivation, the flat land of the field is ploughed until the soil is ready for sowing. The area also has to be made weed-free, and plants are sown at a distance of 80 cm in a row of 3 metres. Blueberries can be sown any time of the year, provided adequate irrigation is available for the plants. 1 or 2-year-old plants planted in 1-litre or 3.5-litre containers should be mainly grown in the field. In this, the length of the preferred stem should be between 15 to 25 and 25 to 45 CM. Prepare 10-inch deep pits in the field for two weeks before transplanting the trees. Also, dig a square-shaped pit at one metre for side-spreading roots with the help of a Mahindra tractor. After this, mix the soil from the pit with an equal amount of coco peat, leaf mould, or compost.

Pruning In Blueberry

Generally, the blueberry plant is a shrub that grows from its crown. The number of productive stems of blueberry should be from 9 to 12. Moreover, pruning every year by removing 5 to 6 years old cane. Blueberry bushes don't bear fruit for the first few years. Therefore, in blueberry cultivation, pruning should be done in late winter, just before growth begins. There is no need to prune for the first 4 years.

Blueberry Plant Caring

Generally, no disease is seen in blueberry plants because they are resistant to pests and diseases. The main problem with blueberry crops is that these berries are a bird's favourite food, so it is necessary to protect them from birds. For this, traps are placed around the plants. Blueberry fruit bears in the crop from June.

Irrigation In Blueberry Cultivation

After transplanting the blueberry plants in the prepared field, the plants have to be irrigated immediately. Its plants must be watered once a week. Rainwater is much better because this type of water is more alkaline and ideal for blueberry cultivation. However, in the event of long periods of no rain and dry weather, frequent irrigation is required depending on the moisture content of the soil.

Blueberry Cultivation Weed Control

Weeding should be done regularly in blueberry cultivation by removing dry and damaged leaves. Weed control requires keeping the plant basins clear and using mulch or any acid-loving tree fertilisers during spring. Mulching methods can avoid the wastage of water, control weed growth, and prevent soil erosion. Rotten organic manure will be prepared from the mulching material. After transplanting, mulching is done with a layer of 2 to 4 inches of wood. Remove all the fruits that grow at the bottom of the plant so that the plant remains strong. Thus, it makes the root system stronger.

Manures And Fertiliser Management

There are many potential benefits to using compost in blueberry cultivation. For this, well-rotted cow dung should be put in the field during land preparation. In addition, blueberry plants thrive in acidic soil, so look for a high-acid fertiliser that contains a good amount of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, or sulphur-coated urea. The amount of fertiliser should be given in the spring before the leaves develop in the blueberry plants.

Harvesting And Yield

Blueberry plant starts bearing fruit in the second or third season after transplanting. Its plant gives a crop of berries once a year. Its fruits can be cut and sold fresh in cans. Moreover, harvesting in blueberry cultivation should start from August to September. When the fruits on the plants turn blue, wait for a few days and harvest them. The yield varies depending on many factors, yet you can expect 1 KG of fruit from one plant in the first crop.

In the subsequent years, the plant becomes mature, and in the sixth to the seventh year, the production will double. This product can be up to 10 KG from a maximum plant, and the average yield can be seen from 5 to 6 KG. Once planted, you can get fruit for 20 to 25 years from a blueberry.

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