Blueberries are undeniably delicious, whether raw or cooked in a hot pie, they are irresistible. But did you know that you can have them in your home accessible all year round if you learn to grow them? Growing blueberries is really easy and having them at home is truly a privilege. Enjoy its benefits by following the following steps to grow them in your garden, patio or even from inside your home.
Health benefits of blueberries.
Growing blueberries is an excellent idea, since this delicious berry has incredible benefits for health, to lose weight and to maintain youthful skin, which makes it one of the most demanded fruits for certain diets and natural recipes.
- Low in calories and rich in nutrients! For every 1 cup of blueberries, you receive 3.6 grams of dietary fiber. As well as 24% of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin C and 36% of Vitamin K.
- Rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants help prevent cell damage and have even been proven to prevent the signs of aging. They prevent damage to DNA (which causes aging), which can also cause cancer. One study tested the idea that consuming cranberry juice every day can reduce the effects of DNA damage by 20%.
- Prevents cholesterol damage in the blood.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Improves brain function and memory due to the large number of antioxidants.
How to grow blueberries unlimitedly.
Growing organic blueberries is a lot easier than people think. While most varieties take 3 years from seed to produce fruit, you can talk to your favorite nursery manager about purchasing a baby plant instead. Whatever your decision, use these expert tips to get your own organic blueberries anytime.
Find the perfect place.
Like other plants, the blueberry plant enjoys a lot of sunlight and good soil. Sunlight will allow the blueberry to carry out photosynthesis, which is essential in plant growth. The right soil will also stimulate photosynthesis and growth.
If you live in a house with a garden, making beds designed for this purpose are a great idea. This will allow the water to run through the entire soil, allowing a perfect amount of moisture for the shrub to grow. If you live in an apartment, don’t worry, you can still grow blueberries effectively, you just need to buy a patio container. You can also try a dwarf blueberry plant, which will only grow about 70 centimeters tall (instead of up to 2.50 meters). Look for baby blueberry seedlings at your local greenhouse or garden store.
When growing blueberries, you must give them space.
A bush will require up to 6 feet of space, so don’t put it in a narrow corner. Allow it to grow and expand naturally. If you plan to grow more than one, you will want to leave about 27 to 90 centimeters between each one. (For the dwarf blueberry, you just need to make sure it has enough room to grow up to two feet tall and two feet wide.)
The sowing process.
Depending on where you live in the world, it will govern when you should plant your blueberry. In most countries, spring is the optimal time to plant the shrub, as it will be ready for harvest in July or August.
If you are using a baby blueberry plant, then you will need to remove it from its purchased packaging. Shake the roots a little with your hands and then place them in the prepared soil. You can then add more soil around the roots until it can stand up on its own.
Make sure to cover the top layer of soil and then give your plant water. Always keep it hydrated.
Mulch.
The best form of mulch for blueberry bushes is sawdust, but pine bark, bark mulch, and grass trimming will do just fine. Apply 5-10 centimeters to the ground.
Prune again.
Once your bush begins to grow, you will need to start pruning it. Research has shown that pruning allows stronger branches to grow more vigorously, wherever they are on the plant. This allows for maximum fruit growth.
Simply use a pair of small scissors or strong scissors and trim some of the branches to encourage more berries to grow. Cut off dead branches and remove any of these around the bottom of the bush.
Fertilization.
This is one of the most important stages of growing your blueberry bush. You should always use organic fertilizers since the chemical found in inorganic ones can damage the plant. If they are not toxic, it is better for the environment and that will ensure that the plant will continue to be fertilized for a long period of time.
Blueberry bushes take up to 3 years to mature and give you an incredible blueberry harvest. Keep this in mind when choosing to grow blueberries from seed or from a baby plant.
Now sit back, relax, and watch your blueberry grow, and overnight, before you know it, you’ll be making your recipes with harvested blueberries from your home.
