How to manage blueberries in winter?

Blueberry is one of our common fruits , with very high nutritional value and many varieties. Blueberries are relatively cold-resistant plants, but different varieties have different cold tolerances. So how to manage blueberries in winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. Soil Cover

In fall and winter, cover the entire blueberry plant with moist soil to keep the branches hydrated. For taller plants, you can press them down and then cover them. You can also pile an arc-shaped mound of soil about 0.4 meters high 0.3 meters northwest of the plant to create a microclimate environment that is sheltered from the wind and facing the sun for the young tree, reduce the continuous freezing time of the soil, and help the roots absorb water and replenish water loss in the branches. The soil should be buried tightly to ensure that the branches are not exposed and are not airtight.

2. Cover with cold-proof materials

Using straw mats, shade nets and plastic films for cold protection is suitable for blueberry orchards over 3 years old. Build a beam above the plant planting line, cover it with plastic film, and press soil on both sides. Cover it with straw mats or shade nets and secure it to prevent wind . The time for cold protection should be appropriate, not too early, and the temperature should be stable below 5℃. Water thoroughly before applying winter protection, and remove the winter protection materials in time the following spring.

3. Pile up snow to keep warm

In the snowy areas in the north, artificial snow can be piled up in winter to prevent cold and increase production. It is easy to obtain materials, saves labor and time, costs little, and can maintain soil moisture. The covering thickness should be 2/3 of the tree height, and the suitable thickness is 20-30 cm.

4. Lighting and ventilation

Making sure your blueberry trees receive adequate sunlight during the winter will help raise the tree's temperature and promote photosynthesis. While keeping warm, you should also be careful to avoid excessive airtightness that can lead to poor air circulation and cause blueberry tree diseases and pests.

5. Pruning and shaping

Carry out moderate pruning before winter to remove diseased, weak, overcrowded and drooping branches of blueberry trees to reduce nutrient consumption and improve the plant's resistance to cold.

6. Wrap yourself up to keep warm

For particularly valuable blueberry tree varieties or young trees, you can use cotton cloth, straw and other materials to gently wrap the trunk, but be careful not to wrap it too tightly so as not to affect its breathing.

The above is an introduction to how to manage blueberries in winter. Some varieties are highly cold-resistant. For example, dwarf blueberries can withstand temperatures as low as -40°C, semi-highbush blueberries can withstand temperatures as low as -35°C, and some varieties of northern highbush blueberries can withstand temperatures as low as -30°C.