TheNaturePlanet

Do you crave blueberries as soon as summer arrives? In fact, there's no need to envy flower enthusiasts in southern regions. Northern households can also achieve "blueberry freedom"! As long as you choose the right varieties, you can grow fruitful blueberry trees either in flowerpots on the balcony or in the open space of the courtyard. Today, I will share with you 8 treasure varieties that are extremely suitable for growing in northern regions. I will also teach you step by step how to select seedlings and take care of them. Even novice gardeners can easily handle it!

Let's first talk about places like Northeast China and the northern part of North China, where it is extremely cold in winter. You must choose varieties with extremely strong cold resistance. For example, "Beilu" is a classic semi-highbush variety from the United States. The tree is about 1.2 meters tall and is very suitable for planting in the courtyard. The fruits it bears are of medium size, dark blue in color, looking like small gems. With a bite, it's sweet and sour and bursts with juice. It's so fragrant when used to make jam! The key is that it is particularly cold-resistant and can overwinter outdoors even at minus 35°C. Friends in Northeast China can plant it with complete confidence. Even if you manage it in a rough way, you can still have a good harvest every year. Even lazy people can grow it well.

There is also "Meideng", a lowbush variety from Canada, which is simply tailor-made for potted plant lovers. Its plant height is only 30 - 50 cm, and it can be placed even on a windowsill the size of a palm. Despite its small size, it has a strong fruiting ability. The dark blue pulp has a faint fruity aroma and tastes great whether eaten directly or made into a milkshake. Moreover, its cold resistance is at the top level, and it can withstand temperatures as low as minus 40°C. There is no pressure at all to grow it outdoors in winter in northern regions. It's definitely the right choice for beginners. Isn't it very suitable for novice gardeners?

Now let's talk about regions like North China and Northwest China. If you have limited balcony space at home, choosing these two varieties is the right choice. "Ruika" is a dwarf variety selected in New Zealand, with a plant height of 1 - 1.2 meters, which is just right for potted plants on the balcony. It matures relatively early, and you can enjoy the fruits half a month earlier than other varieties. The fruits are dark blue in color, with a faint fragrance, and have a very high sweetness. You can hardly taste any sourness. If you have children at home, you must plant one. Moreover, it is cold-resistant and tolerant of poor soil. As long as you ensure that the potting soil is breathable and there is no waterlogging, you can have a good harvest every year. It's simply an outstanding choice for balcony planting.

"Duke" is a northern highbush variety from the United States, and its yield is truly remarkable. It can be called a "production master". With a robust tree shape of 1.5 meters, whether it is planted in the ground or in a pot, it can be covered with fruits. Its fruits are of medium size, but have high hardness and are particularly resistant to storage. They won't become soft even if you put them in the refrigerator for a week. They are very suitable for fresh consumption or for use in baking after being frozen. Its cold resistance is also good, and it can overwinter at minus 30°C. There is no problem at all planting it outdoors in North China. It's particularly practical to choose it for family planting.

If you have a greenhouse or an enclosed balcony at home and want to challenge growing southern highbush varieties, you can try these two "masters". "O'Neal" is the "fragrance leader" among southern highbush varieties. The fruits are extremely large. When fully ripe, they are dark purple. When you bite into them, you can smell a rich fruity aroma. The sweetness is so high that you can taste a honey-like flavor. Eating it is like eating a perfumed fruit. It's simply the "aristocrat" among blueberries. Although it is originally a southern variety, it can be completely grown in an enclosed balcony or greenhouse in northern regions. As long as the temperature is kept above 0°C in winter. By the way, it is recommended that you plant it together with the "Misty" variety. In this way, pollination will be better, and the fruit setting rate will be higher.

The pulp of "Misty" is soft, tender, and juicy, with a soft and cottony texture, which is particularly suitable for the elderly and children with poor teeth. The light blue fruits have a fresh sour taste and are not greasy at all. With a medium tree shape of 1.2 meters, there is enough space for balcony planting. However, in winter, you need to keep the temperature above 5°C, and let it get more sunlight during the growing period. In this way, you can bear fruits that are as full as small lanterns!

After talking about the varieties, I will tell you a few key techniques for growing blueberries in northern regions. First of all, soil acidification adjustment is very important. Blueberries like acidic soil. You can use leaf mold soil, peat soil, and add sulfur powder (1g per liter of soil) to prepare the soil. Adjust the pH value of the soil to 4.0 - 5.5, and replenish sulfur powder once a year in spring to maintain the acidity of the soil.

When watering, you should follow the principle of "seeing dry and seeing wet". Blueberry roots are shallow. Usually, observe the potting soil. Water when the surface is 2 cm dry. It is best to use rainwater or tap water that has been left standing. Never water halfway, otherwise the roots won't be able to absorb enough water, which will affect growth.

Cold protection in winter should be carried out according to different varieties. For northern highbush and semi-highbush varieties, if planted outdoors, you can cover the roots with 5 cm thick pine needles. If it is a southern highbush variety in a pot, it is recommended to move it indoors and keep the temperature above 0°C, so that they can safely overwinter.

Finally, I will share with novice flower enthusiasts a guide to avoiding pitfalls when selecting seedlings. You should give priority to 2 - 3-year-old potted seedlings. Such seedlings have a high survival rate and can bear a small amount of fruit in the same year. When selecting seedlings, be sure to avoid seedlings with yellow leaves and black roots. Healthy roots should be white or light brown. After receiving seedlings purchased online, don't rush to change the pot. First, let the seedlings acclimate for 3 days to adapt to the new environment before transplanting to prevent root damage. If planted in the ground, the spacing between each plant should be more than 1.5 meters. If planted in a pot, choose a ceramic pot with a diameter of more than 40 cm and pad more ceramic pellets at the bottom to prevent waterlogging, so that the young seedlings can grow well.