Description and characteristics of the blueberry variety River, planting and care rules
Blueberries of the Reka variety with their color, smooth ripening waves, large volumes of juicy berries, in which there is water, really resemble a river. This is one of the modern varieties that quickly gains weight and has a high yield. Gardeners have already appreciated blueberries, and amateurs should pay close attention to them, as they are suitable for growing in the middle zone of our country.
The history of the creation of the Blue River variety
The Reka variety began its history in New Zealand and was officially registered in 1989, becoming a self-sufficient crop. She has several "parents": Blueberry River was obtained by crossing Bluecrop, Erliblu, Ashworth varieties.
The new variety combines the best parenting qualities:
- excellent productivity;
- excellent quality and taste of fruits;
- fast growth and green mass gain.
River blueberries are extremely popular in Canada and the USA, and our country is still developing a new variety. It is suitable for farms as it can be mechanically cleaned. Private gardens are also adding new plants to their berry collection.
For your information: Several New Zealand varieties (Nuru, Puru, Reka) are licensed to prevent unauthorized reproduction. Growers can purchase them by contract, but distribution of the variety is prohibited.
All the advantages and disadvantages of blueberries
The Reka variety is positioned as early: in the southern regions it begins to bear fruit in June, and in the middle latitudes it can be attributed to the mid-season, since the first harvest falls at the end of July. A cold spring can push back the crop by another 2 weeks.
The undoubted advantages of the variety:
- sweet fruits with a slight sour note;
- high tasting taste assessment;
- large and medium size berries;
- their dense consistency;
- strong immunity: it adapts well and has little illness;
- decorative appearance;
- high frost resistance (up to -35 C).
The river is one of the fastest growing varieties that adapts well to any climate. It is ideal for Russia with its cold winters, continental climate and poor soil.
The disadvantages include:
- periodic pruning;
- long flowering period;
- extended period of fruiting;
- high requirements for soil;
- fear of drafts and cold winds.
Tip: To maintain the size of the berries, part of the fruit ovaries should be removed from the second year of fruiting. Without this procedure, the harvest will be large, but the berries are small.
Description and characteristics of varietal blueberry
Blueberries are branched semi-shrubs, and the Reka variety is tall and reaches 2 m. The stem, as it grows, quickly becomes covered with wood and is resistant to lodging.
Bush and variety of root system
The river blueberry bush is distinguished by the following features:
- volumetric crown size;
- erect skeletal branches;
- branched, numerous shoots;
- rapid growth and formation;
- numerous oblong and shiny leaves up to 3 cm in diameter;
- a fibrous root system without root hairs.
The total life span of the bush is 100 years, in culture it can bear fruit up to 60 years.
Blooming and fruiting blueberries
Fruiting begins at 3-4 years old, then bell-shaped, white-pink flowers appear on the plant. On the branches, racemose inflorescences with 5-toothed, drooping flowers are formed. Up to 12-20 fruits are formed on one brush. For blueberries, cross-pollination is characteristic, so there should be shrubs nearby that bloom simultaneously with the "blue grapes".
The berries ripen in the second half of July and are characterized by:
- dark blue tint with a waxy coating;
- fruit size up to 1.5 cm and weighing up to 2 g;
- dense and elastic consistency;
- sweet and sour taste with an admixture of fruity notes;
- pleasant berry aroma;
- good keeping quality and transportability.
The largest harvest wave and the largest fruits are formed at 3-4 harvests per season. The berries stick well to the bushes and do not crumble even in the autumn, when the foliage turns red and flies around. The yield from one bush is 5-10 kg, which depends on climatic conditions and compliance with agricultural techniques. At home, blueberries give up to 10 kg, and in our country - about 5 kg.
Note: The River variety is recommended for farms due to the possibility of mechanical harvesting, good keeping quality and the possibility of transporting berries over long distances.
Collection and application of berries
Large plantations require human resources for manual harvesting. The collection of berries is carried out in several stages and the labor force must be constantly involved. The modern approach is the use of combines.
Aggregates of different brands are produced, but the principle of operation is the same for all: the shaker makes circular movements due to vibration, and the crumbled berry falls into a special hopper. In small garden plots, blueberries are harvested by hand in stages: several times per season, as the berries ripen gradually.
Blueberries are a vitamin and mineral cocktail and are best consumed fresh. All kinds of sweet preparations are no less tasty, but not so useful: jams, jellies, preserves, confitures. The berries are used to make homemade wine. They are a decoration for confectionery products, giving them additional flavor.
Resistant to low temperatures and drought
The plant tolerates frosty winters and does not need shelter. Young, non-lignified shoots can freeze slightly, but in spring the bush quickly recovers and gains strength.
Blueberries The river is not tolerant to drought and needs regular watering. A bucket of acidified water is poured under one bush. Waterlogging has a bad effect on the root system, which rots.
Exposure to insects and disease
Blueberries of the Reka variety are most affected by fungal diseases in rainy, cool summers. The roots suffer from tracheomycotic wilting.The fungus spreads with planting material; spores remain in the soil and plant debris. Stems and leaves are also susceptible to fungal infections.
Of the pests, the plant is visited by:
- triangular leaf roll;
- blue moth;
- yellow peat jaundice;
- lancet heather.
These pests include butterflies, which damage the plant at the caterpillar stage. Blueberries of the Reka variety rarely get sick and quickly recover after being damaged by pests.
How to plant blueberries on the site
The correct choice of site, planting timing, soil cultivation plays a decisive role in the survival and further growth of blueberries. Since the shrub grows in one place for a long time, the cultivation features are associated not only with the climate, but also with the fertility of the soil.
Suitable dates
In the southern regions, planting in the fall would be the best option. In colder, middle latitudes, it is better to plant bushes in the spring when the soil warms up. Autumn planting can lead to freezing if the plant does not have time to take root and adapt to new conditions.
Preparing the planting pit and seedling
Landing pits are prepared in advance. Their volume is 60 × 50 cm. For good survival and growth, a soil mixture of high peat, sand, sawdust, needles with the addition of sulfur (50 g) is used. Blueberry The river loves loose, fertile, slightly acidic soils.
It is advisable to purchase a seedling in a specialized nursery. The plant is checked for safety and the absence of diseases. A closed root system is preferred. The seedling is 2-3 years old.
Planting technology
Landing is carried out according to the scheme:
- since the bushes are large, the distance between them is 1 m, and in the aisles they keep a distance of 3 m;
- for a seedling without an earthen coma, the roots are carefully straightened;
- deepen the root collar by 3 cm;
- the soil around the plant is tamped, watered abundantly, mulched.
Tip: In order for the blueberry bushes to grow evenly and form erect skeletal branches, they are tied together, creating orderly rows of bushes.
Crop care rules
The cultivation of Reka blueberries does not require a special approach and includes traditional agronomic measures. But there are nuances that need to be considered when caring for a particular horticultural crop.
How often to water and feed the River
Blueberries are watered twice a week, during dry periods - twice a day. A bucket of water is consumed under each bush. Moisture is especially needed during the flowering and fruiting period, but its excess causes decay of the roots.
The plant responds well to mineral fertilizing. In the spring, nitrogen supplements are introduced for the growth of green mass, in the summer - phosphorus-potassium mixtures for better fruiting. One good complex spring feeding is enough to increase the yield. In the fall, the bushes are not fed, otherwise they winter badly.
Tip: Blueberries do not bear fruit on alkaline or neutral soils. When planting and in August, the soil should be shed with a 9% solution of acetic acid, add sulfur, mulch with needles to increase the acidity level.
Loosening and mulching of beds
After watering, when moisture is absorbed into the soil, loosening is carried out for breathing and feeding the roots. The soil is loosened superficially so as not to hurt the root system. During processing, the previous layer of mulch is left, updating its composition and quantity. The following are used as mulch:
- chopped straw
- sawdust;
- needles and chopped bark of conifers;
- peat.
A layer of mulch protects the soil from weeds and moisture loss, and the roots from overheating or hypothermia.
Trimming and forming
River blueberry bushes need constant pruning. Without it, the branches grow strongly and intertwine, the plant loses part of the harvest and its well-groomed appearance.Pruning is carried out in the spring before the onset of sap flow and before bud break. The bush is thinned out, removing part of the skeletal branches. Shoots growing from the roots and spreading along the ground are cut off. Of the young shoots, the strongest and most erect are left.
Sanitary pruning is carried out during any growing season. Cut out damaged, twisted, diseased branches. The bushes are thinned so that light and air have access to the fruit-bearing branches. So plants are less susceptible to infections.
Preventive treatment
The best way to fight fungal infections is preventive measures: spraying the bushes with Bordeaux mixture before the leaves bloom, watering the soil under the bush with phytosporin.
If the bushes are attacked by single larval caterpillars, they are collected by hand. In case of mass defeat, blueberries are treated with drugs: Fufanon, Aktellik, Iskra, Inta-Vir. The same means, but in a lower concentration, carry out spring preventive treatment before flowering.
Wintering plants
Blueberries of the Reka variety are frost-resistant and do not require shelter. If in a given, specific region, winters with little snow, then supports are created along the bushes, twigs are pulled through each bush and the skeletal branches are covered with spruce branches and lutrasil.
Shelter is necessary for bushes planted in autumn, which are poorly rooted and not sufficiently adapted. They are also wrapped in spruce branches, lutrasil, and snow is poured on top.
Variety reviews
Gardeners have conflicting opinions about the variety, although the number of positive reviews is increasing:
Olga, 32 years old, experienced gardener
The Reka variety bears fruit well. The bushes are large, so it is convenient to pick the berries by hand. The disadvantages include the small size of the berries.
Alina, 45 years old, experienced gardener
The variety is distinguished by the excellent taste of berries, from which I make jam and preserves. The berries are stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, so you can eat them fresh. Bushes winter well without shelter.
Andrey, 47 years old, amateur
I am just mastering such a garden culture as blueberries. The Reka variety was recommended by a neighbor. The crop is small, but there is not enough fertile soil on the site. The berries make an excellent, aromatic wine.
The river blueberry has recently appeared on the Russian market and many gardeners have liked it. Long-term fruiting allows you to eat berries until autumn, and a stable yield makes it possible to make winter preparations and please the family with tasty and healthy treats.
