Cultivated blueberries provide delicious fruits full of vitamins in the garden from July to September. The bushes can also be propagated yourself using various methods.
How can you propagate cultivated blueberries?
Cultivated blueberries can be propagated by cuttings: Cut off 10-15 cm long branches in autumn and stick them deep into acidic soil. By spring, roots will form and the rooted cuttings can be transplanted.
Cultivated blueberries as a hedge with added value
The fruits collected from cultivated blueberries are slightly less aromatic, but larger and juicier than those from wild blueberries. Nevertheless, just like the blueberries harvested in the forest, they can be processed into many delicious dishes, such as:
- Jams and Jellies
- Cake with fruit filling
- refreshing berry sauces for desserts and ice cream
Due to the staggered ripening of the blueberries on the bushes, the fruits, which only have a short shelf life after picking, can be enjoyed fresh for a longer period of time. Since you can also boil or freeze blueberries relatively easily, it is worthwhile to propagate the plants from the material produced when cutting them. Since cultivated blueberries can grow up to around three meters high, they are also suitable as a hedge with fruity added value.
Cut cuttings and let them root
Cultivated blueberries do not necessarily have to be cut for recurring fruit. However, you can cut off pieces of around 10 to 15 centimeters from branches that have spread too far and stick them as cuttings relatively deep into an acidic soil substrate. If necessary, cover the pot with the cuttings with foil to ensure even moisture during the first few weeks.
Propagate blueberries through cuttings and transplant them later
The ideal time for propagating cultivated blueberries from cuttings is autumn. The cuttings then cut should usually have developed their first roots by spring. Then, if possible, you should transplant the rooted cuttings into their own planter or outdoors before they sprout. Always make sure to use potting soil (€11.00 on Amazon) with an acidic pH value between 4.0 and 5.0.
Tips & Tricks
Another way to propagate cultivated blueberries (in addition to the rather lengthy sowing) is to form sinkers. You can force this natural method of propagation artificially by weighing down longer branches near the ground for a period of several months and covering them with some soil. Once rooting has occurred, these branches can be separated and transplanted as a standalone plant.
