Blueberry bushes have small green leaves. Between these they produce the tasty blue berries. If the leaves turn red, you should get to the bottom of the cause. This way you can quickly initiate countermeasures.
Why do blueberry leaves turn red?
If the leaves of the blueberry turn red inautumn, it is anatural phenomenon, as the bushes are among the deciduous plants belong. If the red color occurs in spring orSummer,Nutrient deficiencyorIllness are the cause.
What causes blueberry leaves to turn red?
There arevarious causesthat lead to red leaves on blueberries. Whether they aredangerousfor the blueberry bush depends on theseason:
- red leaves in autumn: natural autumn color (safe)
- Red color in spring / summer: disease or nutrient deficiency (dangerous for blueberries)
When does a blueberry with red leaves need help?
Blueberries needHelpif for the red leavesNutrient deficiencyorBlueberry rust (Pucciniastrum myrtilli) are causal.
Blueberry Rust
Blueberry rust is a fungal infection that begins with yellow leaf spots. As the disease progresses, they turn reddish-brown and merge. In the final stage the leaves are black and fall off. If the infestation is very severe, there may be losses in the blueberry harvest next year. To limit the fungal infection, you should avoid evergreen varieties.
Nutrient Deficiency
You can compensate for nutrient deficiencies through fertilization and/or soil quality.
How do I prevent red leaves on blueberries?
To avoidblueberry rust, you can useresistantvarieties of thecultivated blueberrysuch as “Plant Bluecrop”, “Burlington” or “Dixi”. Nutrient deficiencycan be prevented by planting the blueberry in slightly acidic soil. You should alsofertilize the shrub twice a year
Tip
Avoid calcareous soils
The blueberry does not tolerate calcareous soils at all. Because the lime prevents the absorption of important nutrients, the leaves turn red. So that the shallow-rooted plant feels comfortable in the bed, you should replace the calcareous soil with Morbeet or rhododendron soil.
