Blueberry Duke

Blueberry Duke
The main characteristics of the variety:
  • Authors: New Jersey (USA)
  • Appeared when crossing: (Ivanhoe x Erlible) x [(Berkeley x Erlible) x (Covill x Atlantic)
  • Name synonyms: Vaccinium Duke
  • Year of approval: 2018
  • Ripening terms: mid-early
  • Growth type: medium-sized
  • Bush height, m: 1,5-1,8
  • Taste: sweet wine, slightly tart
  • Yield: high
  • Average yield: 158 kg / ha (6-8 kg per bush)
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Blueberry Duke (Duke) is an excellent option for growing in a temperate climate, included in the Russian Federation in the register of industrial varieties for its valuable properties: early ripening, winter hardiness, productivity and unique taste. In Europe, blueberries are among the most cultivated varieties in berry farms, since they have the ability to slow down the aging process, strengthen immunity, and prevent the development of inflammatory processes.

Breeding history

Blueberry Duke (Duke) was bred by American scientists almost half a century ago, but the history of the creation of the variety began at the beginning of the 20th century, when breeding work made it possible to obtain more than 4 dozen tall varieties. The name Duke (translated as Duke) has nothing to do with cherry and sweet cherry hybrids: it is simply a characteristic of the unique properties, unpretentiousness and yield of the variety, recognized as the most common in Russian territory.

As the source, among others, the varieties of Earley Blue and Ivanhoe were taken, but it took several years of hard work of breeders to obtain Duke, and almost a decade and a half to be included in the Russian register of industrial varieties. In Russia, Duke blueberry was included in the State Register only in 1918, but long before that moment it had gained popularity among gardeners.

Description of the variety

Excellent taste is attributed to the distinctive features of this type of demanded berry. It is obtained due to a peculiar growth - the bushes reach 1.7 m, while branching weakly, and this allows the berries to fill with juice and nutrients, warming up well in the sun. The decorativeness of the bushes allows them to be used in landscape design to decorate land plots of variable area. They look great throughout the growing season, when blooming in late May with bell-shaped white-pink flowers, and in autumn. Characteristics:

  • tall, slow emergence of shoots (no need for frequent pruning);

  • large berries, fruiting stability;

  • self-fertility, frost resistance (the variety is not afraid of recurrent frosts);

  • transportability of fruits and great taste, high demand among buyers.

There are many adherents of Duke blueberries among gardeners, this is easily explained by its resistance to diseases and pests, cold climate, rapid ripening of berries and their universal use. By the second year, fruiting begins, but harvesting on the desired scale is expected later. But with proper care, fruiting can last up to 20 years.

Fruit characteristics

Rounded berries reach a decent diameter and weight of 2 g. The second name of this variety among the people - Blue grapes, for growing in the likeness of bunches. The characteristic shade of ripe fruits is obtained due to a bluish bloom on the dark blue skin, which is dense and elastic. It is she who gives the variety a unique ability to easily carry transportation over long distances. Storage does not affect presentability and presentation, only enhances the sweetness and aroma of large berries.

Taste qualities

The pulp of medium density, filled with juice, has a light, almost invisible against the background of sweetness, sourness. This gives it a special piquancy. When consumed, it leaves a pronounced, tangible and pleasant aftertaste. The aroma is preserved during heat treatment - vitamin compotes and multicomponent preparations are especially successful, but you can also freeze for baking, cook preserves and jams, and use them for dessert in their original form. Reviews say that storage only improves the taste, the aftertaste acquires a fruity-wine tint, the pleasant astringency is minimized.

Ripening and fruiting

The crop does not ripen all at once, it is harvested in several approaches, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for a 3-week period, processed at the same time. One adult bush leaves 6-8 kg, you can make a decent supply for the winter by freezing, drying and canning berries with valuable properties. In industrial cultivation, mechanical harvesting means can be used. Ripening dates may be postponed due to the peculiarities of the climate or a particular season, but the nature of the changes is not dramatic.

Yield

Productivity depends on the age of the shrub as well as taste. Therefore, the first ovaries are removed to accelerate growth and vegetation. A record short time passes between flowering and ripening of berries - one and a half months, the average yield is from 6 to 8 kg per bush. It increases if pollinators are planted nearby - blueberry varieties with similar flowering times. Experienced gardeners will certainly do this, although the variety is considered self-fertile and produces crops even without such a neighborhood.

Duke blueberry has become widespread due to its ability to long-term fruiting - with proper care, it can bear fruit for up to half a century. The equally popular varieties Sunrise, Reka or Patriot are recommended as pollinators.

Growing and care

For cultivation, it is advised to purchase high-quality planting material from the nursery, subsequently the bushes can be propagated by division, cuttings and layering:

  • for planting in regions with a difficult climate, they choose spring, early May;

  • in less problematic areas, you can plant blueberries in the fall, no later than a month before the onset of cold weather, so that the berry has time for rooting;

  • the plant needs regular watering, it does not tolerate drought;

  • during the fruiting period, the amount of water is increased;

  • the soil should be light sandy or sour peat;

  • blueberries cannot be planted in the place where vegetables were planted;

  • the selected area must have good illumination, otherwise the bush will grow intensively, but will refuse to bear fruit.

Top dressing, timely watering, periodic pruning are important conditions for obtaining a high yield, extending the fruiting period. However, over-watering can damage the plant, so it is advised to do it once a week in stable conditions and double it during the fruiting period. One bush requires a bucket of settled, not cold water.

In order to grow a good healthy blueberry bush on your site and get a decent harvest of tasty and healthy berries, you need to correctly carry out the planting procedure. First of all, you need to choose the right place and time for planting, prepare seedlings and soil.
One of the important steps in blueberry care is pruning. Bushes become too dense without pruning. The crop becomes shallow and loses its taste. The plant becomes susceptible to diseases due to the mass of dried out, obsolete shoots. Pruning also prolongs the active life of the shrub. If you approach the issue correctly, you can get high yields for a fairly long time.
In order for garden blueberry feeding to be effective, it is important to remember two basic rules: first, the soil must be acidic; second, the soil must be moist. In addition, it is necessary to observe the proportions of fertilizers per bush, since both deficiency and excess of micronutrients are the cause of many blueberry diseases.

Disease and pest resistance

It is considered to be less susceptible to common diseases and garden pests, but it can be affected by gray rot or black cancer. Leaf rollers and May beetles can affect crops, but insecticides can be used to prevent this and a thorough cleaning of the fall garden can be done. A good result is obtained by spring treatment with fungicides, which is carried out before the appearance of flower buds.

Duke blueberry is an excellent variety, which is one of the most popular, due to its valuable properties - winter hardiness, excellent taste, unpretentiousness, transportability and preservation of presentability during long-term storage.

You can lose a blueberry harvest for many reasons: due to a viral infection, fungal disease or pest attack. In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, the gardener should pay enough attention to preventive measures.
Proper care of blueberries in the fall and preparation for winter will help you achieve a rich harvest of tasty and fragrant berries for the next season. Autumn preparatory work includes the following points: pruning, feeding, treatment from diseases and pests, watering, shelter.
The most important condition for growing blueberries is the correct soil composition. For optimal results, the substrate should be as close to natural as possible. In nature, the berry grows on the outskirts of swamps and in humid forests, it prefers moderate moisture. The best option would be loose, oxygenated soil, which includes: high peat, rotted needles, soil from coniferous forest, sawdust of coniferous wood, chips, sand
There are several ways to breed garden blueberries, each with its own characteristics. Blueberries can be propagated by seed, layering or cuttings. When grafting, use lignified cuttings harvested in the fall. This method is considered the most optimal and reliable.
Main characteristics
Authors
New Jersey (USA)
Appeared when crossing
(Ivanhoe x Erlible) x [(Berkeley x Erlible) x (Covill x Atlantic)
Name synonyms
Vaccinium Duke
Year of approval
2018
Yield
high
Average yield
158 kg / ha (6-8 kg per bush)
Transportability
high
Appointment
for fresh consumption, for all types of processing, for freezing, dessert
Bush
Growth type
medium-sized
Bush height, m
1,5-1,8
Description of the bush
medium spreading, squat
Branches
straight, open, branched under the weight of berries
Escapes
medium, straight, greenish red, hairless
Leaves
oval, medium, green, matte, smooth, convex
Fruit brush
middle, wrist axis thin, straight, not pubescent
Fruit
Fruit size
large
Fruit shape
slightly flattened, leveled, with a small scar
Fruit size, mm
17-20 in diameter
Fruit weight, g
1,8-2,3
Fruit color
blue, with a light blue bloom
Skin
medium thickness, dense, smooth, crispy, slightly pubescent, with a waxy coating
Pulp color
greenish
Taste
wine-sweet, slightly tart
Scent
gentle
Fruit composition
sugar 15.7%, acid 1.5%, vitamin C 20 mg%
Keeping quality
good
Growing
Self-fertility
self-fertile
Winter hardiness
high
Frost resistance, ° C
-30 ° C
Drought tolerance
drought tolerant
Pruning
requires heavy pruning
Watering
moderate
Location
light, partial shade
Disease and pest resistance
weakly damaged
Resistant to fruit mummification
steady
Suitability for mechanized harvesting
Yes
Growing regions
North, North-West, Central, Volgo-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, North Caucasian, Middle Volga, Lower Volga, Ural, West Siberian, East Siberian, Far Eastern
Maturation
Ripening terms
mid-early
Period from flowering to berry picking
42-56 days
Fruiting period
second decade of July
Ripening nature
simultaneous
Reviews
There are no reviews.
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