Blueberry forte - an exotic vitamin in our garden

Description of the plant

Blueberry forte is a hybrid cultivated form of wild black nightshade, familiar to everyone as a common weed. In 1905, the American breeder Burbank Luther crossed European and American nightshade, resulting in this crop. From the first parent the plant received such qualities as large fruit and productivity, from the second - a unique taste. This herbaceous perennial is grown as an annual plant in temperate climates. It is important to know what beneficial properties blueberries forte have and the plant’s contraindications.

Sunberry has the following characteristic properties:

• it is a bush or tree up to one and a half meters in height;
• the leaves are conical, elongated, and have a matte tint;
• During the flowering period, the plant forms buds. Small, star-shaped, whitish flowers are collected in 10-15 pieces;
• Sunberry blooms until late autumn. At the peak of flowering, it has a beautiful decorative appearance, resembling a flowerbed plant;
• blueberries are large and juicy, coal-black in color, the fruits ripen continuously;
• Forte's yield is quite high - up to 5 liters of berries from 1-2 bushes.

Blueberry forte or “sunny berry”

We've all heard advertisements about blueberries forte. But not everyone knows that there is also such a plant. And the fact that this actively fruiting plant is successfully grown by summer residents in their gardens is something that only a few know about. Our blogger Viktor Volchek understands the difference between regular blueberries and forte blueberries.

Blueberry forte is a common name. This berry is correctly called sunberry, which translates as “sunny berry.” It was bred artificially by the American breeder Luther Burbank (1849-1926) in 1905. He crossed the tasteless, but very prolific African nightshade with the European rather tasty, but small-fruited creeping nightshade. And it turned out to be a “sunny berry”!

Sunberry is the closest relative of tomatoes. The plant is completely unpretentious, disease resistant and fast growing. In just 2-3 months, a small tree 1-1.2 meters high grows from a seed.

The photo above was taken in early May. And the plant was planted (as a seed) at the end of February on the balcony of an ordinary apartment. Amazingly fast growth! In June, the tree already had little space, and it was planted in open ground, where it successfully took root. Although, if you have free space, there is no problem growing this miracle berry on the balcony. Well, now, in September, it’s time to harvest!

The plant is incredibly prolific. You can collect 3-4 liters of berries from one tree! In appearance, the berries resemble blueberries, although, of course, sunberries have nothing to do with blueberries, and they taste completely different. In general, the berries themselves are not for everyone; they do not have a pronounced taste. But they make amazing jam, especially if you add something citrusy, like lemon! Moreover, with such fertility, you can cook a lot of it!

However, in addition to jam, you can make fillings for pies and dumplings, candied fruits, marmalades, jellies and even wine from berries! Or you can simply dry the berries for the winter. It is recommended to scald fresh berries with boiling water before consumption to remove the nightshade taste.

The berry, as it should be, contains a huge amount of vitamins and microelements. We cannot vouch for the reliability of the data, but if you search on the Internet, this berry is prescribed to cure almost all diseases! Although you shouldn’t overeat it. Experts recommend eating no more than five berries a day.

The plant itself is perennial, but since it ripens from seeds so easily and naturally, it is still more often planted as an annual. Moreover, obtaining seeds is not difficult. You can now buy them in specialized stores, or you can collect them yourself from berries. The principle of preparing seeds for seedlings does not differ from the classical preparation of seeds, for example, from tomato fruits.

So, if you are ready to experiment, take note of the “sunny berry” and please yourself and your family with a new taste and a beautiful harvest. But next year! Although if you find berries now, it's time to prepare the seeds. After all, it is in September that blueberries forte are harvested.

Victor Volchek

Photo by the author

Top photo: glav-dacha.ru

Top photo: glav-dacha.ru

Useful properties of berries

All parts of blueberries, except the roots, are used for medicinal purposes: fruits, flowers, stems and leaves. It is important to know that unripe nightshade berries are poisonous and can only be consumed when fully ripe.

The berries do not lose their specific flavor even when ripe. To get rid of it, you need to immerse them in boiling water for a few minutes. Forte contains a complex of vitamins necessary for health. It is enough to eat several ripe fruits per day. They contain the following elements:

1. Manganese, which has a positive effect on the immune system and the process of hematopoiesis.
2. Silver has antibacterial properties.
3. Zinc - ensures the functioning of the pancreas.
4. Chromium - activates glucose metabolism.

Sunberry dietary fruits are very healthy and have a wide range of medicinal properties:

• improve the functioning of the digestive tract, having a mild laxative property;
• normalize blood pressure;
• effectively cleanse the body of toxins and waste;
• contribute to recovery from colds of various etiologies;
• have a positive effect on the eye muscles, strengthening them;
• eliminate headaches;
• have sedative properties;
• relieve joint pain;
• have a beneficial effect on the condition of the kidneys.

No less useful are the leaves of the plant, which help reduce blood sugar and the level of acidity of gastric juice. In addition, they are used to soften and reduce urinary tract and intestinal smooth muscle. They are an astringent and hemostatic agent.

Culture also has disadvantages:

• All parts of Sunberry, except ripe berries, contain poisonous alkaloids. The ripeness of the fruit is determined by its black color and springy pulp;
• Blueberries should not be consumed by pregnant women, children under 12 years of age and those who have individual intolerance;
• Sunberry fruits are not recommended for drivers. Under no circumstances should you eat wild nightshade berries, which can be poisonous.

Rules of use

The taste of blueberries is quite primitive. Experts say that before consuming the plant, it is advisable to dip blueberries forte in boiling water for a couple of minutes.

Sunberry tincture is very useful for boosting immunity. It is also taken to improve vision, normalize blood pressure and for headaches. The cooking method is as follows:

• squeeze the juice from blueberries and dilute half with water;
• add 300 g of honey for each liter of liquid and stir well;
• Place the infusion in the refrigerator.

You can make original jam with excellent taste from blueberries. It hardens quickly due to the high pectin content and becomes thick, like marmalade. To do this you need:

• grind 2 kg of berries in a meat grinder;
• add 2 kg of sugar and 1 grated lemon;
• cook for about 40 minutes so that the jam is at the boiling stage. Boiling jam should not be kept for more than 5 minutes;
• Fill the jars with jam and roll them up.

Planting Sunberry in the garden

Like all Solanaceae, Sunberry has a growing season of 120 to 150 days. Therefore, it is better to grow blueberry forte plants through seedlings, since when grown in the ground by sowing, you may not wait for the harvest.

Seed preparation:

• blueberry seeds have a thick shell, so for better germination they must be pierced with a needle, being careful not to damage the kernel;
• take pre-washed coarse river sand into a glass jar and put the punctured seeds in it;
• close the container and shake it well to break the integrity of the shell;
• Next, the planting material is sent to a light solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection and better germination. Blueberry forte seeds are sown in late February - early March.

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An earthen mixture is suitable for growing seedlings of this crop, as for vegetable seedlings. You can buy it or prepare it yourself. Forte blueberry bushes do not tolerate acidic soil, so neutral soil is needed.

The box is filled with prepared soil, the soil is watered and the seeds are sown. They are lightly pressed down and covered with earth. The container should be covered with glass or film. Every day it is necessary to ventilate the seedlings and remove condensation from the surface of the coating. Watering is done with warm water. During this period, it is very important to ensure that the soil is moderately moist, does not dry out and is not excessively wet.

When the first three leaves appear, the seedlings should be planted in a container (0.5 liters). Having filled the seedling cups with soil, each seedling is planted in them separately and sprinkled with soil.

Recommendations for caring for shrubs

The unpretentiousness of blueberries forte does not mean that attention should not be paid to them. Here are some rules for caring for the plant:

1. Sunberry is indifferent to watering. It doesn't require a lot of moisture. Bushes should be watered moderately, even during dry summers.
2. You can feed the plant if it grows on poor soils. If the soil fertility is high, fertilization is not required.
3. The weakness of the bush's stems requires supports and tying, otherwise, weighed down with berries, they will fall to the ground and rot.
4. Once a month, excess shoots are trimmed. This is similar to the nightshade plant.

Ripe berries are harvested at the end of September. They retain their quality and freshness for a long time. Many gardeners note that growing blueberry bushes is easy, and the harvest is excellent.

Growing in open ground

In early May, with the arrival of warmer weather, blueberry seedlings are planted in the ground. Even if there is frost, the plant will not be damaged, since it is frost-resistant. Blueberries are planted so that there is a distance of 80 cm between the bushes, and at least 1.5 meters between the rows. Otherwise, the bushes will shade each other, and the berries will ripen much later. When choosing a place to plant blueberries, follow the following rules:

• the plant loves warm places with good lighting;
• grows well in both sandy soil and black soil;
• The close occurrence of groundwater is favorable for blueberries;
• Sunberry should not be planted next to cabbage.

Forte does not require additional watering. It is unpretentious in care and does not require treatment against diseases and pests. During active growth, powerful stepsons are formed on the bushes. It is necessary to make a support for them - a wooden slingshot, especially during fruiting. In regions where autumn frosts are possible, clusters of berries are picked and laid out on the windowsill to ripen. With the arrival of severe frosts, the bushes die and turn into organic fertilizer.

Gardeners have actively begun to use this amazing berry, once considered a weed. Blueberry forte is an unpretentious plant and very useful.

Peculiarities

Blueberry forte is also called sunberry, sunny berry - it is an annual herbaceous plant with a bush. It has a tetrahedral, fleshy and powerful stem, reaching 1.5 m in height and is characterized by the formation of a large number of stepsons. White flowers are collected in inflorescences of up to 20 pieces in each brush. The fruits resemble tomatoes, only miniature in size, black in color with dark purple flesh.

Blueberries are unpretentious to soil, fertilizing and watering, which is its main feature.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of blueberries, one can note its healing and dietary properties:

• Treats asthma, hepatitis, gout, rheumatism, stomach ulcers.
• Increases immunity.
• Improves vision, sleep, memory, appetite.
• Eliminates headaches.
• Normalizes blood pressure.
• Returns beauty and youth.
• During viral and colds, the berry is used as it is rich in vitamin C.
• For sore throat, you need to dilute the juice in water (1:3) and gargle at intervals of three hours.

Blueberry forte leaves:

• Reduce blood sugar.
• Increases acidity.
• They have a hemostatic and astringent effect.
• They have antimicrobial activity.
• They treat a runny nose, even the chronic form.

Sunberry is used in folk medicine:

• Increased immunity after illness or loss of strength. To do this, prepare the following composition: 1 cup each of honey and pine nuts, 3 cups of sunberry. Grind in a blender or meat grinder. Dosage: 1 tbsp. spoon before every meal. The mixture can be stored in the refrigerator.
• Thyroid gland (iodine deficiency). Feijoa fruits and honey - one glass each, 2 tbsp. blueberries The paste is prepared and applied 2 times, before lunch and breakfast.
• Prevention of hypertension. This uses the stem of the blueberry, which should be cut off during flowering. Next, grind and squeeze out the juice. Then add 2 tbsp to 0.5 liters of liquid. l. honey. The cocktail is taken 1 tbsp. l. at lunch and in the morning.
• Abscesses, purulent wounds. A paste of berries is prepared, milk is added and applied to the affected area for 2 hours.
• Dandruff and oily scalp. For 100 ml of liquid add 100 ml of alcohol (40%), 200 g. blueberries and a bag of boric acid. Everything is ground in a blender and infused for 12 hours in a darkened area. 45 minutes before washing, rub your head with the mixture.
• For headaches. Brew the berries with hot water (90 g) and leave for half a day. Use the infusion liquid as a lotion for 25 minutes.

Blueberries forte

Berries have some disadvantages:

• Promotes an allergic reaction. This may manifest as rashes or redness on the skin.
• Berries contain pectin, and if you overeat them, you can upset your stomach.
• Causes drowsiness. People need to be careful when driving a car - don’t eat before leaving.
• Not recommended for pregnant women, they contribute to uterine contractions.

Useful properties and contraindications

• Cleanses the body of toxins, thereby improving the functioning of the digestive system.
• Normalizes blood pressure
• Significantly improves visual acuity.
• Fights increased nervousness and stress.
• Long-term consumption of blueberries forte helps get rid of constant migraines.
• Relieves joint pain.
• Effectively copes with colds.
• Due to the diuretic effect of blueberries, swelling goes away
• Helps treat various skin diseases. Such as eczema, psoriasis and many others.

Review:

Pharmacies now have a large selection of not only medications, but also dietary supplements for the eyes. We decided to try Blueberry Evalar, fortunately it is inexpensive and available in any pharmacy. The whole family took it and came to the following conclusion: the drug is only good as a preventive measure. However, like all dietary supplements. It does not treat any diseases or eye problems, nor should it. Therefore, if you spend a lot of time looking at the monitor, but nothing in particular bothers you, you can take it to avoid further troubles.

But, if any problems have already appeared, then you need to run to the doctor, and then get medications. Of course, there are not many blueberries in the preparation, which the manufacturer honestly described in the composition. There, besides blueberry extract, there is a lot more indicated. And the ideal option is to simply buy blueberries themselves, fresh or frozen, but... they are expensive and are not always on sale. This one is more affordable both in price and in availability at the nearest pharmacy.

ethnoscience

General strengthening

Prepare juice from blueberries and mix it with honey . The juice is prepared as follows: grind the berries in a blender and squeeze the juice through cheesecloth. One liter of juice will require one and a half liters of liquid honey. Store this composition in the refrigerator and use it throughout the year.

Thanks to this elixir blood pressure normalizes , headaches go away, and varicose veins decrease. But people with impaired vision can feel a special effect. No wonder blueberries forte are valued precisely for their ability to restore eye sharpness.

Skin diseases

Sunberry leaves are used to treat diseases such as psoriasis, eczema and seborrhea. Green leaves are crushed and mixed with berries, a compress is prepared and applied to the affected areas.

Infusion of leaves

Dry blueberry leaves are used to prepare the infusion. One tablespoon of crushed leaves is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for two hours.

After straining, the infusion can be taken 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day before meals.

Judging by the reviews, it can be used to effectively treat gastritis, colitis and cystitis .

Ulcers

Pounded berries are mixed with sour milk and applied as a compress to the ulcers. Cover the top with gauze and keep it like that all night. In the morning, the compress is removed and the wounds are wiped with clean water.

Selecting a location

• Blueberry forte loves well-lit and warm places without drafts.
• Predecessors can be legumes, onions, cucumbers.
• Favorable for it are light soils and close groundwater (30–90 cm).
• Sunberry grows well in sandy soil and black soil.
• Blueberries do not tolerate proximity to cabbage.
• You can plant lettuce and green onions around the bushes to strengthen the soil.
• As soon as the bush takes root, the greenery is removed. Since her deadline is coming at this time.

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Reproduction

Blueberries forte can be propagated by seedlings and seeds. But the latter method is ineffective. When planting seeds in open ground, you may not wait for the harvest. What cannot be said about seedlings, because the growing season partially falls into the winter, the plant has the opportunity to catch up and mature.

Seedling

• Seeds A little preparation of the seeds is carried out.
• Due to the fact that they have a thick shell, they should be pierced with a needle without damaging the kernel.
• Coarse river sand and punctured seeds are placed in a glass jar. The sand must first be calcined and washed.
• The container is closed and shaken to break the integrity of the shell.
• Now, the planting material is sent to a solution of potassium permanganate (slightly pink) for better germination and disinfection.
• Seedlings are sown in February–March.
• Expanded clay is placed on the bottom of the prepared containers, then a layer of earth (10 cm).
• Since blueberries do not tolerate acidic soil, neutral soil is used. That is, there is no need to add peat.
• The seedlings are planted at a shallow depth (0.5 cm) and the container is covered with film or glass.
• Ventilation is done every day.
• Watering is done with warm water.
• Additional lighting is recommended.
• As soon as the first shoots appear, airing is carried out more often, and after 5 days you can completely remove the film.
• The third true leaf on the seedlings will be a signal for them to pick.
• Plant the seedlings in separate cups so as not to further injure the root system.
• Seed germination lasts 3 years, no more.

Growing blueberries forte in the garden

Blueberries should be planted at the same time as tomatoes. The sunberry bush is very similar to the tomato bush in structure; it also produces many stepsons. Seeds are chosen from the largest and most delicious berries, so that the harvest is no worse. The collected seed remains viable for no more than three years.

Often in the second year of cultivation a lot of young shoots are formed. If you thin it out, leaving only the strongest and strongest shoots, you can get a fertile Canadian blueberry bush without planting seeds for seedlings.

Seedling

Blueberry seeds forte
Garden nightshade seeds are very small, the core of the seed is enclosed in a hard peel. They wake up with difficulty and for a long time. They need to be “awakened” before disembarking. To do this, soak in a warm solution of potassium permanganate. Then, with a thin needle, shallow cuts are made on each seed. Place in a jar with coarse river sand and shake vigorously several times.

This procedure allows you to peel off the skin without damaging the seed kernel. Prepared seeds are germinated on a damp cloth, covered with film on top. You need to choose a place for germination that is bright and warm.

Seeds are planted for seedlings at the end of February so that the plant has time to complete all growth cycles and delight with tasty and ripe berries.

Growing forte blueberries is absolutely no different from growing tomato and eggplant seeds. So much so that you can even plant sunberry seeds in the same box with these plants.

The bottom of the container is covered with expanded clay to ensure drainage of excess liquid. Next, a small layer of neutral soil is poured. The soil does not need to add peat. The hatched seeds are planted to a depth of about 0.5 cm. The plantings are watered and covered with film on top.

Periodically open the film to ventilate the soil. The first shoots will appear only by the end of May. By this time the coating can be completely removed. Picking is carried out after the appearance of the third true leaf. The seedlings are placed in a warm and bright place. It does not need frequent watering, just make sure that the soil does not dry out.

Planting in open ground

Seedlings are also transferred to the garden along with tomatoes and eggplants. It is important to plant nightshade bushes correctly, given that the plant grows greatly. The optimal distance between seedlings is from 80 cm to one meter.

The plant is not afraid of droughts, frosts and scorching sun, but does not grow well in windy, shaded places and next to cabbage.

Once planted in the ground, the plant requires virtually no maintenance. You don't even have to tie it up. Strong stems will perfectly withstand the weight of the crop.

The bush shoots a lot. To increase the yield, you need to trim off excess shoots.

It is enough to feed it with mullein a couple of times a season and water it periodically. Otherwise, the usual scheme for caring for garden plants is applied.

You can enjoy berries throughout the summer. The massive harvest occurs in September. Then you need to pick off new flowers and ovaries on the bush. They still won’t have time to ripen, but this procedure will increase the size of the remaining fruits.

The bush matures completely only by mid-October. If climatic conditions do not allow you to leave the berries to ripen on it, you can cut it off entirely. They will ripen faster if you hang it on a crossbar in a dry and warm room.

If the plant is sick

Sunberry is not one of the sickly and capricious plants. It itself perfectly fights diseases and pests, but sometimes it needs help.

Thanks to the presence of silver forte in blueberries, they not only fight pests, but also help neighbors in the garden. Sunberry leaves and stems are added to infusions for spraying against pests of any garden plants.

A blueberry forte bush will take up little space in the garden. It is absolutely undemanding in care. But if you grow it on your own plot, you can eat handfuls of vitamins all summer and even store them for future use.

Pests and diseases

Sunberries contain large amounts of silver. It is this chemical element that repels the attacks of various infections.

And yet to a lesser extent, but plants are susceptible to diseases:

• Bacterial cancer . Stems and leaves become covered with brown ulcers and cracks. The fruits are covered with yellow spots. There is a possibility of bacteria penetrating into the fruit, thereby damaging the seeds. The causes of the disease are bacteria and cold regions. Fight : diseased bushes should be destroyed, since there is no cure for such a disease.
• White spot White spot . Signs: Dirty white spots appear on fruits, stems and leaves. The causes of the disease are damp and warm environments. Elimination : spray with Bordeaux mixture.
• Brown spot . The lower leaves of the bush are affected and change their color from olive to dark brown. Fight : spray the plant with Bordeaux mixture.
• Blossom rot . Signs: damage to green and ripening fruits, brown spots appear. Premature ripening and falling of berries occurs. The cause may be lack of moisture. Therefore, you need to monitor the drying out of the soil.
• Mosaic . Symptoms: appearance of wrinkled leaves. The causative agent is aphids. Fight : damaged bushes are removed, the remaining ones are treated with insecticides. Prevention - during pinching, disinfect the tool.

The shrub is able to protect not only itself, but also nearby neighbors. In pest control, you can use tinctures from the leaves and stems of blueberry forte.

Blueberry forte is a little-known plant that has not yet gained much popularity, for good reason. This plant is the result of the work of the American breeder Luther Burbank, who crossed 2 species of creeping African and European nightshade.

The result was a small tree that actively bears fruit year after year, and its large dark berries received several names - Canadian blueberry, sunberry, sunberry. The fruits of this plant have a lot of useful substances; they are used in conventional and folk medicine, which is confirmed even by the pharmacopoeia.

Diseases and pests

Sunberry berries contain silver, a chemical element that perfectly protects against various diseases. However, the plant is still susceptible to some diseases. These include:

1. 
   Bacterial canker - characterized by the appearance of cracks and brown ulcers on the leaves and stems of the blueberry bush. The berries are covered with yellow spots. Bacteria can penetrate the fruit and infect the seeds. There are no remedies for such a scourge, so the bushes must be destroyed.

2. White spot, which is the appearance of off-white spots on leaves and stems due to humidity and warm conditions. To eliminate the disease, the plant is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.
3. With brown spotting, the lower leaves of the bush are affected and change color from dark brown to olive. Bordeaux mixture is also used to combat the disease.
4. Symptoms of blossom end rot include fruit damage. The berries ripen prematurely, brown spots appear on them, and they fall off. This often occurs due to lack of moisture. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
5. Mosaic. The causative agent of this disease is aphids. Symptoms appear in wrinkled leaves.

Blueberry bushes protect not only themselves, but also close neighbors. A tincture of stems and leaves is an excellent remedy for pest control.

Description of the plant “Blueberry forte” or “Sunberry”

Blueberry forte is a fairly strong tree-shaped plant that reaches 1.5 meters in height. This nice useful plant has the following characteristics:

• Sunberry fruits are large black berries that grow in clusters of up to 10 pieces, the size of one berry corresponds to the size of a cherry;
• the plant is strong, unpretentious, easily tolerates both drought and frost;
• this plant is very productive, you can actually collect a whole bucket of berries from one bush;
• blueberry forte inflorescences are small, collected in clusters of up to 15 pieces, but from the decorative side they are beautiful, bloom for a long time;
• Europe grows this crop as an annual; in our latitudes it grows as a perennial;
• 100 grams of berries contain more than 200 kilocalories;
• People use not only Canadian blueberries, but also the leaves.

External features of blueberries forte

The nightshade family has many representatives that grow in our gardens - potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants. Sunberry does not look like them in appearance: its thick grassy stem, growing, forms many strong stepsons, reaching a height of up to one and a half meters. During the growing season, the branches are covered with small white flowers.

Then large berries appear in their place, which as they ripen acquire a rich black color.

No wonder the plant was called blueberry forte, crowberry. In terms of productivity, the fruit bush is superior to many - from one tree you can collect a bucket of aromatic, delicious berries.

The sunberry plant contains the best qualities of the nightshade species: unpretentiousness, resistance to frost and disease, and benefits for human health.

Growing at home

You can grow sunberries from seeds. Theoretically, seeds can be sown directly into the ground, but it is still much better to germinate them at home, because the seedling method is more reliable.

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How to grow seeds:

1. Seeds are usually sown at the end of February/March.
2. Before planting, it is advisable to place the seeds in a container with a weak solution of manganese, leave for 15 minutes, and then rinse with running water.
3. Sunberry seeds germinate with great difficulty, so it is recommended to cut them a little at the place from which the sprout will grow. Or you can use another method that, by scratching the skin of the seeds, will promote their germination - put the seeds in a jar with clean river sand and shake well.
4. For several days, the seeds are wrapped in a wet rag or gauze, the humidity level is monitored, and not allowed to dry out. This way the seeds will begin to germinate.
5. Due to its unpretentiousness, blueberries forte do not require any special soil, but it is advisable to organize good drainage.
6. Sow to a depth of no more than half a centimeter. It is acceptable to plant sunberries in the same box with peppers/tomatoes.
7. Water only with warm water, do not flood, do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
8. The seedlings will germinate well at room temperature, but if possible, you can place them closer to a heat source.
9. After 2.5-3 months. the first shoots will appear. They need to be planted in pots/cups, provided with warmth and light.
10. Seedlings are planted in the ground when at least 5 leaves form. The distance between plants is 70 cm, the interval between rows is 1 m. The weather should be consistently warm, without frost.

Plant propagation methods, planting rules

If you wish, you can grow a wonderful plant in your garden. It is planted with seeds or seedlings. But sowing blueberry seeds directly into open ground will not always give a positive result, so the seedling method is usually used:

• Work on planting seedlings begins with preparing blueberry seeds. They have a thick shell, so it must be pierced with a needle. After this, the seed material is placed in a jar with coarse river sand, previously calcined and washed. Vigorous shaking of the container will cause the plant seed to free itself from its durable outer clothing.
• The seeds are washed in a solution of potassium permanganate, keeping it in it for several minutes.
• They begin to sow them at the same time as tomatoes - in late February - mid-March.
• A drainage layer is placed in the containers, then filled with soil. The soil should not contain peat, as it acidifies the substrate, which Canadian blueberries do not like.
• In order for healthy seedlings to appear, it is necessary to water with warm water, ensure an air temperature of at least eighteen degrees, and sufficient lighting.
• The appearance of seedlings indicates that the temperature can be increased and additional lighting can be provided for the seedlings.
• Picking of seedlings occurs after two or three leaves appear on the stem.
• And after the threat of night frosts ceases, the seedlings will be able to migrate to a permanent place in the garden.

It is not for nothing that Sunberry is called a sunny berry, because for better fruiting it needs open, well-lit areas of the territory. When planting bushes, the optimal distance between them will be seventy centimeters. At first, it is advisable to cover the young plants with a plastic cap at night.

Like tomato bushes, sunberry trees need support. It can be dug in advance next to the seedlings. After such simple manipulations, you can breathe freely: the plant will delight you with abundant flowering and fruiting.

Beneficial features

Sunberry berries are dietary and healthy; they are a strong natural antioxidant. The list of useful properties is quite wide, because:

1. Blueberries forte contain many vitamins, especially P, as well as anthocyanins, which help reduce the permeability of vascular walls and preserve the presence of ascorbic acid in the body. All this helps to avoid atherosclerosis and angina.
2. An extract from these fruits is good for the eyes, as it improves vision and relieves fatigue. It is also prescribed for osteochondrosis, rheumatism, asthma, to improve blood composition, appetite, and memory. The hood helps overcome insomnia, improve overall well-being, as well as appearance.
3. The high content of plant antioxidants resists the aging process, loss of memory, muscle strength, and impaired coordination of movements.
4. The high content of pectin improves digestion and overall bowel function, helping to improve the bowel movement process.
5. Preparations made from sunberry fruits are prescribed for gastritis, cystitis, hypertension, eczema, seborrhea, neuroses and more . They are used for seizures, varicose veins, joint pain, headaches, diabetes, and hemorrhoids. Used for recovery after radiation therapy.

Plant leaves are no less useful:

1. They have a strong antimicrobial effect.
2. They are a hemostatic and astringent agent.
3. Helps reduce the acidity of gastric juice.
4. Reduce blood sugar.
5. Reduce and soften spasms of smooth muscles of the intestines and urinary tract.

Sunberry is an unpretentious and useful plant

Sunberry is native to Canada, so it’s not for nothing that the berry is also called Canadian blueberry. The shrub grows in many climate zones, including ours. For dachas and vegetable gardens it is considered exotic, but is becoming increasingly widespread.

In many areas you can find elderberry that grows on its own, requiring absolutely no care. Its fruits are very tart and almost impossible to eat fresh. But this black nightshade is useful and is widely used in folk medicine. Sunberry is a hybrid of elderberry and the larger American nightshade.

Blueberries forte grow on powerful bushes that can reach up to 1.5 m in height. They bloom in early summer. White flowers are collected in large clusters, and the flowering bush becomes an excellent garden decoration. Flowering continues until late autumn.

Large black berries the size of cherries grow in dense clusters. Sunberry produces an excellent harvest; you can easily harvest a whole bucket of blueberries from one bush.

The blueberry bush is not afraid of heat and drought; it also tolerates cold weather and frost with ease. But due to the climate, the plant is cultivated as an annual, and in hotter countries it grows as a perennial.

It is planted with seeds and through seedlings. The berry fully ripens only in late autumn.

The benefits of Canadian blueberries

Due to the high content of antioxidants, blueberries forte prevent the aging of the body. It also contains many vitamins and microelements. The cleansing effect of berries due to the presence of pectin has been scientifically proven. They remove toxins well.

It is not recommended to consume the berry for children under 12 years of age and for pregnant women to avoid allergic rashes.

The popular drug Blueberry Forte, which is used to improve visual acuity, as well as in the treatment of glaucoma, is based on sunberry berries. And they are also part of the well-known dietary supplement for the liver LIV-52.

You should not eat berries before driving a vehicle. It causes drowsiness and has a laxative effect.

The properties of blueberries forte, such as improving memory, blood composition, healing neuroses, and coordination of movements, have been proven by science. Plant extracts are used in medicines to fight cancer.

If you eat a handful of garden nightshade every day during the season, you can remove waste and toxins from the body. and also cleanse the blood well.

Use in folk medicine

Blueberries forte are used to treat the diseases presented in the table.

To avoid allergic reactions, it is not recommended to eat more than two handfuls of fresh sunberries per day.

Blueberry forte deserves a special place in the garden, because it is a truly useful plant. It will not only help preserve youth, but will also perfectly restore all metabolic processes in the body, strengthen the body and spirit.

Homemade preparations and recipes

Not everyone likes the taste of fresh blueberries. It is used rather for benefit. But jams, jams or pies with garden nightshade turn out delicious. And the tart black wine made from these fruits will leave few people indifferent.

Like all nightshade berries, blueberries forte have a tart flavor. To remove it, you need to pour boiling water over the fruit.

Blueberry raisin

A very easy to prepare and healthy delicacy - blueberry raisins forte. It is easy to prepare at home.

The washed berries are dipped into boiling sugar syrup. After boiling for 2 minutes, drain in a colander. Allow the excess syrup to drain and you can enjoy the healthy sweetness.

If you add lemon, mint leaves or vanillin to nightshade jam, this will significantly improve its taste.

Five-minute blueberry

To continue cleansing and rejuvenating the body in winter, you need to prepare Canadian blueberries for future use. There is an excellent recipe for preparing it, which preserves all the vitamins and microelements of the berry.

Required:

1. Berries – 1 kg.
2. Sugar – 300 gr.
3. Lemon to taste.

When the berries release juice, stir the contents of the pan and place on medium heat. Bring the jam to a boil. Add lemon, cut into small slices, or minced through a meat grinder. Boil the jam for no more than 5 minutes. The prepared delicacy should be stored in the refrigerator. Due to the short cooking time, it may spoil at room temperature.

Blueberries forte are valued for their beneficial properties. In order not to “kill” all the vitamins during cooking, nightshade jam is cooked for no more than 5 minutes.

You should consume 5 tablespoons daily. This will be enough to provide an adult with the necessary set of vitamins and improve his well-being.

Healthy jam

This jam is also cooked for 5 minutes, but in several stages. This technology allows you to preserve the maximum amount of vitamins in the berry.

Required:

1. Sugar – 1 kg.
2. Berries – 1 kg.
3. Water – 200 ml.

Sunberry berries are sour, so you need a lot of sugar. Dilute the entire volume with water and boil the syrup. When the sugar is completely dissolved, the berries are dipped into the boiling syrup. Boil them for 5 minutes and leave to cool. The second time, bring everything to a boil, cook the fruits again for 5 minutes and leave to cool. The third time they cook according to the same procedure, but after boiling for five minutes, the jam is poured into jars and closed for storage.

Contraindications for use

Blueberry forte belongs to the nightshade family, which are usually considered poisonous plants. This is essentially true because many subspecies of nightshade berries contain mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead. But it is sunberry that does not pose a threat to life, because it contains these substances in minute quantities, the main thing is not to overeat.

Still, there are general contraindications for eating sunny berries:

1. Do not give to children under 12 years of age.
2. Pregnant.
3. People with individual intolerance.
4. It is not recommended for drivers who drive long distances, as sunberry fruits can disorientate and cause drowsiness, and in large quantities can provoke a laxative effect.

It is recommended to remember that you should not eat nightshade berries growing in the wild, they can actually be poisonous.

How to use it correctly

Most people think that the taste of blueberries forte is very primitive, but it can be improved by dipping the berries in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The fruits acquire natural sweetness after the first autumn frosts. Sunberry is used to make jam, compotes, medicinal tinctures, pies filling, and homemade wine.

The tincture is taken to increase immunity, normalize blood pressure, for headaches, eye problems and more. Recipe:

1. Squeeze the juice from the berries, dilute it half with water (proportion 1:1).
2. For every liter of liquid add 300 g of honey. Stir thoroughly.
3. Pour the infusion into a suitable container and put it in the refrigerator.
4. Take 30–40 ml before meals.

You can make jam as follows:

1. Grind 2 kg of fruit in a meat grinder, add 2 kg of sugar, 1 grated lemon (can be replaced with citric acid).
2. Cook for about 40 minutes. To be more precise, boiling jam cannot be cooked for longer than 5 minutes, otherwise it may lose its beneficial properties.
3. Roll up the banks.

Due to the high content of pectins, the finished blueberry jam forte quickly hardens and has a marmalade consistency. The color is beautiful, dark cherry. The taste is excellent.

You can make delicious jelly. To do this, you need to grind the berries with lemon and cook a little. Add sugar to taste. All!