EXPERIMENTS ON HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES IN SWITZERLAND

The ISHS variety trial of 1969 had to be discontinued in 1975 due to heavy damages caused by Fusicoccum putrefaciens (Godronia cassandrae). Varietal differences in susceptibility could be observed:

	very badly affected:	Darrow
	badly affected:	Berkeley, Blueray, Coville,
		Heerma I, Herbert
	moderately affected:	Bluecrop, Goldtraube 53 and
		71, Heerma II
	slightly affected:	Collins, Ivanhoe

The possibilities of growing highbush blueberries in a sandy loam soil of pH 7 were investigated in a trial with four varieties: Blueray, Collins, 14/16 A and Weymouth.
By mulching the soil with 10 cm layers of wood shavings or peat the plants have continued to grow normally since 1972. Yields and new growth are very satisfactory.
Root growth is limited to a narrow layer at the contact of soil and mulching.
The pH-value of the soil is slightly lowered, especially by mulching with wood shavings.

Symposium on Vaccinium Culture in Europe

F. Kobel

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1977.61.14