Detailed Explanation of Bilberry Planting Methods and Technical Key Points

Bilberry, a plant in the Ericaceae family, is native to North America but is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic to tropical alpine regions. Bilberry prefers to grow in moist, acidic soil rich in organic matter, and it likes light. Wild bilberry has extremely strong cold resistance and can withstand extreme low temperatures of -50°C. Wild European bilberry is abundantly distributed in the Scandinavian Peninsula (Norway).

Planting Methods

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

Bilberry is suitable for growing in acidic soil, and in soil with high fertility, loose and deep texture, and rich organic humus, its yield increases noticeably. The planting plot needs to have sufficient moisture and be sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, and attention must be paid to the number of large trees nearby, as too many large trees will block the sunlight from reaching the bilberry and affect its growth. After selecting the land, the roots of the previous crop in the soil should be removed promptly to reduce pathogens. And to ensure the normal growth of bilberry, weeds should be cleared away before planting, then sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before sowing.

2. Timely Planting

After the site selection and land preparation work is done, plant in a timely manner according to weather changes, and control the planting density well. To ensure the yield of bilberry, appropriate close planting can be done. Generally, the period around the Start of Spring each year is the best time for planting, which can ensure sufficient moisture in winter, so planting can also be done in autumn and winter. When backfilling soil during planting, an appropriate amount of bark, sawdust and other materials should be added to the soil to improve soil fertility. And attention should be paid to increasing the acidity of the soil; if the acidity is insufficient, a small amount of sulfurous acid can be mixed into the soil.

3. Timely Topdressing

Bilberry does not have a great demand for fertilizer, about moderate levels; too much fertilizer not only fails to promote the growth of bilberry but also has a certain negative impact. In particular, seedlings after planting must absolutely not be given nitrogen fertilizer, because seedlings are very sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, in the first year of planting, we should apply as little fertilizer as possible, and may even skip fertilizing entirely when the base fertilizer is sufficient. When soil fertility is high and the soil pH value is suitable, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be applied as topdressing, but nitrate nitrogen fertilizer must not be used. It should be noted that no matter when fertilizer is applied, it must never be applied directly at the roots of the bilberry, to prevent burning them.

4. Shaping and Pruning

After planting, shaping and pruning work should be done in a timely manner according to the growth of the bilberry. Around 1-2 years in, to promote the development of young bilberry trees, the flower buds on the young trees should be removed promptly. Then in the second year, fruit can begin to be retained, but attention must be paid to the number of fruits retained; it must not be too many, otherwise the tree body cannot bear it, leading to fruit drop. Also, useless branches such as lower horizontally growing branches, leggy branches, dead branches, and old branches should be pruned away. These branches not only fail to bear fruit but also consume excessive nutrients, increasing planting costs.

The Efficacy and Effects of Bilberry

1. Bilberry Can Protect the Eyes and Improve Vision

Bilberry can protect the eyes and improve vision. It contains a large amount of rhodopsin and flavonoids; these substances can act directly on human eyes, can improve the sensitivity of the optic nerve, and can also help prevent retinal degeneration and night blindness. Regular consumption in daily life can protect the eyes and also help prevent vision decline.

2. Bilberry Can Help Relieve Hepatitis B

This fruit, bilberry, contains a large amount of phenolic substances and flavonoid substances. These substances can not only resist oxidation and scavenge free radicals in the human body but also inhibit viral activity, reducing the harm of viruses to the human body, especially to the human liver, making it most suitable for people suffering from chronic hepatitis B   to consume.

3. Bilberry Can Also Help Prevent Cancer

Bilberry is also an anticancer fruit with outstanding efficacy. The anthocyanins, tannins, folic acid, anthocyanidins, flavonoids and other substances contained in this fruit are all natural anticancer components. These substances can help prevent cell carcinogenesis and can also inhibit the regeneration of cancer cells. Healthy people who consume it can help prevent cancer, while cancer patients who consume it can inhibit cancer cell activity, control cancer cell regeneration, effectively control the condition, and prevent the condition from worsening.