How blueberries differ from blueberries: how not to be mistaken with the choice of a plant
If you need tart berries not just for compote, but for medicinal purposes, it is important to know how blueberries differ from blueberries. Unscrupulous sellers in spontaneous markets often take advantage of the appearance of berries. They even manage to sell blueberry seedlings to us as varietal blueberries. Knowing the characteristics of the cultures, you can easily determine which one is actually in front of you.
If blueberries have been cultivated for a long time and have many garden varieties, then blueberries are still a wild plant. Seedlings of the latter are usually taken directly in the forest where it grows. So if you are offered varietal blueberries - do not believe, this simply does not exist.
What plants have in common
If you look for seedlings based on the English name, it is quite possible to confuse the plants. The translation of the English name for both cultures sounds almost the same. But they are actually two separate cultures.
Besides the name, it unites blueberries and blueberry love of acidic soil. It will not work to grow them on ordinary black soil and get a crop. And of course, both plants belong to the heather family and bear fruit with berries. At first glance, they look the same: small and blue. This is where the general characteristics end.
How blueberries differ from blueberries
It will not be difficult for experienced gardeners who grow these crops to "identify" them.
If you look closely, you can distinguish plants by the following features:
- Shoots and structure of the bush. Blueberries have creeping stems, forming a sprawling low bush with a drooping crown. The top of the branches is covered with green bark. But blueberry shoots are always erect and lignified along the entire length. In addition, the bush itself is almost twice as tall and slender.
- Berries. Their similarity is only in color, and even that is deceiving. If blueberries are blue, then blueberries have only bloom. Erased, under it you can find an almost black skin. Different berries inside: the pulp and juice of blueberries are dark and stain the hands. But blueberries have a light, slightly greenish pulp and colorless, not coloring, juice. In terms of size, blueberries are usually larger and slightly elongated. Blueberries are smaller and rounded.
- Berry flavor. In blueberries, it is always pronounced, sweet and sour, with a tart note. Blueberries are more acidic and watery.
Another point: in blueberries, the inflorescences hang down with tassels, and the blueberries are tied one by one.
Thus, knowing how blueberries and blueberries differ, you will definitely not confuse them and buy what you need.