Blackberry planting in the spring. Blackberry on the site: cultivation, reproduction, varieties

If raspberries are known and loved by everyone, then the blackberry is not so common. However, to grow it in your garden, you can, however, have to make some efforts.

Blackberry varieties

All modern varieties of shrubs belong to two groups of this species. Namely: blackberries (coumaric) with erect stalks and rostyanika - creeping form. There are also intermediate grades. A lot of cultivars with high winter hardiness have been hatched, which allows them to grow in the mid-zone of the Russian Federation, in the Urals. Some varieties of sunflowers require mandatory shelter for the winter. We bring to your attention the most popular:

1. Blackberry Black Satin. Planting and caring for her are fairly simple, do not cause difficulties, especially in southern regions, where she can grow as a liana. It is an unprimed form with berries weighing 10-15 g and high yields - up to 3 buckets with a bush 3-4 years old. It is enough thermophilic variety, without shelter it should not be wintered.
2. Thornfrey. Berries grow 3.5-4 cm in length, fruit bearing abundant, 25-30 kg from one bush. If you plan to land a blackberry, choose Thornfrey. It is recognized as the most promising variety. It was bred in the USA in 1966 and is still extremely popular in commercial cultivation.
3. Blackberry Fertile. The variety is bred by Michurin I. It has powerful creeping shoots with long, strong spines. Berries are large, weighing up to 10 g, late ripening. In the middle zone of Russia , shelter is required for the winter. It is recommended to plant a blackberry in the spring.
4. Agavam. An old variety of American breeding. One of the most winter-hardy, able to withstand the temperature drop to -40 ° C. The average yield is 3-4 kg per bush, berries weighing 3 g, high resistance to anthracosis, rust.
5. Darrow. Frost resistant cultivar, withstands up to -35 ° С. The berries have a conical shape, weighing up to 3.5 g.

Also worth noting are the varieties Lochness, Hull Thornless, Smutset. All of them are unshipped and low-resistant, so they require shelter.

Planting of blackberry garden: choose a place

Blackberries and raspberries are close relatives, both species belong to the same genus. However, the former is more resistant to drought (due to deep bedding of roots) and less demanding to the ground. Although, of course, any plant will be well in fertile soils. Choose for the blackberry sunny places, but well protected from winds and drafts. Will feel good bushes, planted along the fence, which will give them additional support.

Blackberry planting in spring should be carried out until the moment when buds begin to bud, and in the autumn - before the onset of cold weather.

Soil for blackberry

Preference is given to the fertile and well drained soil. Suitable both loams and sandy soils, the optimum level of acidity is 6-6.2 pH. High soil moisture shrub also is contraindicated, since it tightens until late autumn the formation of fresh shoots that do not have time to ripen, which leads to a decrease in the overall resistance of plants to frosts and colds. Completely unacceptable for blackberry limestones (carbonate soils), due to lack of magnesium and iron, blackberries, like raspberries, are affected by chlorosis of the leaves.

The best precursor crops for blackberries are field grasses, perennial legumes, cereals and corn. It is undesirable to plant shrubs after representatives of Solanaceae (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers).

Blackberry planting: in the spring or in the fall?

The first option is more favorable. Planting sprouts or seedlings preferably in early spring, so you avoid the threat of freezing of young plants. The pit should be deep enough, 40-50 cm. The soil should be removed, 5-6 kg of compost or humus, superphosphate (100-150 g), potash fertilizer (50 g) should be added to it. Thoroughly mix everything and fill the pit by 2/3 of the total. Then make a small layer of fertile substrate, gently spread on it the roots of the blackberry and finally fall asleep with the already prepared soil.

Planting of blackberries in Siberia should be made only in the spring, even in the middle zone of Russia it is desirable this time of year, since autumn seedlings can freeze.

Distance between individual bushes, depending on the variety, so, for upright species, it should be between 0.7 and 1.5 m, and for creeping forms even more - 2.5-3 m. Reduce the scheme can be using support structures and Garters.

Watering and top dressing

Although the shrubbery is a drought-resistant crop, yet with sufficient water, it will feel much better. If you chose to plant a blackberry in the spring, then be ready for the first year of growth to water the bushes regularly. This is necessary for good growth and improved survival. In subsequent years - only in a severe drought and in the period of mass ripening of berries. It is recommended to use warm water. Blackberry bushes like easy humming, so that the depth between their rows is about 12-15 cm.

The first application of fertilizers is necessary only two or three years after planting the seedling. And enough for the beginning will be nitrogen preparations. In the future, if the soils are not too fertile, 6-8 kg of humus or compost per one square meter are imported every spring, and in the autumn superphosphate (100 g) and potassium fertilizers, but not containing chlorine (20 g). Dosages are given per bush.

Shrub formation

The emerging blackberry varieties, of course, are interesting, but caring for them is quite laborious. Therefore, if you plant a large number of bushes, then choose erect forms and those that are cultivated on supports. For example, planting blackberry Thornfrey (one of the oldest varieties) requires the use of a trellis height of 2.5-3 m, since the shoots themselves without pinching can grow to 6 m. This structure is a pole located at a distance of 6-10 m from each other Friend. Between them, wire is stretched in three rows, the first at a height of about 1 m from the ground, the second, third and fourth through 20, 30 and 40 cm, respectively. You can fix the shoots in several ways:

• The distribution between the three rows of wire is vertical;
• Fan arrangement, so the branches grow more freely and better illumination;
• Breeding of fruit shoots in different directions and tying to wire rows at a height of 1.5 meters.

Blackberry also requires regular pruning. In the spring, remove the frozen branches, and the rest only slightly shorten, leaving them about 2 m in length for the upright varieties and 2-3 m for the creeping ones. Autumn pruning is expressed in the complete removal of diseased and seeded shoots.

In addition, you need to make a pinch - this will increase the yield. The first time in the spring (May or the end of June) at the substitution shoots, when they reach a height of 0.8 m.

Preparing the blackberry for winter

Warming of shoots to prevent their frosting is carried out either for non-resistant varieties, or in regions with severe winters. For example, blackberry Black Satin. Planting and caring for her are the same, but for winter it is required to hide it, otherwise you risk not being harvested.

The branches of the bush should be carefully bent to the ground and tied. The bases of bushes on top are required to be filled with a mixture of peat and leaves, and later cast with snow for additional shelter. In spring, open the plants before the buds swell, and immediately make the pruning shrub pruning. In the Urals and Siberia, absolutely all varieties require shelter.