Blackberry Asterina

Introduction

Today, it is not so common to meet blackberry planting on personal plots. This is due to the fact that these berries are associated with a more acidic culture, and some gardeners believe that these berries are inferior in taste to the same raspberries and some other fruit and berry crops. In addition, there are varieties of blackberries, whose stems and shoots are simply showered with thorns, which causes great difficulties in caring for the plant and in harvesting. But nevertheless, breeders and scientists around the world carry out a lot of work, thanks to which new varieties and varieties of blackberries are being created. Several varieties have already been bred, one of the advantages of which is that the shoots and branches are completely clean, there are no thorns or obstacles on them at all that could prevent the gardener from caring for the plant. One of these thornless varieties is the sweet blackberry Asterina. We will just talk about it in more detail in this article and tell you what its characteristic features are, and how to properly care for the plant in order to get an excellent and very bright result.

Blackberry Asterina: variety description

blackberry asterina: variety description

Asterina Is a blackberry variety that was bred by Swiss breeders. She already has an international patent as one of the most significant and interesting varieties, which really deserves a lot of attention. This variety was obtained by crossing several other blackberry varieties - Loch Ness and Chester Thornless. Thanks to the professional experience and knowledge of breeders from Switzerland, at one time a large number of new products appeared that are really of interest to many gardeners around the world.

Of course, it is worth mentioning some of the botanical features of this variety, as they are, and it is due to them that this variety differs from all the others. These botanical features are as follows:

• the bush is very short, perennial, grows mostly straight, is not too lush or spreading, which is its undoubted advantage, since in this case it is much easier to care for it
• the leaves are painted fresh green, there are large notches along the edges
• the flowers are quite large, painted white, very beautiful, and because of them the bushes look quite decorative and interesting
• the fruits are dense, black. May be rounded or slightly elongated
• the brushes are directed upwards, a large number of berries are formed on them, while the brushes are neat, not drooping, interesting.

Blackberry variety Asterina is an early ripening variety, the yield is also quite abundant, which distinguishes this variety from all others. Also, the plant has high immunity and stress resistance. Suitable for growing this variety even in very hot climates. The berries, when they reach maturity, become very large, the weight of one berry can vary from seven to fifteen grams. The berries taste incredibly sweet, even if they have not reached their full ripeness, they are still very pleasant to eat fresh. The berries have a dessert taste, there is a sour note, but quite insignificant, and some do not even pay any attention to it. The pulp is very firm, juicy and very sweet, the aroma from the blackberry comes out rich, typical and blackberry.Berries perfectly tolerate transportation over long distances, and you can also store them for a long time, they will not lose their taste and useful properties and qualities.

This variety is exactly the kind that very easily tolerates drought and similar hot periods, they do not bake under the influence of the sun - we are now talking about berries. The variety also has a high resistance to frost, but at the same time, if we talk directly about the territory of Russia, then they should still be covered with any material that will retain heat so that the berries feel even more comfortable, and so that many parts of the plant do not freeze and do not disappear ...

This variety is distinguished by a high level of productivity, and from one bush, on average, you can collect from 15 to 25 kilograms of fruit. The most important thing, of course, is to follow all the rules of agricultural technology and care so that the plant feels as comfortable as possible. Fruiting is extended, long-term, it begins at about the very end of June and lasts until about September. Berries can stay on the bush for a long time, they do not crumble at all even when they are fully ripe. Agree, this is a huge advantage for those gardeners who cannot harvest regularly and are worried that they may disappear right on the branches or crumble. In general, this variety has a lot of advantages, and here it is worth saying thank you to the breeders, thanks to this variety was bred, and thanks to which it has become so popular today and can be grown in almost any part of the world. Next, we will talk about the features of planting blackberries and how to properly care for the plant so that it receives all the necessary components and caring activities.

How blackberry varieties Asterina are planted

It is very easy to grow blackberries in various conditions, and any florist and gardener can cope with this task, even one who does not have much experience. One has only to know some of the basics in growing blackberries, have minimal knowledge and skills, and then this fruit and berry culture will be within the power of anyone who wants to grow it.

It is best to plant blackberry bushes in the spring, so the plant will have much more chances for it to successfully take root in new conditions, adapt and develop in accordance with all norms. But if the plant grows in a region with an unstable and stable climate, and if this variety is planted in such conditions, then in winter it will be necessary to take care of protecting the seedlings from too strong gusts of wind and precipitation. Only in such conditions will Asterin's blackberry successfully survive the winter period, will be able to demonstrate all the advantages of its appearance, its fruiting.

Initially, it is worth taking care of choosing the right place for landing. For example, the place must necessarily warm up well in the sun, and must also be well lit. This should be an area that will be protected from drafts and sudden gusts of wind that can harm the landing. The soil should have neutral acidity, should not be too wet to the point of swampiness, and there should not be a lot of limestone in the soil. The blackberry bush grows well and develops on loam, and it is also necessary to work well on soil drainage so that excess moisture comes out of their soil and does not swamp the root part. It is also worth taking care of this due to the fact that waterlogging can lead to diseases of the root system, primarily to putrefactive formations, which have a very negative effect on the general state of planting.

The plot is prepared in advance, several weeks or months before the blackberry bushes are planted on it.All weeds are removed from the site, as well as elements of previous plantings, and the soil should be carefully leveled so that the site generally looks well-groomed. If necessary, then it is worth adjusting the acid-base balance, and after that the soil is well dug up so that the soil mixture is very uniform. Of course, all this may require some effort and time from the gardener, but the result is worth it. So that the planting as a whole does not disappoint the gardener, it is worth purchasing seedlings in specialized stores for gardeners, or in nurseries that specialize in the creation and maintenance of seedlings. If the gardener has decided to purchase seedlings on the market, then it is best to ask the seller about where these seedlings were brought from, about the variety, and collect complete information about the plant. This is the only way to understand whether the gardeners' answers are convincing, whether they are correct, coincide with reality, and this will become an indicator that the gardener as a whole understands his product, which means that the purchase will be successful. But if the answers are incorrect or uncertain, then it would be better not to buy these seedlings. Best of all, annual bushes take root in the new site.

Correct seedlings should conform to the following description:

• these are very strong and powerful seedlings, the bushes must be very viable
• the root system of the plant must be well developed so that it quickly adapts to new conditions
• a strong and correct seedling should have two thick shoots, their diameter should be at least five centimeters
• at the very base of the planting material, a bud should form, which will then be the very viable point from which the plant will give active growth of shoots, and the bush will become more extensive, bushy, berries will form on it

Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the planting mixture. This requires mixing several highly significant components. This is a fertile earthy part, humus or compost, superphosphate, potassium sulfate or wood ash. The components are mixed in the amount that will correspond to the size of the site itself. If the soil is very acidic, it is recommended to add 50 to 70 grams of lime to balance the acid threshold. For a blackberry variety like Asterina, the bush method of planting planting material is ideally suitable. The distance between the bushes must be at least one meter. Between the rows, if there are several of them, there should also be a distance of about two meters. In this case, the plants will feel very comfortable, they will have a lot of space for growth and development, both for the upper part of the plant and for the root system.

Important to remember that groundwater should be at least one and a half meters deep. You should also pay attention to the step-by-step instructions for planting, which includes all the subtleties of agricultural technology. These are the following steps:

• before the plant is planted in open ground, it must be very carefully examined from all sides, to assess the condition of the root system. You should also remove excess at the roots, if the roots are very long, then they must be shortened
• if the roots have time to dry out a little, then it is recommended to dip them into a solution for about two to three hours, which will stimulate growth and improve its quality
• the hole should be about seventy centimeters deep, and its diameter should be the same
• a pre-prepared planting mixture is poured into each hole, it is poured all over from above with a large amount of warm settled water. Next, you need to wait until all the water is completely absorbed into the soil.
• seedlings are lowered into the planting hole, the root system must be straightened so that the roots look aesthetically pleasing and do not stick out
• sprinkle it all with fresh planting mixture on top, shake slightly so that the mixture is distributed as evenly as possible between the roots, lightly tamp. Tamping is necessary so that air pockets do not form around the roots, since pathogenic bacteria can begin to develop in them, which will further cause various infections and viruses
• from above, everything is neatly sprinkled with earth again, compacted well with hands so that the soil looks uniform and even, this is very important not only for the health of the plant, but also for an attractive aesthetic appearance
• the bud, which is located at the very base of the stem, should be covered with soil by no more than three centimeters

• after the planting of the plant is completed, a side is made around each seedlings in the form of a small hole, into which from five to seven liters of water is poured. Water for irrigation should be settled, at room temperature. Also, rain or melt water is suitable for irrigation, which do not contain the number of pathogens that usually form and live in untreated moisture. The very last step in planting a blackberry is for the grower to mulch the tree trunk. It should be about ten centimeters thick. You can use humus or peat as mulch, you can take straw or sawdust, which are also great for this role. Mulch is very important for several reasons. It perfectly protects the plant from attacks from pests, it also retains the required amount of moisture and allows the soil to warm up, since the root system is excellent for heat. If you follow these rules, then the plant very quickly adapts to new conditions and will yield a harvest much earlier.

Blackberry planting care

Blackberry Asterina: photo

Of course, the planting rules are important, but the subsequent care of the plantings is no less important. It is very important for blackberries to establish a support around which the shoots will curl. It is best to install trellises, for this, pillars or very strong works, other structures are driven in on both sides of the planted row of shrubs, their height should be at least two meters, the distance between them is ten meters. Strong wire is wound on the trellis in three rows, depending on how high the bushes are, in principle, you can wind the wire in two rows, and sometimes as many as four rows are required. It is to the wire that the blackberry twigs are then attached. Young bushes feel great without a garter, you can simply lean them on the support itself, and the shoots themselves will then begin to twine around it, creating the necessary shape. So it will be more convenient to harvest and take care of the bushes themselves.

There is another important factor that determines plant care - shrub pruning. Asterina is a blackberry variety that bears fruit as early as the second year after the bush was planted in open ground. When young shoots, located in the center, grow more than one meter in length, then the tops of them should be pinched ten to fifteen centimeters. If the side shoots begin to grow very rapidly, then they also need to be cut off a little so that they feel much more comfortable. But at the same time, you should not do this immediately after they begin to grow - it is better for the gardener to wait until the side shoots reach at least half a meter in length, and then they can be shortened.

With the onset of spring, all frozen tops must also be shortened to the very first living bud. In the autumn, dry and damaged branches are cut, those that look unviable or diseased. It is also worth removing excess growth, which is weak, and which can thicken the crown, which does not in the best way affect the state of the planting, its properties. You can also cut off old branches that have not given fruit for a long time at the root - this will already be pruning, close to rejuvenating. After the autumn pruning is completed, only the strongest and youngest shoots should remain on the bush.It is very important to keep track of what tools are being cut - they must be very well sharpened, and must also be decontaminated so that infections and bacteria do not enter the cut sites.

Watering is also a part of farming and maintenance, which must be considered by any gardener as part of growing blackberries. The first month and a half after the blackberry seedling has been sent to the open ground, the soil should be moistened regularly, without interruption. When the bush finally adapts to the new conditions, takes root, gives root growth, then it is worth watering once a week, not more often. During the fruiting phase, it is also worth giving moisture on a regular basis, until the time the grower begins to harvest. In general, blackberry plantings react extremely negatively to weeds, and therefore the area from weeds must be removed regularly, combined with watering and loosening the soil. For irrigation, you should take settled water at room temperature, rain or melt water, water from a filter is also perfect.

Blackberry Asterina: photo

In order to make it easier for the gardener to care for the plantings, it is necessary to mulch the trunk circle. Mulch will help maintain the required moisture level in the soil, and also thanks to it, weeds will grow in the near-stem circle much slower than usual. In addition, after watering, if a layer of mulch is organized, the gardener may not loosen the soil between the bushes. Agree, the only care measure can save so much time and energy for the gardener himself. And in principle, it is necessary to loosen the soil between the bushes and rows from six to seven times in one season, then the Asterin blackberry will feel most comfortable, demonstrate active growth and very abundant fruiting.

In the spring, it is necessary to add fertilizers and mineral additives to the soil mixture. As nitrogen fertilizers, you can use urea, ammonium nitrate, organic fertilizers, which are generally close at hand to the gardener. Potash fertilizers are applied approximately every year, and phosphorus fertilizers - once every three years. Again, this will depend on the general condition of the soil and what the plant needs. So it is necessary to adequately assess this moment, constantly monitor how the plant reacts to certain conditions, how it copes with external influences.

Blackberries of the Asterina variety begin to ripen around the end of June or at the very beginning of July. Fruits do not ripen all at once, but gradually, which makes the harvest so stretched - many call this a great advantage of this plant. It is worth picking the fruits very carefully, because when the berries ripen, they become much softer. Collect the blackberries in not very large containers, it is advisable to send the harvest to a cool room, away from the sun immediately after harvesting, otherwise, after harvesting under the sun's rays, the fruits will begin to soften and spread.

Storing berries

Blackberry Asterina: photo

Before you send Asterin blackberries for storage, you need to carefully sort out the berries and assess their condition. Very soft and crumpled berries, berries with damage, with mold are best removed immediately, as they can spoil the general taste characteristics of the crop or the dishes from which they will be prepared. For storage, the blackberries can not be washed, but this can be done when the gardener finally begins to eat the fruits themselves. If it was decided to freeze the crop, then the berries are separated from the stalk, washed, laid out on a towel and dried so that drops of water and its residues do not freeze along with the berries and make their taste more watery.

In order to freeze blackberries, it should be borne in mind that there is a special technique for carrying out this process. The fruits are laid out in rows on a flat surface, and in this form are sent to freeze.After they freeze on the surface - on a board, a tray, then they are transferred to a container and sent back to the freezer. So, in general, it is worth freezing any types of berries so that they do not stick to each other, and so that later it is more convenient to use them for cooking and preserve their external characteristics. There is also an important point - the berries are distributed in disposable containers, since Asterin's blackberries will not tolerate repeated freezing - they will lose their external characteristics, lose their taste features, become generally tasteless and useless.

You can rub Asterin blackberries with sugar - such a dish will retain many useful properties and vitamins, and it will also be an excellent addition to any tea drinking. For this method, even those berries are suitable that were initially rejected by the gardener himself for further use - for example, for freezing. To rub the berries, wash, grind one kilogram of berries with one kilogram of sugar. It turns out a delicious treat for children and adults. The berries are left in a dark, cool place for 10-12 hours, because you have to wait for the sugar to completely dissolve. Then this mixture is transferred to storage containers and sent to the refrigerator. You can also freeze this ground mixture to extend shelf life.

There are certain storage periods for blackberries, which can be guided by, depending on the type of storage of these berries. For example, fresh berries in the refrigerator are stored for up to twenty days, ground berries with sugar can be stored for about six months. If you freeze the mixture, then it will be stored from a year to one and a half years, retaining both taste and useful properties. If the berries were frozen fresh, then they are generally stored for up to three years, the main thing is not to freeze and thaw them several times, otherwise they will lose any of their properties.

In the autumn period, blackberry bushes are preparing for prolonged frosts, and this moment should also be taken with all responsibility and seriousness. First, the bushes are carefully cut off, all branches that have borne fruit in this season are removed. Also, all painful shoots and shoots that have been attacked by pests and insects are cut off. In general, they should be removed directly under the root, we do not leave hemp, otherwise there is a great risk that insects, pests and fungal spores will begin to spread from diseased branches to healthy ones. Also, in the process of pruning, it is necessary to remove all weakened branches, thin sprouts, which in any case will not be able to survive the winter, since in general, Asterin's blackberry treats this season extremely negatively and reacts with severity to it. Also, if these are young branches, then they leave three-quarters of the length for the winter so that they can normally survive this difficult and contradictory period.

After pruning, at least seven matured branches must remain on the blackberry bush, then all plant residues, as well as a layer of mulch, are removed away from the site, and they are burned outside the backyard so that pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms do not begin to develop in them. The land should be carefully loosened, fertilized with potassium, humus. Also, the soil is abundantly watered with warm, settled water. The mulching layer is applied renewed, it should be abundant and very thick. The bush is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid, which has a positive effect on its immunity and resistance to external influences, which are not always positive. If suddenly sudden temperature changes are expected in winter, then the branches are removed from the support, carefully fixed at the surface of the earth and covered with agrofibre or suspension. These activities are necessary for the further overwintering of blackberry bushes, so do not ignore the requirements and save your time on them.

How blackberries of the Asterina variety reproduce

Let's talk a little about how the blackberry of the Asterina variety reproduces. This can be done not in one, but in several main ways at once:

• using root suckers
• green fresh cuttings
• dividing the bush into parts

Root offspring is a special young growth that is mainly formed on the root system. Most often, experienced gardeners prefer to remove the root growth, as this can lead to the fact that the planting gradually thickens. But if suddenly there is a need for blackberry propagation, then root suckers are one of the most beautiful and, moreover, free methods, and in general they are excellent planting material, unpretentious and, at the same time, normally take root in the soil. But in order to implement this method, it is also necessary to observe some subtleties. First, you should choose the strongest and most fruitful petioles, which also depart from the same strong mother bushes. Secondly, in May, they must be dug out together with an earthen lump, the height of the processes should be at least ten centimeters. Thirdly, the seedlings are then transferred to a permanent planting site, where they will develop and bear fruit in the future.

Blackberry seedlings of the Asterina variety must be selected according to the criterion of development, and they must also be annual. The shoot thickness should be about one centimeter, the root system should be powerful, without painful signs, the shoot length should be at least twenty centimeters. This method is considered one of the simplest, so that, observing agricultural technology, a gardener who has absolutely no experience in this matter and skills in such an activity will be able to cope with it.

The second way is with green cuttings. It is usually used if the grower seeks to preserve the characteristics of the variety. To do this, it is also recommended to use some recommendations and take into account some of the nuances so that the plantings are successful and meaningful.

First, the upper part is cut off from the mother shrub, on which the last couple of buds remain. From a cut cutting, one cutting is made with one viable bud. It must necessarily include a stem, one bud and one leaf. Shoots must be treated with drugs that can stimulate shoot growth and root formation. You can prepare the planting mixture yourself by mixing sand and peat in equal or approximately equal proportions. This mixture is placed in pre-prepared containers for planting seedlings. These are usually paper cups, film cylinders, and other containers that may be suitable for growing the plant. It is best to place seedlings under a film material, where a microclimate comfortable for planting will be maintained. The temperature should be from 22 to 25 degrees, the soil moisture should be 90%, and the air humidity should be up to 100% - these conditions are extremely important for the normal and successful development of plantings, which should gain strength and energy. In about a month, green cuttings will be transplanted to a permanent place, where they will already grow, develop, bear fruit. Further, they can also be multiplied.

By dividing the bush, the Asterin variety blackberry can be propagated when the mother bush needs to be transplanted to a new place or to renew the soil. The bush is carefully dug up from their soil, young and strong shoots are separated from it, the roots should also be strong and good. After that, the bush is transplanted into a new substrate in a new place. At the same time, several young shoots should also be left on the mother bush, which will then give development to this bush, its second youth. Old shoots are removed so that the bush grows and develops normally.

Diseases to which blackberries of the Asterina variety are susceptible

Experienced gardeners say that the most harmless prevention of diseases and attacks from pests is the treatment of plants with boiling water. In early spring, as well as in autumn, it is necessary to pour boiling water over the blackberry bushes, capturing the trunk circle. This will kill most pests and harmful microorganisms, as well as protect the tree trunk and plant from pests and bacteria. By the way, let's talk a little about diseases and pests that can be dangerous for planting.

In general, the Asterin blackberry is distinguished by the fact that it has a very high level of immunity, and it is also practically not affected by diseases and attacks from harmful insects. But nevertheless, sometimes, if the gardener does not follow agricultural techniques, then this can lead to the fact that some troubles occur with the blackberries. Experienced gardeners say that most often blackberries are threatened by a disease such as anthrocnosis.

Anthroknosis is a disease caused by fungal spores. The whole plant can be affected by it, but leaves most of all suffer from anthracnose. Signs of the disease appear during prolonged precipitation, in rainy weather, and also if the gardener does not follow agricultural techniques, and the watering is excessive. In particular, the Asterin blackberry does not tolerate such a disease very well in an excessively humid climate. Grayish specks appear on the leaves, then they acquire a border, the leaves turn into a shade of purple - the look as a whole turns out to be very unhealthy. At the site of damage, the leaf becomes so thin that a hole appears there. Also, fungi are transferred to the fruits, putrefactive sores begin to form on them, the berries grow poorly and crumble, which leads to an obvious loss of yield. In principle, you can take some measures to prevent fungus. For example, in the springtime, all branches that were affected during the winter are removed. If signs of infection are detected, the bush should be treated with fungicides and professional chemicals. It is imperative to study the instructions when using toxic substances, because if you do not follow its instructions, then you can harm not only the plant, but also your own health. For prophylaxis in the autumn, immediately after pruning the bush and digging the soil, it is worth spraying the bush and the territory with a solution based on Bordeaux liquid.

Bordeaux liquid is also great for treating a bush with it in early spring, before the growing stages and processes begin. Treatment with fungicides for prophylactic purposes must be carried out in the spring, before flowering. And the second time they are treated with fungicides when the new shoots reach about forty centimeters in length. You can also assign a third treatment, usually it is carried out already when the entire crop has been harvested and the plant is being prepared for wintering.

Also, Asterin's blackberry is susceptible to such ailments as gray rot, brown and gray spots, rust and phylosticosis. These fungal diseases manifest themselves almost identically to the manifestations of anthracnose, and they can be dealt with in the same way. After flowering is complete, it is best to treat the bushes with preparations that do not contain chemical components. It can be either biological drugs or alternative methods. By the way, some folk remedies really have a positive effect on planting, they strengthen them, increase the level of immunity and stress resistance indicators.

Separately, I would like to talk about what blackberry pests are. If fungal diseases develop due to not the most favorable external, climatic conditions, then viral infections are spread by the pests themselves. First of all, preventive measures should be taken against aphids, which are very actively developing and multiplying on the plant.If suddenly the gardener reveals signs of aphids on the shoots, then it is best to get rid of the affected part - it is carefully cut off and burned outside the site so that the aphid does not spread to healthy branches. As a prophylactic drug, you can use a one percent solution of Nitrafen. Treatment is usually planned for the spring, when sap flow has not yet begun and the buds have not yet swollen.

To protect Asterina blackberries from harmful effects, it is necessary to plant them as far away from raspberries, strawberries and strawberries as possible, as well as away from nightshade crops. Modern blackberry varieties, in principle, make life easier for the gardener, since new varieties are initially created with the expectation that they will have a high level of immunity and resistance to diseases. Blackberry Asterin, in addition to this property, is distinguished by a plentiful and tasty harvest, therefore it is recommended to plant it in personal plots. An experienced gardener will cope with Asterin's blackberries, and those who still do not quite understand how to handle such plants, but still really want to grow a fertile and healthy plant. In general, if you follow agricultural techniques, the subtleties of planting and care, then success will not be long in coming.

Blackberry Asterina: video