Blackberry Chester

Blackberry Chester is a wonderful blackberry. In today's article, we will introduce you to a description of this delightful culture, the characteristics of the variety, we will share with you the disadvantages and advantages of this blackberry, as well as tell you about breeding methods, planting and care rules. And at the end, we will tell you how to properly deal with pests and diseases, and also share some of the secrets of performing preventive treatments. Currently, blackberries are mainly transported to markets in the United States of America. Today in stores you can find many varieties of this amazing berry. This product is often processed, wonderful preserves and jam are made from blackberries. However, in the middle zone of our country, it is still easier to purchase this berry on the market. Unfortunately, there will be little variety to choose from. That is why we believe that it is much easier to grow this beautiful berry on our personal plot and enjoy such amazing fruits than to run to the market every time in search of fresh fruits. The Chester blackberry variety grows and develops well, the berries can be transported over long distances, the fruits of this culture are well stored, so if you decide to plant blackberries in your garden, then you need to pay attention to this particular variety.

Blackberry Chester: variety description

Blackberry Chester: photos

The blackberry variety Chester was bred at the end of the last century in the United States of America, through crossing the erect and semi-growing varieties, semi-growing blackberry bushes were obtained, many parental qualities were inherited from the new culture. The branches form semi-creeping bushes. The shoots can even reach 3 m in length, the stems of this plant are quite powerful, thick, but they bend perfectly, so it is easy and simple to care for this plant. The culture branches almost on the surface of the earth, but if you take good care of the plant, then the lateral shoots will develop quite intensively. And the side shoots in this culture are not so long, but if you want, then you can easily tie the shoots to any support, they should be formed as you see fit. It is quite possible to get a fairly sprawling plant from one bush. But do not forget that you need to shape the crown so that the crop, first of all, is convenient for you to harvest. Therefore, be careful. These plants have no thorns, and the shoots are always flexible enough, so eating fresh berries from the branches is not only easy, but also not traumatic. Usually, the inflorescences form close to the soil surface, so the berries will need to be looked for from below. The yield of this blackberry variety is quite high, the leaves have a trifoliate shape, they are dark green in color. If we talk about the root system, then it is also quite powerful and well developed. The garden blackberry blooms quite abundantly, the flowers are pink in color. Usually, each flower has five petals. Of course, it is difficult to call the berries of this culture too large, but gardeners still refer to this variety as large-fruited. One berry can even weigh 8 g. The shoots of this culture are semi-erect, semi-creeping. Usually, not very many berries are formed at the tips of the branches, you can collect most of the fruits inside the bush, and it should be noted that the most abundant harvest is formed on last year's shoots, large and powerful branches. The berries have an ideal oval shape, they are usually the same size, blackberries are naturally black in color. These berries taste rather sweet, with a characteristic sourness. This variety cannot be called too fragrant, but the pleasant smell of these wild berries will definitely spread throughout the garden. In domestic ratings, these berries are highly valued. Gardeners leave at most only positive reviews about this variety. Moreover, this culture is also considered quite unpretentious, so gardeners are very fond of growing this blackberry in their backyard plots. The fruits are located in the clusters very tightly to each other, the blackberries can be transported over long distances, the product usually does not deteriorate, and the commercial qualities are not lost. Sometimes Chester is even grown on an industrial scale, so farms do not bypass this variety.

Blackberry Chester: characteristics

Blackberry variety Chester: video

As we noted earlier, Chester's blackberry is grown both on personal household plots and on farms. If we talk about the advantages of this variety, then it should be noted: this berry is quite resistant to frost, the plants are able to withstand even -30, especially it should be said that this culture is also drought-resistant. However, this does not mean that it is not necessary to water the blackberry at all, these plants are quite hygrophilous. As we noted above, berries can be transported over long distances, while their presentation and taste are not lost. Berries always have a pleasant, beautiful appearance. Over time, they do not crack or flow. From this product you can make wonderful jams, compote, jam, very often housewives simply freeze blackberries for the winter, so these berries can be processed and stored in a variety of ways. The culture is also considered unpretentious, it does not require special care compared to other varieties. Branches do not need to be pruned constantly, but pruning should be done periodically. If you do not tie up the shoots, then nothing terrible will happen, therefore many gardeners love this variety very much for the characteristics presented. Another indisputable advantage is that there are no thorns on the bushes, this variety is also not picky about the composition of the soil. And the culture begins to bloom in June, the first berries are formed in the middle of summer. The crop is usually harvested in late July or early August. Blackberry variety Chester is classified as mid-late ripening. However, in almost all regions of our country, this culture manages to bear fruit before the arrival of stable cold weather. The berries ripen together, so fruiting is not considered extended. In the south, these plants begin to bloom and bear fruit much earlier. As we noted earlier, this variety is fast-growing. After the moment the seedlings are planted in the open ground, the first berries begin to form at the age of three. From one bush you can collect up to 20 kg of ripe blackberries, if we talk about the industrial scale of cultivation, then from one hectare farmers collect about 30 tons of ripe product. Plants also begin to bear fruit when grown on plantations in July, and fruiting is not prolonged, all berries ripen in a few weeks. Blackberries can be eaten fresh or processed. Chester blackberries always have a pleasant aroma. It is believed that this variety is quite resistant to diseases and pests, so there is no need to protect the plant unnecessarily. However, preventive treatments should still be carried out.

Pros and cons

Of course, any variety has its advantages and disadvantages, so it would be wrong to talk only about the advantages of the Chester blackberry variety. Evaluating the advantages of the Chesterless blackberry, it should be said about the excellent taste of the fruit, the high transportability of the berries, as well as the unsurpassed yield.This product can be either processed or consumed fresh, the shoots are restored in plants quickly enough, the branches bend easily and form new shoots. This culture has no thorns, blackberries are drought and frost resistant. It is also not necessary to shorten the lateral branches. As we noted earlier, these plants are resistant to both diseases and pests, this variety is considered high-yielding. However, this culture also has its drawbacks. The berries taste good, of course, but not ideal. In tassels, blackberries sometimes ripen in different sizes. But due to the fact that the branching of this variety is low, the shoots are quite problematic to cover the taste for the winter. However, the side branches should not be cut either, since it is usually on them that the crop is formed. Also, despite the high frost resistance, it is still recommended to cover the plant for the winter. As you understand, the variety has more advantages than disadvantages, so we strongly advise you to try to grow this wonderful crop in your area.

Blackberry Chester: reproduction

Blackberry Chester: photos

Usually, the branches of the Chester blackberry variety first develop from the bottom up, and then bend, directed towards the soil. That is why this culture can be propagated through rooting of cuttings or through pulley. The latter method is also very simple. In order to propagate the blackberry, it is enough to cut off the top from the branch above the bud and, after waiting for the moment of regrowth of several thin shoots, dig in the shoot. Usually, such rooting is quite successful. In addition, traditional methods can be quite used, for example, cuttings or dividing a bush.

Blackberry Chester: Landing

Planting the Chester variety is quite easy to plant. It is best to do this in the spring, when the soil becomes warm, well warmed up. It is in this case that the blackberry bushes have time to get stronger and take root well before the arrival of cold weather. But in the southern regions of our country, blackberries can also be planted in late autumn, it is important to take into account that several months should remain before the arrival of cold weather and frost. Before planting bushes in open ground, you need to decide on the right place, it is best to plant blackberries in dark areas. However, the sunlight should illuminate the plants well, otherwise the berries of the blackberry will be small and not very tasty. Perhaps even they simply will not have time to ripen before the arrival of frost. If we talk about the composition of the soil, then the soil should be slightly acidic, loose and fertile. You can plant the bushy blackberry Chester and on loam. Blackberry Chester also does not tolerate drafts and stagnant moisture. Before planting blackberries, you will also need to prepare the soil. The planting hole is usually dug several weeks before the planned planting date. Usually, the planting hole is dug half a meter deep, humus, potash fertilizers, and superphosphate are placed on the bottom of the pit. If the soil on the site is too acidic, then you can add a little lime to the humus, and if, on the contrary, the soil is alkaline or neutral, then it is recommended to add a little peat to the soil, you can improve the structure of the soil by adding sand to the soil. Approximately 2/3 of the hole is filled with a fertile mixture, after which the seedlings are placed there, their roots are well spread, the planting hole is covered with the remaining soil mixture. Be responsible for the choice of seedlings. Planting material is best purchased from a trusted nursery or garden center. Before buying, you should carefully examine the root system of the plants, there should be no defects or damage on the roots. The skin of the seedling must be smooth and even, if there are no cracks and defects on the plant, then the bush is considered healthy. But if you saw, for example, thorns on the shoots, then you were most likely deceived, because in the Chester's thornless blackberry all barbs are completely absent, so be careful when purchasing blackberry bushes.The distance between plantings of Chester blackberries should be about 1.5 m, 3 m are left in the aisles.However, sometimes gardeners want to grow a single, voluminous bush, in this case, leave more free space for the plant to develop. Keep in mind that it is not stand-alone bushes that bear fruit best, but rows of blackberries. When planting plants in open ground, do not forget that the root collar should remain in the ground, it is buried about a couple of centimeters. In order for moisture to be better preserved, and weeds do not disturb the plants, it is recommended to mulch the near-trunk circle.

Blackberry Chester: Care

Blackberry Chester: photos

It is necessary to follow the rules for planting Chester blackberries in order for the Chester blackberries to grow and develop normally. Make sure that the soil around the plant does not dry out, so water your blackberries regularly. Sunlight is also necessary for plants; in the shade, the berries will be small and not tasty. It is especially necessary to take care of young blackberry bushes, because it is at this time that the bushes of this plant are influenced by unfavorable climatic phenomena. It is believed that it is not necessary to tie up blackberries of this variety to form large bushes. The fact is that in its natural habitat this culture has very long shoots that literally spread around the garden. Chester's studless blackberry will become a real decoration of your infield. Harvesting is not difficult, as you remember, this plant has no thorns. However, many experienced gardeners still tie bushes to multi-row or T-shaped supports. And in order to make it convenient to harvest in the future, young branches and old shoots are fixed on different sides. As you remember, the Chester blackberry variety is drought tolerant, but this does not mean that watering the crop is not necessary at all. Usually the soil is moistened once every 6-7 days. If the summer is cool, then the watering regime should be adjusted. Make sure that the soil and root circle do not dry out. And in order not to water the plants so often, the soil around the bushes is mulched. It is usually recommended to loosen the soil in early spring and late autumn. If you have acidic soil on the site, then it is recommended to add a little humus with lime to the soil, and if the soil is alkaline, then you should add peat. It is believed that these plants have rather short branches, but the yield is still high. Do not forget about feeding, it is recommended to fertilize blackberries once a year or two. However, this only applies to very mature plants, young bushes are fed more often. In the spring, it is usually recommended to add a little nitrogen to the soil, but during the flowering of this culture, the soil should be enriched with mineral elements. However, there should be no chlorine in such top dressing. When the berries ripen, you can treat the blackberries with a mullein solution, gardeners and green fertilizers are effectively used. You can feed the bushy blackberry Chester and foliar method. In late autumn, potassium monophosphate is added to the soil. When the blackberries bear fruit, it is recommended to cut the old shoots to the level of the soil. Do not forget that in the spring and autumn, you will also need to remove all diseased and broken branches from the site. They usually interfere with development, because they do not form fruit. Shoots are most intensively cut in spring. On each bush, there are usually no more than 3 shoots, but this applies only to those areas where blackberries are poorly looked after. With intensive cultivation, you can easily leave twice as many shoots. The side branches should also be formed correctly, but you do not need to pinch them. If you do this, it will be more difficult to care for the culture. Such plants will need more fertilizers, but it will be more problematic to approach such a branched bush. The lateral shoots are not shortened so actively, but this may not be done. These plants branch beautifully.In late autumn, you will definitely need to prepare the bushes for wintering. In different regions, of course, this is done at different times. Before the frost comes, you need to have time to cut off old shoots, remove young branches from supports, tie them up and cover them for the winter. Usually, gardeners use breathable materials for the construction of a shelter, for example, spruce branches, dry foliage, straw. The branches of the blackberry bend perfectly, and the bushes branch close to the surface of the earth, this is what makes the process of preparing the plants for winter a little more difficult. Do not forget that even in the southern regions it is necessary to cover the Chester bushy blackberries for the winter, so do not neglect this event.

Pests and diseases

Blackberry Chester has a fairly high immunity, plants rarely get sick with various ailments, and pests are not frequent guests on the site with blackberries. However, for prevention, it is still best to spray the plants in early spring and late autumn with preparations containing copper. Don't forget about lightening and sanitary pruning. And do not plant crops that are capable of infecting these plants with various diseases close to blackberry bushes. That is why neighbors such as nightshade are considered undesirable.

Conclusion

Blackberry Chester is grown both on an industrial scale and on personal backyards. The berries of the plants are always fresh and aromatic, to taste, if not ideal, then very good. They can be transported over long distances, the product does not deteriorate from this. And even with 2-3 blackberry bushes, you can easily pick up a lot of ripe berries and even make jam. If you have previously grown only raspberries, then you should definitely try planting the Chester blackberry bramble in your garden. Rest assured, this black beauty is sure to be loved by all your family.