Blackberry Flint
Content:
The Flint blackberry is considered a wonderful berry, Flint is a variety of American blackberries that was bred in the last century. Since then, this culture has spread throughout the globe, blackberries are grown by both farmers from Russia and gardeners in Europe. It is believed that this crop can be grown in different regions of our country. Blackberries are very tasty and sweet, and the yield is always high. That is why these plants are often called the gardener's dream, today we will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of the variety, the rules of planting, care, and reproduction of plants.
Blackberry Flint: variety description
Blackberry Flint: photo
Blackberries of the Flint variety have straight shoots, thorns are present, so you will always need to harvest carefully. Plants begin to bear fruit already a year after planting the bushes in open ground, and the culture begins to bear fruit fully at the age of three. Blackberries will bloom early, naturally. White flowers are formed on the shoots in May. In the southern regions, the fruits ripen in July, and in the middle zone of our country, usually closer to August. The shoots of the Flint blackberry variety are quite branched and powerful, the stems always grow and develop well, the bushes are lush, reaching a height of up to one and a half meters. Over time, adult plants are able to grow even up to 3 m. Plants, of course, have thorns, but there are not so many of them, so you will not be injured. Fruits and plants are round, black. Flint blackberries are always aromatic and sweet, but they also contain acid. Flint blackberries are considered not very large-fruited, so the berries are standard. If you do not water the plants in a timely manner, then the berries will taste bitter, so remember this and observe the watering regime.
Advantages and disadvantages
Blackberry Flint is considered an undemanding crop to care for, growing blackberries is easy and simple. This variety has many advantages. Shrubs are able to withstand even -40 degrees, if the snow cover is voluminous. The plant blooms actively, early enough. The yield of blackberries is high, from one bush you can collect 10 kg of ripe and aromatic berries. Plants are not demanding for growing conditions and other features of the area. Farmers often mechanized planting. But pests on the site with blackberries are not frequent guests, plants have high immunity. Berries can be transported over long distances, the product usually does not spoil. Blackberries can be processed and consumed fresh. The bushes always bear fruit abundantly, so you will not be left without berries. If we talk about the shortcomings, then it should be noted: sharp thorns are still formed on the shoots, however, they are scattered on the stems, therefore, with careful harvesting, you do not injure your hands. Another disadvantage is that a lot of root growth is formed near the shrubs, so every year you will need to cut off unnecessary shoots or plant plants. It is also inconvenient to cover long shoots for wintering, however, otherwise this variety is more than attractive. Again, caring for a culture is also not difficult.
Blackberry Flint: Landing
Blackberry Flint: photo
It is best to plant Flint blackberries in lighted areas, the ground must necessarily warm up well, so it is good to plant blackberries in open areas. If we talk about the composition of the soil, then these plants are undemanding to the soil. However, it is undesirable to plant blackberries on heavy lands; plants do not like waterlogging.Blackberries grow poorly on saline soils. And in order to cope with root growth, you can plant a blackberry near the fence, where it develops poorly, moreover, such fences will protect plants from cold winds. The place for planting blackberries will need to be prepared in advance. The plot must be cleared of weeds, and the soil must be dug up. It is best to plant blackberry bushes in the fall, about a month before the arrival of frost. But do not forget to cover the near-stem circle near the seedling with some kind of organic matter so that the plant overwinters well. The planting pit should be about half a meter deep. The seedlings are covered with a pre-prepared mixture containing humus, superphosphate, sand, and also some other types of fertilizers. In order to neutralize acidity, add wood ash or lime to the soil. And if you plant several plants, then maintain a distance, leave at least 1 m between the blackberry bushes, and it is advisable to retreat at least 2 m in the aisles.If the plants are located close to each other, then over time the rows will close, and therefore collect the harvest will be uncomfortable for you. And it will also be quite difficult to carry out garden work. If you notice that the roots of the seedling are damaged, then you can treat them with a growth stimulant in order for the plant to take root well. Sometimes the root system is soaked in the solution for several hours to achieve the desired effect. The root collar should be located during planting below the surface of the earth, before filling the planting hole with earth, spread the roots of the plant well, and in order to avoid air remaining inside, shake these plants a little during planting, after completing the work, tamp the trunk circle, mulch it covering the ground with straw or dry grass.
Blackberry Flint: care
You do not need special skills for growing. Even if you consider yourself a budding gardener, you can handle everything. And minimal maintenance will provide you with a bountiful harvest. It is believed that blackberries of this variety are quite hygrophilous, if the soil is dry, then over time the berries will be crushed and will lose their taste. Water the plant especially vigorously in the spring, when the blackberry blooms, as well as during fruiting, the formation of ovaries. Usually, blackberry bushes are watered once a week, while consuming more than 10 liters of water. In order to better retain moisture, mulch the top layer of the soil, this way, you will also slow down the development of weeds, protect the root system of the plant from overheating on a sunny day. However, it is not necessary to overmoisten the soil, because plants develop poorly in swampy areas, the roots rot, and the shoots are delayed in growth and development. In this case, the frost resistance of the culture also decreases, and the fruits become watery and tasteless. Don't forget about pruning. In early spring, it is recommended to get rid of dry and diseased branches. And in order for the plants to develop correctly, you can carry out anti-aging pruning, as well as increase the number of fruit shoots by pinching the branches. When the shoots are more than 2 m in height, cut off the excess parts of the plants. This should be done when either the foliage has not yet blossomed, or has already fallen. It is also necessary to get rid of excess root growth in time. Fruiting shoots are also cut off. Side branches in length should be no more than half a meter. Usually, branches are not tied to the supports, but when a lot of ovaries are formed on the shoots, you can tie the bushes to the trellis. This is done so that all the berries ripen well. But it is not often necessary to feed the plant; for this, fertilizing is introduced into the soil only from the second year. Moreover, it is best to do this in early spring; in the fall, phosphorus and potassium are embedded in the soil.
Diseases and pests
Blackberry Flint: photo
As we noted earlier, the Flint variety is resistant to diseases and pests.However, you still need to watch out for fungal infections. Sometimes the blackberry vine cracks, and brown spots appear on the leaves. To cure purple spotting, treat plants with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate solution. For prevention, you can spray blackberry bushes with various antifungal drugs. But it is undesirable to use chemistry, give preference to biological means of protection. You can get rid of pests with insecticides, they can also be biological.
How to prepare for wintering
If there is not a lot of snow in your region, then you will need to insulate the near-stem part of the plants. Usually, Flint's blackberry bushes are recommended to be covered with agrofibre; mulch from plant residues is used as natural materials. However, it is not necessary to cover the shoots too intensively, otherwise the buds may dry out during the thaw. But if in your region there is always enough snow, then you can not insulate the bushes for the winter at all.
Blackberry Flint: reproduction
Flint's blackberry propagates in several ways. And most often this is done by separating the root growth from the mother bushes. As we noted earlier, this variety usually has many such sprouts. You can also root the top of the shoot, for this, after fruiting, the plant will need to tilt some shoot and, after laying it in the moat, fix it with brackets, cover it with earth. But do not forget to leave the tip of the branch at the end above the soil surface. Water this area and after a year, separate the new plant from the mother bush. Sometimes blackberries are planted with seeds, propagated by cuttings, layering or dividing the bush.
Blackberry Flint: conclusions about the variety
Many gardeners have been growing Flint blackberries for decades, they note that the fruits of these plants are always tasty, aromatic and large. The yield of this variety is also high. Plants themselves look very impressive on the site. As we noted earlier, this blackberry variety is resistant to diseases and pests. However, you still need to watch out for fungal infections. The shoots of the blackberry are always strong and powerful, and the flowers are pleasant, fragrant. Despite the fact that the thorns on the shoots are formed, in young plants they are soft, so these barbs are not traumatic. You can also propagate the Flint Blackberry in several ways, the most effective of which is by overgrowth. Flint blackberries blend in perfectly with the surrounding garden design. And with the help of these bushes you can decorate any recreation area, and the berries will always delight you with their taste and aroma. You can grow such vitamin products in your personal plot, and it is easy and simple to do it.
