Blackberry Kitatini

The uniqueness of the blackberry bush has long been popular in any country. The tree surprises with its tasty and healthy fruits. Blackberries are a relative of raspberries and there is a constant comparison of all varietal characteristics of these berries. However, there is a difference - this is an increased fruiting of blackberries. And blackberry varieties can be counted many times more than raspberries. The Kitatini blackberry covered in this article is the most common and attractive type of blackberry.

Historical facts on plant breeding

The homeland of the Kitatini blackberry variety is Italy. It was from there that she was brought to the southern part of Ukraine. But the very roots, of course, the variety was bred in the vastness of America in the middle of the 19th century. North America is the homeland of Kitatini.

Interesting! The blackberry acquired its black color thanks to the substance anthocyanin, which is part of the berries and is also an excellent antioxidant. Blackberry Kitatini is a very common plant in Ukraine, but it has a number of significant differences from its American predecessor.

The Kitatini blackberry variety was brought to Ukraine with modifications obtained in the process of cultivation in Italy. The American representative has large thorns, and the fruits are the most sour and small, in contrast to the hybrid improved on the prairies of Ukraine.

Blackberry Kitatini: variety description and characteristics

Blackberry Kitatini: video about the variety

The botanical description of the Kitatini blackberry makes it easy to distinguish the shrub from other blackberry varieties.

Characteristics of the appearance of Kitatini:

• Leaves... The blackberry variety Kitatini is characterized by rich green leaves, the increase of which occurs simultaneously with the growth of the plant itself. They have a complicated structure. The petiole is short, there are up to 7 leaves on it; in terms of shape, they can be compared with lobules, finger-shaped. Active growth continues throughout the month;
• The moment of flowering. In this, the Kitatini blackberry variety does not have much difference, since it blooms at almost the same time as its fellow tribesmen, that is, in late June and early July. Initially, the tops of the plant begin to bloom. The color of the flowers is white, the bush is self-pollinated, the perianth is double and has a large number of stamens and pistils.
• Feature of berries. The Kitatini blackberry fruits are predominantly oval in shape, even more conical in shape. At the moment of mechanical ripeness, the berries are painted in a glossy black color; of course, you can also find dark purple shades of the fruit;
• Taste qualities... The Kitatini blackberry has a sweet, slightly sour aftertaste. During maturity, a wonderful, pleasant aroma exudes from the bushes, which attracts the attention of more gardeners and simply lovers of this berry. Each fruit is medium in size and up to 15 grams in weight;
• Description of the shrub itself. A very majestic plant, it can reach a height of almost 6 meters. From this, the increased power of the bush, a well-developed root system, a semi-creeping or erect growth form, depends on the growing conditions. The complete absence of thorns on the shoots, only very rarely you can find bushes with thorns, but this also depends on the growing climate.

Agrotechnical characteristics

If you carefully consider, familiarize yourself with all the parameters of the detailed characteristics of the shrub, this will allow each gardener to understand all the specifics of the berry. It will be very easy to assess all the pros and cons of this variety.

A detailed description of the Kitatini blackberry will enable the gardener to understand the specifics of the plant and identify all the advantages and disadvantages of this variety.

• Resistance to prolonged drought - excellent immunity to such phenomena can be emphasized. Therefore, it belongs to the plus qualities, since there is no need to put a lot of effort into care, creating certain conditions for growing.
• Frost resistance - this quality is also perfectly highlighted in this representative of the blackberry varieties. Although with little cover, it is able to survive even severe frost. Nothing threatens the plant up to about -35 degrees.
• Fruiting and quality of the crop - this variety especially stands out among its counterparts, as it has an increased yield. From each bush, with proper care, you can collect up to 30 kilograms. And the fruiting process itself has an extended character, in several stages. Already at the end of June, you can start harvesting the first batch of the crop, which also greatly distinguishes Kitatini from other species. And fruiting ends in mid-August. Each branch is capable of forming 300 and more small berries. This is a very record number of fruits for any blackberry variety.

Pros and cons of Kitatini blackberry varieties

Blackberry Kitatini: photo

All blackberry varieties have pros and cons in biological characteristics, growing conditions, external indicators, Kitatini blackberries are no exception. In this variety, the following can be emphasized positive characteristics:

• increased amount of yield;
• extended fruiting process;
• resistance to natural climatic conditions: drought, severe frosts, heat;
• pleasant taste of the fruit;
• excellent composition of usefulness in berries.

TO disadvantages include the following:

• it is imperative to build the necessary support, since most varieties are erect and have a fairly powerful advantage;
• for the first year of growth and development, the plant practically does not bear fruit. There are a number of species that can set fruits, but it is recommended to break them off immediately;
• sometimes there is a manifestation of an allergic reaction to the fruit, which happens when other berries are consumed.

Blackberry Kitatini: landing

What needs to be done to get the most abundant and healthy harvest? What does a plant require in care for comfortable development without much hassle? Only strict adherence to all the rules and, accordingly, the use of those in their personal plots. Features of planting varieties of blackberry Kitatini.

Important! Kitatini blackberries do not ripen after harvest, unlike apples. What does this tell the gardener? Only the ripe fruits are harvested at the end of the season.

Landing dates. The correct choice of site.

Like other varieties, Kitatini blackberries are planted at a certain time, that is, only in spring or autumn. But experienced gardeners are advised to plant only in early spring. Of course, given the increased frost resistance of the plant, it is possible to plant it before winter, but here it is important not to miss the moment so that the plant has time to take root before the frost begins, to get stronger a little. When planting in the spring, you will definitely be sure that your seedling will calmly acclimatize, the root system will develop well, and the plant itself will acquire a certain immunity to natural phenomena. When planting before winter, it is necessary to pay the most categorical attention to insulation for a young seedling, for example, additional layers of humus or peat.

How to choose the right site for the Kitatini blackberry variety?

Of course, taking into account the preferences of the plant.The place must be protected from constant strong winds and sufficient sunlight. A gusty wind is capable of causing severe damage to the shoots, and secondly, self-pollination is disturbed, which will negatively affect the quality and quantity of the crop.

To create the necessary protection for the plant, the site must be selected on the slopes of the southwest. According to the composition of the soil, the plant prefers loamy soil. This composition is suitable for a large number of fruit trees.

How to choose and prepare planting material.

The selection of planting material is of great importance, influencing the subsequent processes: strengthening, healthy development, excellent fruiting. That is, we can say that it is one of the most important stages in the cultivation of blackberries. The selection process is a bit similar to the selection of raspberry seedlings, as the berries are very similar in botanical characteristics.

• Root system - you can use both open roots and closed ones. That is, the seedling in the store just stands in rows, slightly covered with an uncomplicated shelter, and there are seedlings for sale that are located directly in a container with soil or a plastic bag along with a lump of earth. Although preference is still given to shoots with a closed root system;
• There is no difference in the shape of the stem, it may be slightly curved, this does not play a special role.

An important point! When buying seedlings in a nursery or a specialized store, you need to carefully consider the root system, to exclude any type of damage and just the condition of the roots. The best option would be a bush: one year old, a strengthened root system, two skeletal stems, each at least 5 millimeters in diameter. Such seedlings take root well. But this is not the most important thing either. The main thing is the presence of a fully formed adventitious root bud.

Landing scheme.

We begin to prepare the landing pit. The diameter is not less than 40 centimeters, up to 50 cm deep. The most optimal is the standard scheme for a pit-40 * 40. Next, the composition of the soil mixture is prepared. Superphosphate is added to the soil in an amount of 150 grams and 1/2 bucket of compost. A young bush is set in a hole, carefully spread the roots and sprinkle with soil, lightly tamp. At the level, the pit is filled with soil no higher than the root collar. Then water the seedling abundantly, be sure to mulch, prune the shoots, leaving no higher than 27 centimeters from the soil level.

Soil before planting necessarily is dug up and all weeds and unnecessary residual plants need to be removed.

Blackberry Kitatini: care

After planting, after a certain period of time, the usual, traditional for all cultivated plants, care begins:

• weed weeds regularly, be sure to loosen the soil, but not deeply;
• watering-carry out only when necessary, not very often;
• feeding is carried out only the next season after planting, since you have already introduced the required amount of nutrients during planting;
• in the fall, carry out the formation of bushes for the next season, but only after the end of fruiting. Cut out all unnecessary shoots that are already a little outdated, injured, or simply too many of them, so remove the weakened ones. Those shoots that have been actively bearing fruit this season are also subject to cutting, in order to leave the strength of the plant on young, more hardy shoots. Excess growth takes away from the plant most of the strength and nutrition.

Harvesting and storage.

According to the rules of agricultural technology, the harvest is directly dependent on the time of planting the blackberry. As mentioned above, in order to obtain the greatest yield, it is not necessary to allow a plant planted in spring to bear fruit. If you carried out your plantings for the winter, then already in the current season you can collect a bountiful, healthy harvest.Spring planting allows you to expect berry picking only for the next season.
Signs of full ripeness of fruits: the berry becomes soft to the touch, a bloom of a bluish hue is acquired.
The collection of berries begins only when the fruits are fully mechanically ripe, but since early ripening dates have been set for Kitatini, the long-awaited moment will come very soon. Blackberry fruits have a peculiarity - they begin to taste bitter after harvest, if not removed from sunlight, more precisely from a bright sun, during harvest. The berry is also distinguished by its short shelf life, as it loses its taste very quickly. Store in a refrigerator for up to 4 days, in a freezer for almost 12 months.
How to properly prepare a berry for storage? The first is to go through, check for insects. The second is to select all the trash that comes across. Third, remove all damaged fruits. Fourth, dry the berries on paper from excess moisture.

An important point! At the time of collecting garbage from the fruits, remove all the buried berries. They have a shelf life of only one day.

How to prepare a plant for winter.

The Kitatini blackberry variety is winter-hardy, but during a very harsh winter, additional shelter is needed. As such, no special preparation is required, only to a minimum. Many experienced gardeners use the following method:

Close each shoot of the plant, lay the branches to the ground neatly, loosely, sprinkle with peat, with this shelter you will help the bushes to winter safely, and the plant itself remains throughout the winter at a temperature of +2. The method will unconditionally protect the plant from light freezing and sudden temperature changes throughout the winter period.

Blackberry Kitatini: reproduction

Blackberry Kitatini: photo

Almost all varieties of blackberries can be propagated in several ways. Specifically, the following methods are applicable to the Kitatini blackberry variety:

• Seed reproduction - seed should be used only fresh and of excellent quality. Soak the seeds in rainwater before sowing. For the substrate, the optimal composition will be moistened sand or peat chips. After sowing, seal the container with seeds, be sure to water, use only irrigation, then cover with any improvised device - glass, polyethylene. Crops are stored for up to 60 days. The temperature regime of the room where the seedlings are kept is + 2 ... + 5. After the seedlings are transferred to a warmed place, where the temperature is up to +20 degrees. This is where the growing process begins. At the final stage, several leaves should appear on the shoots. Only then start thinning.
• Reproduction by root suckers - they are formed on the root system, a little later, germination from the soil begins and active development as independent shoots, but at the same time directly related to the mother bush.

Diseases and pests

As an established fact - Kitatini blackberry, a plant that has a huge immunity to any disease and parasitic pests. But absolutely any plant becomes weakened and vulnerable if not given proper care when planting and growing. Sometimes it happens. Only in this situation can the plant be affected:

• spotting is white;
• gray rot;
• powdery mildew;
• rust. How to deal with it? With a quick response, you can get off with the collection of fallen leaves and its obligatory burning.

To combat other ailments, it is imperative to cut off all affected shoots, but only after the last harvest. When the disease spreads very rapidly, there is no need to wait for collection, the plant must be cut at the root and must be treated with special preparations. Otherwise, you risk neighboring bushes.

To combat the infection that has arisen on the leaf cover, it is imperative to dig the row spacing in the spring and in the autumn. Although this should be done just for preventive purposes.

For prevention, irrigation with a solution of Bordeaux liquid, 1% is also used.

Observing all the rules of agricultural technology when working with blackberry plantings, you will not have to deal with emerging problems, since they simply cannot be. Proper care of Kitatini blackberries eliminates the manifestation of parasitic problems for blackberry bushes. Initially correct, healthy planting material, quality care, specifically weeding. In no case, do not let the plantings become clogged - this is the first step on the path to diseases of your Kitatini blackberry.

Summing up, we can say that the Kitatini blackberry is famous for its uniqueness, the unique characteristics of the plant are in increased yield, excellent taste, very tasty, aromatic, and incredibly healthy fruits. Only the right approach at the planting stage and the slightest conditions when leaving, since the Kitatini blackberry is extremely unpretentious in its requirements.