Garden blackberry

Garden blackberry is a special plant that produces very tasty and healthy berries. In addition, it is very popular among gardeners precisely due to the fact that it is actually completely unpretentious, and it can be grown in absolutely any conditions. Garden blackberry is a subgenus of a larger genus called Rubus. In medium-sized orphans and the corresponding areas, bushy blackberries are most often used in cultivation, and it also has another name - kumanik. In addition, the so-called blueberry is also cultivated there.

Garden blackberries are the closest relative of raspberries. But at the same time, this plant is not cultivated on an industrial scale very often, especially if we are talking about European states. On the territory of the American continent, blackberries are still an incredibly popular crop, so it is just necessary to consider the features of this plant, the specifics of planting and caring for blackberries.

In Russia, garden blackberry is a plant that adapts best of all and grows directly in the wild, and among gardeners, the culture is not as popular as the same raspberry and its various varieties. One way or another, every year gardeners can discern the advantages and strengths of blackberries, and therefore it is possible to meet a large number of varieties and bushes of blackberries on their personal plots, and not any else.

In this article, we will analyze in more depth the features of blackberries, and also tell not only about its features, but also note the whole variety of varieties and species, their properties and why blackberries can be so useful for the human body.

Garden blackberry: description of the plant, its characteristics, planting and care

A garden blackberry is a plant that can grow either as a shrub or as a full-fledged shrub vine.

The stem shoot is very long and flexible, on its surface there are a large number of very sharp thorns, due to which sometimes it is not so easy to care for the plant. Also, as for the rhizome, it is perennial, due to which the plant can be located in the same place for a long time, and absolutely not lose its varietal and growth characteristics.

Today we can count several varieties that do not have thorns - this is the result of many years and meticulous work of breeders who are very concerned about making it easier for gardeners to care for crops. They also have a fairly stable level of productivity, are resistant to attacks from pests and a variety of diseases.

If you install a support next to the bush during planting - for example, a bole, then you can be sure that the height of the shoots will be sufficient - sometimes it reaches two meters, and this is far from the limit. The leaves of the plant are divided into several parts, they are serrated, their color is rather pale, green. They can be slightly pubescent - this is visible with the naked eye, and you can also feel pubescence if you touch the leaves.

When the garden blackberry begins to bloom, it can become a wonderful honey plant. The diameter of the flowers, which are painted white, is no more than three centimeters. They open in the period from June to August, here a lot already depends solely on which variety and species this plant belongs to.It will also depend on what climatic conditions develop in the area where the blackberry culture actually grows.

In the south, flowering can begin much, it will be more abundant and, accordingly, the yield of blackberries will be higher. But if the garden blackberry grows in colder and less climatically stable regions, then flowering may thus come later, and it is unlikely that it will be abundant. Although, it is worth noting that new hybrid blackberry varieties are more resistant, if we talk directly about climatic and temperature conditions, and such varieties can grow anywhere and in any way.

The fruits ripen in August, they are painted in a dark, black shade, a bloom often forms on the surface of the berries, which makes the berries slightly bluish, but this bloom is erased by mechanical action from the gardener.

One way or another, it is quite difficult to grow blackberries, especially if we are talking about those gardeners who do not have much experience in this matter. Even experienced gardeners sometimes face some problems and contradictions in growing blackberries, and here the only question is how much the gardener wants to grow blackberries.

Its berries are distinguished by useful properties and the fact that they really turn out to be very tasty. Therefore, if a gardener succeeds in growing a blackberry, then he can be sure that all his efforts were absolutely not in vain.

Planting rules for garden blackberries

It is recommended to plant a blackberry in an open space in spring period, starting from the very last days of April. You can also postpone the planting to the first days of May, just by this moment the soil for planting will already noticeably warm up and, accordingly, the chances that the blackberry bushes will perfectly adapt to new conditions will be higher.

At the same time, it is not recommended to arrange an autumn planting for this culture, since there is little likelihood that the plant will have time to adapt to new conditions before the frost sets in, which means that the planting material will simply die, it will be lost and it will definitely not be subject to restoration.

Garden blackberries take root well in sunny, Good illuminated places, which at the same time must be protected from winds or drafts. The whole point is precisely that the wind can harm the plant, and can also harm the foliage, cause it to fall profusely, or there will be no ovaries due to drafts. Also, in principle, in too windy conditions, the likelihood of normal pollination decreases, and therefore the amount of fruiting, its volume will decrease significantly.

Plot for planting it should not be on the plain - it will be better if it is on the southern slope. In this case, it will be possible to protect the plant from the winds, in particular from the north and east winds, which are considered the most dangerous enemies for blackberries and their ovaries.

In terms of soil, a well-drained soil is ideal for a plant. the soil, which will perfectly pass air and moisture. It should be loamy soil, which is literally saturated with useful, nutritious and mineral components, which will in turn saturate the planting and, accordingly, the blackberries will only develop even stronger and faster, while maintaining the ability to produce a bountiful harvest.

Sandy loam can also be used for growing blackberries. priming. If you plant a blackberry in a carbonate soil, then there is a high probability that the plant will be deficient in components such as iron and magnesium, so you should take care of site selection and soil preparation in advance so that the plant feels great.

Before the plant is planted in open ground, it is necessary to ensure that the soil meets all the ideal needs of a crop such as blackberries, and this is very important from the point of view of agricultural technology.

In general, the site can begin to be prepared starting in the fall. All weeds, elements of previous plantings are removed from it - in general, ideally, completely clean the area from all unnecessary. It is also necessary to destroy all pathogenic microorganisms, all pests on the site, because if you do not do this, then they will continue to carry out their vital activity in these conditions, and it is highly likely that further the soil will become worse and worse in its characteristics, and as a result, planted in it, the plants will soon be attacked and die.

If the soil is systematically fed and fertilized, then there is no need to apply any special fertilizers that are intended specifically for blackberries, since they will simply be superfluous.

Overfeeding of the plant should not be allowed, otherwise this will lead to the fact that the green mass will grow very abundantly, and as a result, the plant will not have any energy left to form the ovaries and, accordingly, there will be no harvest at all. As we can see, all agrotechnical requirements and conditions are closely related to each other, and in no case should they be ignored, as this will negatively affect the growth of the plant and its fruiting.

If other crops grew on the site before the blackberry bush, then it is highly likely that the soil was fully depleted, or it was partially depleted. Therefore, when preparing pits for planting blackberries, compost, humus, potassium sulfate, superphosphate - organic and mineral fertilizers should be added to them, which will saturate the soil so that it can sufficiently satisfy all the plant's needs, this soil mixture is poured onto the root system. After all, it is through the roots that blackberries can receive the entire spectrum of nutrients and minerals. And it is through the root system that all the trace elements that a new planting on the site needs will be supplied.

If a gardener sets a serious goal for himself - to grow a strong and healthy blackberry bush, which will give abundant and full, annual fruiting, then do not forget about the rules for caring for the plant, as well as about agricultural technology, because this is precisely the secret of an excellent landing.

It is also worth paying attention to choice quality and sustainable seedlings, which will be further acquired. It is best to buy seedlings from proven nurseries that have a good reputation in this matter and in this activity.

It is best to choose annual seedlings, which at the same time are distinguished by a well-developed root system. Also, annual seedlings should already have at least two strong stems, their diameter should be more than five millimeters. And also it is necessary to pay attention to the roots: in them the gardener must find at least one complete and correctly formed soil.

As for the sizes landing pit, then its parameters entirely depend on at what age and in what condition the seedling was acquired. When a gardener chooses a site for planting a blackberry, he must take into account that for any other plant there must be an impressive distance from the blackberry - at least one meter.

If possible, of course, you should try to maintain a great distance so that the plants feel as comfortable as possible. If the gardener decided to make a group planting of the blackberry itself, then the distance between the bushes will directly depend on which method of cultivation the gardener used.

For example, it can be either a bush or a tape method, it all depends, of course, on the skills of the gardener himself.

If the gardener took advantage of bush method, then in one planting hole you can plant not one seedling, but two or even three.Moreover, all of them should have a fairly low level of shoot formation, and the layout of the planting holes themselves should correspond to the 180x180 centimeters scheme, no less and no more. Why shoots should be low in this case - because otherwise it will lead to excessive thickening of the planting. And this will have an extremely negative effect on the condition of the plant, it will not be able to develop normally for a long time, to bear fruit.

If the gardener chose tape method cultivation of blackberries, then there are subtleties here. Most often, this method is used just in order to cultivate varieties of blackberries with enhanced shoot formation. In this case, the plants are planted in a chain that is not interrupted. The distance between the seedlings should be about one meter, and the row spacing should also be very extensive - from two to two and a half meters, no less.

Blackberry seedlings are placed in pre-prepared grooves or pits, their root system must be carefully straightened, trying not to harm the plants. The roots should be directed in different directions, should not come into contact with the roots of neighboring plants. Next, the root system is carefully sprinkled with a nutritious soil mixture, which was made in accordance with the composition. Sprinkle the roots so that the bud is deepened by three centimeters, no more.

It is also worth considering some points. For example, such that the hole should not be sprinkled too much, just as you should not sprinkle the furrow - the soil should not reach the level of the surface of the site. There should be a hollow or the so-called notch so that during the period of precipitation snow, rain or melt water accumulate in these hollows - this will facilitate the process of watering the plants.

When the plants are planted in open ground, the soil around them should be morned a little with your hands, and then the bushes are watered. For watering, one bush will need from three to six liters of settled water at room temperature. Do not water the plant with cold water, otherwise the blackberry seedling will experience real stress, there is a great risk that after that the plant will completely refuse to grow and develop at all, not to mention fruiting.

When the liquid is completely absorbed into the soil, then the holes or hollows must be sprinkled with mulch, the layer of which should be about five centimeters. Mulch can be either manure or in the form of peat-manure compost, it all depends on what substances and components the gardener has on his site.

The planted seedlings are shortened - they are brought to a height of twenty centimeters above the ground surface. In this case, the fruit branches are completely cut off. You don't have to worry about the plant at all - it adapts very quickly and will give growth to new shoots. Especially if the gardener followed all the rules of agricultural technology when planting.

Garden blackberry: care

Of course, many are concerned about the question of how to properly care for blackberries, what are the agrotechnical requirements, and what they include. When growing blackberries, it is imperative to be prepared for the fact that the plant will need to be moistened from time to time, loosened the soil around the shrub, and remove weeds. so that the site is always clean and tidy.

Also, blackberries, like other crops, it is important to feed, cut and form a bush so that the crown does not become too thick, no dangerous diseases, bacteria and fungi form in it. Sometimes blackberries should also be treated with solutions and special preparations in order to take preventive measures against pests and diseases. Inexperienced gardeners will have to master all the subtleties of caring for a blackberry so that his attempts and efforts are not in vain.

In general, at first, blackberries can be very difficult to care for, but when the hand is full, the gardener himself will feel much more confident.But if, nevertheless, the cultivation of a strong and fertile bush by a gardener is in the first place, then you should definitely follow some rules, subtleties and tips in order to get a really decent result. Let's start our description, perhaps, with how to care for blackberries in the spring and summer.

In the spring it is recommended to be sure to install trellis under the blackberries, later tie up the stems to them, which gradually began to bear fruit. In order to do this, it is necessary to take the strongest pillars, the height of which should not be more than two meters, dig in these strong pillars at the beginning of the row and at the end, on both sides of the blackberry bushes themselves. And also trellises are installed between the first and the last every ten meters.

Young stems do not need to be tied up, they should only be carefully guided so that later they can catch on the wire. At the same time, the direction of the stems should be regularly monitored by the gardeners themselves, because it cannot be chaotic - this will deteriorate not only the external characteristics of the plant, but its health may also suffer.

When erect varieties and subspecies of blackberries grow, it is worth remembering some points here. For example, one should obviously realize that in the very first year of a plant's life, fruits are unlikely to form on the bushes. In order for them to finally start, but already in the next season, it is worth making pinching the main young stems, the length of which has already reached 120 centimeters.

In order to perform pinching, the tops of the stems are carefully shortened by ten centimeters, and after a while the lateral branches will begin to grow. The side branches are also neatly shortened as soon as the plant reaches half a meter in height. As a result, the bush will look not only very compact, but also very neat.

In general, this procedure does not in any way affect the number of fruits, so it can be safely performed in order to control the growth and development of the shrub itself.

Fruiting is a matter that depends mainly on the variety and type of the blackberry bush itself, and not on what procedures the gardener carries out with them. Although, if you break some of the rules, then this can lead to the fact that fruiting will decrease or disappear altogether.

Blackberry bushes that have been planted outdoors in the current season are required water, and this should be done systematically. Especially in the first six weeks after planting. Watering is also carried out when the weather promises prolonged droughts and the absence of any even the smallest precipitation.

If the plant bears fruit, then it is especially worth paying attention to soil moisture during the period of active growth of fruits and their ripening. For irrigation, do not take water that has a low temperature and that has just been taken from a well. The fact is that in general it is better to water a blackberry with settled water at room temperature, as well as rain or melt water. In the sun, the water should settle for two days, and only after that you can use it to water the blackberries.

If you take ice water, then the root system of the bush will experience the wildest stress, it is highly likely that the plant will not recover at all.

In order for the crop to be richer, you must always monitor the condition of the soil. The first one and a half to two years of row spacing is necessary sow green manurewhich are great fertilizers. You can also sow not only green manure, but also some row crops. All other years of the row spacing are best kept under black steam, without sowing any other components in those areas.

Weed plants as the site is overgrown with weeds and vegetation.It is also necessary to loosen the soil between the rows, and do this from five to six times a year, the depth of loosening is from ten to twelve centimeters.

Around the plant also stands loosen the soil with a pitchfork, you can gently mate it in order to weed the area and loosen the soil as rarely as possible, it is recommended to fill the area with mulch. As mulch sawdust, fallen leaves, straw, needles, compost, peat are perfect. You can also fill in rotted manure or peat. Such mulch will not only reduce the number of weeding and loosening, but also will saturate the soil with nutrients and components.

When the fruits ripen on the bushes, then the bushes are absolutely necessary protect from sunlightthat directly shine on the plant. The thing is that berries that are scorched by the sun may lose their attractive presentation, and they may also not be as tasty as originally expected. In order to protect the blackberries, it is recommended to stretch shade nets along the rows, and this advice is mainly given by experienced gardeners who already have extensive experience in growing this crop and harvesting from it.

Top dressing - another important condition for growing blackberries. It is worth feeding the plant at the same time when all other berry plants and shrubs are fed. At the beginning of the growing season, it is worth applying organic fertilizers, which are distinguished by a high level of nitrogen content. Nitrogen fertilizers are also great.

Potash-based fertilizers are used only in a form in which there are no chloride additives. If the soil surface is mulched with manure or organic additives, then the blackberries can not be fed with phosphorus. If the gardener has decided not to use mulch of this origin, then it will be possible to add phosphates to the soil, but it is recommended to do this once every three years.

In principle, this is the whole feature of introducing dressings for blackberries in such a way that it receives all the necessary substances and elements, and so that the plant feels quite comfortable and complete.

Reproduction of garden blackberries

Blackberries are propagated in both spring and summer. Sometimes reproduction is postponed to the winter, but this applies only to some varieties and species of plants. In order to safely propagate plantings, it is worth using root cuttings (offspring), dividing the bush, and also the method of cuttings.

If we take into account the creeping varieties and types of blackberries, then in this case they can be propagated by horizontal or apical layers.

In general, blackberries are easiest to propagate with apical shoots... To do this, in the spring, you should choose a climbing stem, which will stand out against the background of all other plants. It is bent to the surface of the soil, the top is dug in with earth, they do it carefully. Layers have a fairly short period of time that passes before the first roots take shape. Young strong shoots grow from the buds that are directly in the ground. When this happens, you can separate the shoot from the parent plant. This should be done carefully.

If the gardener decides to propagate the plant horizontal layering, then for this, the shoot is carefully bent to the very surface of the soil. And then along its entire length, carefully sprinkle it with soil mixture. As a result, not one, but several neat bushes grows at once, which retain the characteristics of the mother plant. As soon as this happens, the bushes will neatly form, then cuts should be made between them.

Young plants can be planted in a permanent place of their growth and development. To a particular extent, this method will be effective and efficient in the spring. But you can try using this propagation method at other times to see how the layers behave.

If the plant belongs to a bushy species, then the easiest way will be to propagate it using root suckers... Every year, they just form around the bushes, you just need to handle them correctly for the plant to reproduce normally. Gardeners who already have experience in multiplying crops offer some tips.

One of the recommendations is to separate and plant as separate parts of the plant only offspring whose height is ten centimeters or more. In order for the offspring to develop normally and take root in a new place before the cold comes, they must be jigged either in the month of May or in the month of June, not earlier and not later.

Having guessed the time, the gardener will guess exactly with the peculiarities of the planting, and further reproduction will not cause him absolutely any difficulties. Therefore, it is best to listen to the advice of experienced gardeners and be sure to stick to some of the secrets that they just reveal.

There are also a large number of video materials that can be used in order to reproduce correctly and not make mistakes that blackberries may not forgive in this case, if we are talking about agricultural technology.

There are some varieties and types of blackberries that do not form any root suckers around themselves. In this case, it is best to use another breeding method - dividing the bushes. They dig out the bush very carefully, divide it into several parts. In this case, it is also worth considering that each division must be correct and well developed. And she must also be healthy so that in the future she will not have difficulties with rooting and adapting to a new place.

The part of the plant on which the main old rhizome is located can be disposed of, since it is unlikely to give any growth and development. It is better to concentrate your attention on fresh cuttings, since when properly planted, they will not only retain the maternal characteristics of the bushes, but will also give abundant fruiting.

If we are talking about rare and valuable varieties of blackberries, then for their reproduction it is just better to resort to such a method as grafting... Cuttings are neatly cut, it is best to do this in the months of June and July.

Each stalk should have on itself some part of the shoot, a bud, a formed and strong leaf plate - all signs that indicate that the plant is able to perfectly adapt to a new place in the future and demonstrate good growth and development results. The lower cut of the cutting must be treated with a preparation that will stimulate the formation and growth of rhizomes.

Next, the cuttings are sent to small cups or containers, which are pre-filled with the finished substrate. The composition of the substrate includes substances such as peat and vermiculite. It can also be perlite, fine expanded clay, sand - they will serve as an excellent drainage, which also should not be forgotten in any way.

Containers are stripped under the film. The air temperature in a homemade greenhouse should be comfortable, and the air humidity should be at least 96%. After about a month, the cuttings should already be rooted, they can then be transplanted to a permanent growing place, observing all the requirements of agricultural technology.

There is also other methods, with which you can propagate blackberries. It can be air layers and segments from the root system. They are also seeds and lignified cuttings, but these methods are generally great for some varieties and species. To use them or not is already a personal matter for the gardener himself, as well as the characteristics of the variety or type of plant.

These methods are also not as effective as those that we described in more detail a little above. In addition, they are much more difficult to perform, and in this regard, they are not so popular.In principle, it should be said that other breeding methods are also quite difficult to implement, if these are the methods used by a not very experienced, novice gardener.

Blackberry garden - preparation for the winter period

In the fall, the gardener throws all his strength into preparing the plant for the winter period. Initially, the bushes must be carefully trimmed. Further, the soil part in the root zone is covered with a layer of mulch to protect the soil from excessive freezing.

If in the region where certain species and varieties of blackberries grow, in winter the weather drops below minus ten degrees, then the culture should be additionally covered so that it does not freeze and die.

If the varieties initially have such a characteristic feature as frost resistance, they can, in principle, withstand without additional shelter, and can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees. In order to cover the bushes for the winter, you can use several materials and methods.

The garden blackberry should be cut off, and it must be removed from the supports and trellises, laid out neatly on the soil surface. Further, the shoots are sprinkled on top with a layer of leaves that belongs to corn, and also covered with a covering material. In general, such a material can even be a plastic film, which also protects the plant remarkably.

If the variety belongs to the upright group, then its branches will be difficult or impossible to bend down. Therefore, around August, gardeners attach weights to the tops of the shoots, which just gradually bend the shoots down, closer to the ground. The blackberry also has a peculiarity, and it lies in the fact that under cover this plant does not melt at all, and this is a huge plus, you must agree.

In this regard, the bushes can be covered with substances such as hay and sawdust, straw and humus - everything that the gardener himself has at hand. It is not worth using fallen leaves as a shelter, since pathogenic microorganisms and fungal spores can accumulate on these leaves in large numbers. They can switch to blackberries and provoke diseases. It is also worth collecting all the foliage in the fall and dispose of, and this foliage is the one that fell from the blackberry bushes themselves.

How garden blackberries are pruned

Pruning blackberries is an important procedure, which at the same time requires a lot of work and knowledge, skills and, preferably, experience from the gardener. It must be systematically cut off with a secateurs, which will be well sharpened and pre-disinfected. Usually pruning is planned for spring, summer or fall.

As we have already determined, blackberries are divided into several types - creeping and erect, respectively, and the methods of pruning them may differ from each other, which should also be borne in mind. For example, in straight-growing varieties and subspecies of this plant, the height of the shoots can reach three meters, fruiting is usually formed in two-year-old shoots. Root shoots are not formed, and the shoots in their shape are more like loops, on which fruit branches grow in large quantities, and you should also pay attention to them.

In the spring, before the buds wake up and begin to swell, it is necessary to cut the bush. It is necessary to remove injured shoots, shoots that have already dried up and are not viable. It is also worth cutting off the frozen shoots to the first, more or less healthy bud. First-year bushes do not need a single, but even double pruning.

To stimulate the growth of lateral shoots, in May it is worth shortening the upper branches, removing from them a length of five to seven centimeters. In July, the side shoots are also cut off by ten centimeters. In addition to damaged branches, it is also worth cutting off weak shoots, since they will not give any result, but they may well take away all the strength from the plant.

During the growing season it is necessary to cut out all root shoots that have grown in summer.Only those shoots will remain that have managed to stretch out in the spring, since they will give the most abundant fruiting in the next season. Shoots that have grown in the fall should also be pruned at a height of about two meters. Branches that are weak, as well as those that have already finished fruiting, should be cut out. Otherwise, they will take away the strength and energy of the plant, which means that the level of fruiting may decrease.

Diseases and pests

The pests of both raspberries and blackberries are all the same. Blackberries, which grow in areas of the middle latitude of our country, can suffer from diseases such as rust and powdery mildew, anthracnose, septoria. You can also find signs of white spot and didimella, purple spot and rot, which occur for various reasons.

Diseases are formed due to the fact that the gardener was unable to organize normal planting care, also due to the fact that there is an excess or lack of nutrients and minerals in the soil. If suddenly the gardener violates the rules of agricultural technology, then this can also lead to the fact that the plant is sick and under stress from all this.

Also, often blackberry bushes suffer from columnar and goblet rustwhich also provoke extremely negative reactions. The plant weakens, loses its former significance, and you can forget about fruiting altogether. Rust affects only that garden blackberry that has managed to weaken, its immunity is at a low level and, accordingly, the plant is not able to independently fight pests, pathogens and other bacteria that harm it.

Initially, diseases appear on the leaves - the leaf plates are covered with dots colored in orange and brown shades. Over time, from spots, they grow into pads, begin to cover almost the entire part of the plate, moving to the stems. For prevention, so that bacteria and diseases do not destroy the crop, it is recommended to spray blackberry bushes with Bordeaux liquid. The treatment is repeated after the crop is harvested from the bushes in order to consolidate the immune result of planting.

Generally, bordeaux liquid - This is a very versatile remedy that can protect blackberries from rot, and from powdery mildew, and from fungal and viral diseases. Bushes that have been infected must be sprayed with a sulfur preparation. It is best to do this on a clear and warm day, when the air temperature rises above sixteen degrees. Also, the drug will perfectly save the blackberry from attacks from aphids and ticks - you must agree, it is very convenient to have one drug against such a large number of misfortunes.

Anthracnose on blackberries it can develop at the end of May or at the very beginning of June. But usually this disease is formed and spreads only if at that time it was very rainy and damp weather, which is the best suited for the development of such diseases.

When a plant is attacked by anthracnose, purple spots may appear on the shoots. Over time, these spots can become larger and larger, they affect many other areas of the plant. The spots begin to resemble ulcers with a gray tint, and reddish pale spots also appear on the leaves.

All this speaks of the progressive nature of the disease, and that urgent measures must be taken in order to overcome anthracnose, otherwise the only way out that the gardener will have is to get rid of the planting so that these bacteria do not move to other, healthy plants. In winter, the affected stems gradually wither and die.

For prevention, seedlings must be carefully examined at the very beginning. Periodically, blackberry bushes are fed with peat compost. In addition, the plant needs timely feeding, weeding, so that it feels comfortable.

Care is really important when it comes to fighting diseases and bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Let's also talk about septoria. In other words, this disease is called white spot. The infection is very widespread. Basically, you can define the disease by some signs. Stems and leaf blades are primarily affected. On them, the gardener notices dark brown spots, which become lighter over time, but at the same time the border remains the same dark shade. The disease must be fought immediately, otherwise it spreads very quickly throughout the bush, which leads to its death.

Purple Spot - Didimella... The disease usually affects the buds of the plant, and can also lead to the fact that the leaves gradually dry out and die off. Sometimes the shoot can dry up and die off. As the disease develops and progresses, the buds turn black, the leaves become very fragile and almost lifeless.

Dark necrotic specks may also appear on the surface of the leaves, indicating that the disease is progressing. And in the future it will be easier to dig up the bush and dispose of it so that it does not further infect healthy blackberry plantings or other fruit and berry garden bushes and trees.

Botrytis - in other words, this disease is called gray rot, and it develops mainly in wet, rainy weather, when a large amount of precipitation is noted. When the bush is affected, the fruits of the blackberry begin to rot.

In order to carry out prevention against this disease, it is best not to plant blackberry bushes too close to each other. The bushes must be in free space, must be well ventilated so that fungal spores do not form in the crown of the bushes and do not multiply at cosmic speed.

Powdery mildew - bushes can be hardest hit by this disease. A plant that is infected, with all its appearance, just says that it is sick and needs help. Foliage, berries, stems - all these parts of the plant are abundantly covered with a loose white bloom, which has a white color.

To combat dew, you can use the same drugs that the gardener uses in order to fight another disease - rust. It should also be borne in mind that a strong and healthy plant is very rarely affected by any diseases and infections, so the gardener should carefully follow the rules of care and agricultural techniques that are prescribed for blackberry bushes. Only in this case it will be possible to get beautiful strong bushes and a plentiful, tasty regular harvest.

Sometimes the bushes start abruptly turn yellow. Most often, this is a signal that there is an excess or lack of some trace elements in the soil. In this case, it is worth revising the dressing and the concentration of substances that are introduced into the soil as fertilizers. Only with the responsibility of the gardener himself can excellent results be achieved.

Blackberry bushes can settle pests, among which mites and weevils, raspberry beetles, moths, aphids, gall midges, caterpillars of butterflies are most often found. In order to get rid of them, special substances and preparations should be used. For example, karbofos or actellik. Substances such as acarin or fitoverm are also excellent for processing. They must be used in accordance with the instructions for use, otherwise the gardener will cause even more harm to the shrubs.

In order to protect the blackberry from the attacks of pests, in principle, it is necessary to spray the plants with the same substances in spring and autumn, but only as a preventive measure. In the spring, processing is done before the buds have opened, and in the fall - after the harvest has been harvested. It is important to observe these time intervals in order to bring in these protection substances exactly at the time when they are badly needed.Of course, further I would like to consider some varieties of blackberries, which are especially popular with gardeners, since they are cultivated most often.

Garden blackberries: varieties and special properties of the plant

Earlier in this article, we pointed out some of the differences between creeping and upright blackberry varieties. But modern varieties differ in that it is difficult to subject them to some kind of strict classification, since many of their characteristics coincide, but at the same time, these varieties have a huge number of specific features and characteristics.

They also combine the characteristics of both creeping and upright varieties, and this can truly be called a real outstanding achievement of breeders. In the article, we will talk about the most famous varieties, as well as give their characteristics, so that it is easier for the gardener to navigate in all their diversity.

Garden blackberry Agave - one of the best varieties. It is American, one of the oldest varieties. It is mid-season. It has a fairly high level of frost resistance, which is also a huge plus. Blackberry buds are injured only when the air temperature drops below -27 degrees, that's when it is worth covering the plant.

But if we talk about the root and stem systems, then they are able to withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees. The stems are very powerful, they have an abundant number of thorns, which can make it difficult to care for the plant and harvest. On average, one bush can collect four kilograms of berries, the weight of one berry is about three grams.

These plants are resistant to common diseases, in particular, they are well protected from stem cancer, anthracnose and rust. It is still worth following agricultural techniques so that the plant feels even more secure.

Garden blackberry Thornfree - this variety is hybrid, one of its peculiarities is that there are absolutely no thorns on the stems. This variety is relatively old, but it is still very much loved by gardeners all over the world, and it has not lost its popularity at all. The variety belongs to the category of early, high-yielding. At the same time, it is resistant to temperature extremes and frosts, completely unpretentious, if we talk about the environmental conditions in which this blackberry grows.

Garden blackberry Karaka Black - appeared this sort not so long ago, it is early maturing, but fruiting stops exactly at the moment the frost sets in. Large berries are slightly elongated in shape, weight reaches from twenty to thirty grams, they are very large. The fruits are incredibly juicy, have excellent taste characteristics, they are very sweet.

The variety is classified as drought tolerant, and in general it has a very high level of immunity, can withstand attacks from pests, and rarely gets sick. Shoots bend well, there are a small number of thorns on them, so, in principle, they do not complicate the conditions for caring for the planting.

But it is also worth remembering one point: this variety of blackberries is not at all resistant to frost, or the level of resistance is at a very low level, which means that it is necessary to carefully look after the plantings so that the bush does not die as a result. This is very important, and of course it depends on the gardener himself.

Garden blackberry Natchez - an early ripe blackberry variety that gives rather large fruits. They differ in that their taste is more similar to that of cherries. There are practically no thorns on the shoots, the variety was recently bred, it was born thanks to American breeders. But even despite its young age, this variety has already managed to find its fans and become very popular and in demand.

Garden blackberry Polar - Polish variety, which is highly resistant to temperature extremes and frost. You don't need to cover these bushes for the winter, they are pretty cute and compact. At the same time, the bushes give a bountiful harvest, despite their rather unimpressive size. The fruits are large, have a very attractive sweet taste with pronounced sourness. Generally. This variety is considered one of the preferred, as it is able to take root in absolutely any conditions.

Garden blackberry Waldo - a high-yielding variety that was bred by English breeders. They aimed to create a frost-resistant and bright variety. The bushes turned out to be very small, they do not need too much space on the site, and besides, they grow in such a way that they practically do not need to organize regular pruning. The fruits ripen in the second half of July, have a very attractive taste and a fairly bright aroma.

Another variety that was bred by the British is called Lochtey. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, non-capriciousness in caring measures and to the conditions in which the bushes grow. The fruits do not grow very large, while they have high taste and characteristics, due to which the variety is popular. From one bush, you can collect on average a couple of buckets of fruit - you must admit, this is a decent result.

Repaired varieties Is a separate group of blackberry varieties that are also worth talking about. But they are very young, and there are still not enough data and facts, the varieties, in principle, have not been sufficiently studied. Their fruiting can be prolonged, up to the onset of the first hard frosts. If in late autumn absolutely all the stems are cut from the bushes of such varieties, then next year it will still be possible to harvest a decent harvest from them.

This is due to the fact that fruiting is carried out at the expense of those stems that grew at the very beginning of spring. The first crop is harvested in June. The second harvest will ripen in August, but since not all fruits ripen at the same time, the fruiting is so stretched. Sometimes fruiting is continuous, there is no time gap between the first and the second.

But remontant varieties have their disadvantages and disadvantages. For example, incredibly sharp thorns form on the stems, which can interfere with the gardener's maintenance of the plantings. In the process of flowering, the blackberry looks incredibly decorative. Her flowers are very large - from seven to eight centimeters in diameter.

Among the most popular varieties of remontant blackberries, I would like to highlight such as:

Garden blackberry Prime Arc 45 - the variety was born thanks to the efforts of breeders just ten years ago, in 2009. the bush reaches a height of two meters, the stems are straight and very powerful, covered with sharp thorns. Fruits are dense, slightly elongated, very sweet. The first berries grow in July. The second fruiting is usually planned for August. It is quite long - you can enjoy the berries until the first severe frosts.

Garden blackberry Prime yang - an early ripening variety, which stands out among the rest of the remontant varieties. The stems are erect, covered with sharp thorns, so it is best to work with the bush with gloves so as not to inflict any damage on yourself. The berries are medium in size, very dense, sweet, the aroma from them comes more apple than berry, and for this the variety is appreciated.

Garden blackberry Prime Jim - the variety appeared in 2004 and very quickly gained incredible popularity. Stems are straight, very powerful, large fruits are tied.They taste sweet with a pronounced sourness, they are quite elongated in shape. The plant in the process of flowering looks very interesting, attractive and bright. The buds are painted in a light pink shade, the flowers are large, they look memorable and spectacular. So this bush does not just bear fruit, but it can decorate a personal plot, and this is incredibly appreciated by gardeners.

Garden blackberries - plant benefits

Of course, speaking of blackberries, I would like to touch on the topic of its most basic properties. The fruits contain a very large amount of vitamins and minerals, as well as substances that are very useful for the human body. Among them are carotene and vitamins C, E, P, K and many others. Also, blackberry fruits contain minerals - phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper, chromium.

Almost the entire periodic table is presented in these small and very tasty fruits. Thanks to this, the metabolism in the human body improves, the immune system is strengthened, a person feels a general improvement in his condition, while eating not some drugs, but a delicious delicacy from his own personal plot.

Berries can replace aspirin, and at the same time, the fruits not only do no harm to the human body, but also heal it comprehensively. The berry is great for people who have problems with the stomach and with the gastrointestinal tract in general, as well as blackberries are used in the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus, with exacerbation of urolithiasis in both men and women.

The leaves are great for squeezing juice out of them. After that, it is used for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, for tracheitis or bronchitis, for fever. Women are shown this juice in the case of gynecological problems and diseases, as well as for external use for dermatosis, eczema and wounds, trophic ulcers. Juice can be used to rinse the mouth in case of gum disease or stomatitis.

In general, you can use berries, leaves and other parts of the plant, since each part contains nutrients and useful substances. The roots can be used to make a diuretic solution. The tincture, which is made from blackberry roots, is great for stopping blood from bleeding, as well as for improving the digestive system.

Blackberries have no contraindications. But still, sometimes individual berry intolerance and allergic reactions can develop. In this case, it is recommended to stop eating blackberries, or do so, but in smaller quantities.

Symptoms of intolerance are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, edema. In this case, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor in order to remove the signs and determine whether the blackberry really caused such a person's condition.