Is it possible to plant blackberries next to raspberries

Blackberries are a popular culture among domestic gardeners. This is largely due to its rather resistant nature to adverse weather conditions. Despite this, it is impossible to call a blackberry unpretentious - it is extremely sensitive to an unfavorable neighborhood with other plants. For this reason, gardeners have to be careful when planting blackberries near other crops. This article will consider both favorable (blackberries next to raspberries) and categorically unacceptable options for the neighborhood of blackberry bushes with other garden plants. We will also talk about how to properly place neighbors on the site in such a way that they feel comfortable.

Varieties of blackberries. Does the blackberry plant next to other garden plants

Photo: Blackberry Nesskaya

Blackberry refers to a number of berry plants belonging to the Pink family. In the culture, blackberry garden appeared in the middle of the 19th century thanks to American farmers and breeders, who rather quickly developed the thornless varieties of this plant. In total, it is customary to distinguish 3 varieties of blackberries, which have certain characteristics that distinguish them from each other.

• Blackberry ness, more commonly called kumanika, it is a shrub plant with erect shoots reaching a height of about 4 m. As a rule, the surface of the branches of this type of blackberry is covered with sharp thorns. Kumanik is distinguished by a high degree of resistance to severe frosts. In terms of its biological characteristics, it is very close to raspberries. The average weight of kumanik fruit varies between 2.5 and 4 cm. This species is characterized by the formation of numerous shoots in the root zone, which can be used for planting and reproduction of kumanik.
• Blackberry whip-like, also found under the name dewdrop, it is a creeping shrub. Shoots of this type of blackberry are characterized by the presence of a large number of thorns along the entire length. During the fruiting period, large fruits weighing up to 12 grams ripen, due to which the whip-like blackberry is one of the most productive species. Since the dewdrop does not give root growth, the main method of its reproduction is the separation of layers. For this purpose, the upper parts of its creeping shoots are buried in.

Photo: Blackberry whip

• Another variety of blackberries is represented by bushes. half-caked forms with creeping creeping shoots, which brings them closer to the dew grass. However, unlike the latter, the semi-creeping blackberry does not have sharp thorns on the surface of its shoots. This type of blackberry cannot boast of high harvest volumes - the average mass of berries is no more than 5 g. Since semi-creeping bushes are characterized by moderate formation of root shoots, two methods of reproduction of this type of blackberry are practiced: by separating the shoots, as in the case of nessa blackberries, and by layering how blackberries are propagated.

Photo: Blackberry semi-creeping

How to choose the right place for planting blackberries

Blackberry, resistant to winter cold and drought, is nevertheless very demanding in choosing a site for planting its bushes.Swampy and low-lying places are categorically unsuitable for growing blackberries, since in this case there is a great danger of stagnation of moisture in the soil. An excess of water has a bad effect on the health of the root system of blackberry bushes - it begins to rot, which can lead to the death of the plant.

In order to choose the right area for blackberries, you must be guided by the following criteria:

• Preference should be given to areas located on a low elevation, for example, the slope of a low hill is suitable.
• Blackberries do not tolerate the effects of strong winds, therefore, it is desirable to have a natural or artificial protective fence on the border of the site.
• Photophilous blackberries will feel good in a sunny area.
• As for the composition of the soil, loam or sandy loam soil is the ideal choice.
• The optimum pH for blackberry bushes is 6.
• It is recommended to place blackberries in areas where the groundwater depth is at least one and a half meters from the ground surface.

Blackberries next to raspberries - the pros and cons of the neighborhood

For owners of small garden plots, the problem of the proximity of various plants is very relevant. The capricious blackberry is extremely demanding on the choice of neighbors, therefore, due to its relationship with raspberries, many gardeners prefer to plant these two crops nearby. Despite the similarity of biological characteristics, this solution has not only advantages, but also disadvantages.

Positive moments of the neighborhood of blackberries and raspberries:

• The opportunity to save space in the garden area by planting related crops nearby.
• Preventive treatment against pests and diseases is greatly simplified due to the close location of blackberry and raspberry bushes.
• Blackberries and raspberries prefer the same top dressing, for example, both crops respond favorably to nitrogen-rich fertilization. For this reason, you can feed both plants without fear of harming them.

Despite the significant advantages of the proximity of raspberries and blackberries, it has negative moment. It is associated with the ability of both crops to grow rapidly and strongly, which leads to the intertwining of their shoots, which becomes more difficult to untangle over time. To avoid this, you have to constantly remove the root growth of blackberry and raspberry bushes.

Pollination

Another controversial issue of concern to many gardeners is the likelihood of cross-pollination of blackberries and raspberries located in the same area. It is believed that cross-pollination can adversely affect the yield of both crops. However, following certain guidelines regarding the placement of blackberry and raspberry bushes will avoid cross-pollination.

Blackberries next to raspberries - how to place them correctly

A successful neighborhood of raspberries and blackberries is primarily achieved by maintaining the required spacing between bushes of different crops. The gap between them must be at least one and a half meters. However, in the case of kumanik or dew grass, this may not be enough. The first is characterized by excessive elongation of the lashes, the second - the formation of numerous basal shoots.

For this reason, interlacing of raspberry and blackberry bushes can occur. To avoid this, it is recommended to place dividing walls between the raspberries and blackberries. This measure will not only prevent the interlacing and cross-pollination of bushes of different crops, but also give the site a neat look. The distance from the partition to the bushes should be at least one meter.

What to plant next to blackberries and what should not be planted

The correct choice of neighbors in the garden is a problem that does not lose its relevance, which is the subject of the study of allelopathy, which studies the compatibility of different cultures.Blackberries do not get along well with all shrubs, as well as with fruit and vegetable crops.

Blackberries next to bushes

Gooseberry - Blackberry Compatible Plant

Placing other fruit and berry bushes next to blackberry bushes seems to be an obvious solution. Most often, gooseberries and currants are chosen for this purpose. Blackberries react differently to the proximity of each of these crops.

• Close proximity of blackberries with gooseberry is a good example of the compatibility of two different plants. However, even in this case, it is not recommended to carry out a mixed planting of bushes - it is better if they are in adjacent rows.
• Currant, both black and red - not the best neighbor for blackberries. First of all, such a mixture is dangerous for the currant itself, especially in the case of a neighborhood with dewdrops. Its numerous shoots tend to quickly capture the territory of neighboring bushes, so there is a risk that currant bushes will not receive the required amount of moisture and nutrients. Currants and blackberries can grow in the same area, provided that a large interval between the bushes is maintained, or if there is a partition between them.

Blackberries next to grapes

The neighborhood of blackberries with grapes is, first of all, fraught with additional troubles associated with the interweaving of the shoots of these climbing plants. Long vine sticks will constantly get confused with blackberry shoots, making harvesting more time consuming and more demanding. The stems of both plants will have to be constantly shortened and trimmed to avoid tangling.

This problem can be solved with the help of trellises: separate cultivation of grapes and blackberries will save them from weaving. However, both plants form a dense canopy, thus depriving each other of the sunlight needed for these photophilous crops. Lack of sunlight can negatively affect plant health and even lead to the development of diseases.

Blackberries next to fruit crops

Extremely unfortunate and truly dangerous for blackberries is its proximity to fruit trees such as apple, plum, pear. Their powerful root system draws out the bulk of the moisture and nutrients needed by blackberry bushes from the soil.

At the same time, in the vicinity of tall fruit trees, a deficit of sunlight is created, since their dense crowns cover the lower bushes of blackberries from the sun. All types of blackberry bushes are photophilous and will slowly grow and develop due to lack of lighting, the yield in this case will also decrease. It is especially dangerous to plant blackberries in the vicinity of black walnut trees.

Blackberries next to vegetables

Since traditionally vegetable crops are grown separately from garden shrubs, the experience gained by agronomists is not enough to establish the degree of compatibility of blackberries with all garden plants.

Most of the data on the neighborhood of blackberry bushes with tomato beds, as well as with plantings of garlic. In both cases, it is quite safe. Blackberry hybrid varieties that are crossed with raspberries also do well next to garlic and tomatoes.

Conclusion

In this article, the basic requirements for the site where it is planned to plant blackberry bushes were considered. A list of the most successful and least successful options for the neighborhood of blackberries with other cultures was also given.

In addition to raspberries, blackberries are often planted next to gooseberry bushes, since the same agrotechnical recommendations are characteristic for both crops. But the neighborhood with currants is extremely undesirable, since blackberry bushes will take away food from it.

At first glance, planting grapes in close proximity to blackberries does not pose a danger to both crops.However, the high growth rates of their shoots invariably lead to the need to constantly shorten them in order to prevent intertwining.

Any fruit trees are also unsuitable for placing blackberries next to them: their dense and wide crown deprives the shrub of the sunlight it needs, and powerful roots take almost all the nutrients from the soil.

As for the neighborhood with vegetables, the agronomists did not reveal its obvious shortcomings, therefore, in this case, we are talking more about the appropriateness of mixing traditionally shared garden and vegetable garden plants.

Compliance with the recommendations given in this article will allow you to correctly choose not only a site for planting blackberries, but also neighbors suitable for it. Thanks to this, any gardener will be able to get a bountiful harvest of tasty and healthy fruits.