Blackberry planting and care in the open field in siberia

The blackberry belongs to the Pink family and is a close relative of the raspberry. In nature, the shrub grows on rocky slopes, along the edges of meadows, among shrubs and in the forests of the Caucasus, Siberia, Crimea, Central Asia, and the European part of Russia.

Despite the fact that blackberries have useful properties, they are not yet grown in Russian gardens. But every year the popularity of the shrub is growing, and the plant began to grow not only in the warm regions of the country, but also in the Urals and Siberia.

Garden blackberry - description

The plant in the form of a half-shrub or shrub is distinguished by flexible stem shoots, which are covered with sharp thorns. Thanks to the work of breeders, today there are high-yielding varieties with stems without thorns.

Shrub shoots can grow up to two meters in length, so they need support. Blackberries have pubescent, light green, toothed, five to seven separate or trifoliate leaves.

In summer, white flowers bloom on the shrub with a diameter of up to three centimeters. After their wilting, juicy fruits, black with a bluish bloom, are formed and ripen. The berries are harvested at the end of summer.

Planting blackberries

Growing and caring for a shrub requires certain rules to be followed. Only in this case it will be possible to get a rich harvest at the end of summer.

Planting blackberries in open ground is carried out in the springwhen the soil warms up well. In regions with a warm climate, plants are planted in April, and in Siberia and the Urals in early or mid-May.

For shrubs, choose a place protected from the wind, well-lit place with breathable, drained, loamy or sandy loam soil. The planting site must be prepared in the fall by adding fertilizer to the poor soil. For one square meter of the plot is added:

• humus, compost or manure - 10 kg;
• potassium sulfate - 25 g;
• superphosphate - 15 g.

If the soil on the site is fertilized annually, then you do not need to additionally fertilize it. Otherwise, only the leaves will grow well on the shrub, and the harvest will turn out to be meager.

For planting in open ground, annual seedlings are selected with well-developed, intact roots, on which there must necessarily be an already formed bud. The seedling should have two stems with a diameter of fifty millimeters.

The garden blackberry planting holes should be about the same depth and width as the root system of the seedling. If the shrubs will be planted in a belt way, then the distance between the rows should be at least two meters, and between the specimens - one meter. With the bush planting method, the holes are placed in increments of about two meters. Two or three seedlings are planted in each hole.

Young plants are placed in the hole, after which the roots are gently straightened, which must be covered with a pre-prepared nutritious soil mixture. When planting a seedling, it is necessary to ensure that the bud located at the base of the stem is two centimeters covered with soil. Planted plants are watered... Pour three to six liters of water under each bush. After that, the soil is compacted and, if necessary, more soil is added.

It is recommended to sprinkle tree trunks with mulch, which can be manure or peat compost. Mulching will retain moisture in the soil and prevent it from drying out.

The planted seedlings must be shortened to a height of twenty centimeters. Fruit shoots grown on them are cut off completely.

How to care for blackberries?

Caring for the planted shrubs consists in regular watering, timely feeding, the formation of bushes, as well as in the preventive treatment of plants from diseases and pests.

Blackberry care in spring

When growing blackberries on your site, you should know that berries will not form on straight-growing varieties in the first year after planting. To get the harvest for the next year, the tops of the shoots that have grown to one meter are shortened by ten centimeters. After the lateral shoots reach a length of fifty centimeters, they are also shortened a little. You will get a compact bush with a good harvest.

In spring, the stems of young plants need to be tied up... For this, two-meter pillars are installed at the edges of the row and every ten meters, between which a wire is stretched at a height of fifty, one hundred twenty and one hundred and eighty centimeters. Young shoots will grab onto it by themselves. And those that were planted last year are tied to the top wire.

The seedlings planted in spring require regular watering for the first month and a half. Also, the moisture in the soil around them should be monitored in dry weather. When growing blackberries, it is recommended to irrigate with settled, warm water from a barrel.

After watering or rains at least five times per season, the soil around the plantings is freed from weeds and loosened to a depth of ten centimeters. Near the plants themselves, a pitchfork is used to loosen the soil. Here it must be loosened to a depth of about five to eight centimeters.

At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen fertilizers are applied. One of the following can be added to one square meter of the plot dressing:

• 4 kg of organic matter that contains nitrogen;
• 20 g of urea or ammonium nitrate.

Every year, blackberries need potash fertilization, and every three years - phosphate fertilizers. For one square meter of landings, you will need to make:

• 50 g of phosphates;
• 40 g of potassium sulfate.

If manure was used as mulch, then phosphorus fertilizers can be omitted. You also need to make sure that there is no chlorine in potash fertilizers.

Blackberry pruning

The care of shrubs includes regular pruning, which is carried out throughout the season:

1. In the spring, before the start of sap flow, sanitary pruning, during which frozen twigs, broken and dry shoots are cut to a healthy bud.
2. In May on plants of the first year of growth the tops are shortened by a length of five to seven centimeters. In July, from six to eight lateral shoots are left on the same bushes, and the remaining lateral branches that have grown to fifty centimeters are shortened by seven to ten centimeters.
3. In adult plants dry, broken and weak branches are also pruned. As a result, from four to ten strong shoots should remain on the bush. Lateral branches are shortened to eight to twelve buds.
4. During the season, root shoots that have appeared in the summer should be pulled out. You need to leave only those that grew in the spring. In the fall, they are pruned at a height of two meters.
5. After fruiting in the fall, all shoots of the second year and weak branches are removed.

Caring for garden blackberries in the fall

The autumn care of shrubs includes them preparing for winter... The culture growing in the gardens of the Urals and Siberia will need to be closed for the winter. Before that, the bushes are cut off and treated for prophylactic purposes against diseases and pests. For this, it is recommended to use Actellic and copper sulfate.

Foliage is collected and burned around the bushes, since various pests can live on it. After that, the soil around the plants is covered with peat or dry sawdust.

Cut and processed shoots are removed from the support, laid on the ground, fastened with some kind of load, sprinkled with sawdust, straw, hay, humus or corn leaves. From above, the shelter is covered with plastic wrap. Blackberries are not prone to damping, so any shelter can be used.

In this way, preparation for the winter of blackberries is carried out in areas where the air temperature is below -10 degrees in winter. Only some plant varieties are able to withstand air temperatures down to -20 degrees.

Blackberry pests and diseases

Of the harmful insects, bushes can be harmed by caterpillars of butterflies, gall midges, aphids, nutcracker, raspberry beetle, raspberry-strawberry weevil, raspberry kidney moth, hairy raspberry and spider mites. It is possible to destroy pests with the help of insecticidal preparations, which include Akarin, Fitoverm, Karbofos, Aktellik.

To prevent insects from harming plants and crops, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment of plantings with the same insecticidal preparations before bud break and after harvest.

Blackberries are affected by the same diseases as raspberries. When growing these crops on the site, you need to study possible plant diseases, their treatment and preventive measures:

1. Anthractosis... The disease affects plants in rainy weather in spring or early summer. First, purple spots form on young branches, which eventually turn into gray sores. Leaves are covered with spots. Shoots affected by anthractosis die in winter. As a preventive measure, plants are treated in spring with 1% Bordeaux liquid. Sick specimens are treated with sulfur preparations.
2. Columnar or goblet rust... The disease can be recognized by the orange-brown dots on the leaves, which grow and turn into pads. If you do not take any measures, then the harvest of berries can be reduced by 60%. Prevention and treatment of rust is carried out in the same ways as the treatment of anthractosis.
3. Powdery mildew... This disease is the main enemy of both blackberries and raspberries. It manifests itself as a white bloom on shoots, leaves and fruits. Treat and carry out preventive measures with the same drugs that are used to destroy anthractosis.
4. Gray rot... The disease affects plants in wet weather. To avoid its appearance, the blackberries should not be planted very thickly.
5. Purple spot... In the initial stage, the disease manifests itself with brown-purple spots that form on the middle and lower parts of the shrubs. After a while, the leaves, buds and stems dry out.

To avoid damage to shrubs by these diseases, it is recommended to carefully examine the planting material when buying, plant the plants not very densely, fertilize them with peat compost, and regularly remove weeds on the site. In early spring and after harvest, plants can be treated with fungicidal preparations for prevention.

Blackberry propagation

Blackberries can be propagated throughout the growing season, using layering, cuttings, root suckers for this. Blackberries can be propagated by dividing the bush.

Reproduction by layering

In the spring, you can choose and bend the top of the shoot or the shoot completely to the ground. If you dig in only the top, then one new plant will turn out from it. A completely dug-in shoot will give roots along the entire length, after which it can be cut into pieces, from which several bushes will turn out.

Propagation by cuttings

Blackberry cuttings are cut in June or July. For this, the upper third of the branch is used. Cuttings should consist of part of the stem, leaf and bud.

The lower cut of the segment is processed by Kornevin and placed in a mixture of sand and peat. Cuttings from above are covered with a film. In such conditions, in a month they will give roots and they can be planted in the garden.

Reproduction by root suckers

Root suckers grow around the bushes every year. In May or June, when the offspring grow to a height of ten centimeters, they are separated from the bush and planted in a new place. Before the cold weather, they will have time to take root, get stronger and grow up.

Dividing the bush

Old bushes can be dug up and shoots with young roots can be separated from them. Each section should have well-developed shoots and roots. Part of the plant with an old rhizome can be disposed of. Young bushes are planted in a permanent place.

Fulfilling all the rules for planting and growing blackberries in the open field, at the end of summer it will be possible to harvest a good harvest of tasty and healthy berries.

However, not only fruits, but also leaves and roots of blackberries have medicinal properties. You can make healthy tea, infusions and decoctions from them.

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The attraction of blackberry cultivation - high and stable yield. The rich chemical composition of the fruits of the shrub makes them especially important for the human diet.This is a worthy alternative to garden raspberries and the ability to diversify culinary preparations. When properly seated and cared for, taking into account all biological characteristics blackberries will bear fruit for at least 10 years.

When is it more correct to plant a garden blackberry - in summer, autumn or spring? Timing selection

The potential for yield and benefits of blackberry fruit is much wider than that of its closest relative, raspberry. However, gardeners do not seek to plant and grow this magnificent shrub on their site.

This is distinguished by the fact that plant varieties derived from southern forms have been cultivated for a long time. They found it difficult to take root in the planting region and led to massive disappointment of gardeners.

The situation changed after new relatively winter-hardy varieties have appearedthat can withstand temperatures as low as -30 C.

Therefore, for cultivation in the middle lane or more northern regions (in Siberia and the Urals), it is important to acquire varieties of modern selection.

To grow blackberries in the middle lane or more northern regions, you need to purchase varieties of modern selection

In spite of this, in the northern regions, the cultivation of blackberries is somewhat limited... This is due to uneven fruiting, the final period of which often coincides with the first frost and some of the fruits do not have time to ripen.

In addition, insufficient lighting leads to a loss of quality in ripe fruits.

Planting blackberries in autumn has more benefits and is most optimal in the middle and southern regions. After planting the shrub, a period with a stable and cool temperature will follow, high humidity will promote root development until the soil temperature drops to -4 ° C.

Blackberries very early come out of a state of relative dormancy and shrubs rooted in the fall will immediately begin to develop a vegetative mass.

When planting in spring, the plant does not have time to root. due to too rapid warming and the beginning of sap flow, after which the active growth of shoots begins.

A weak root system is not able to provide the necessary nutrition, an increasing vegetative mass. This greatly weakens the shrub and affects the overall development.

Spring planting is preferred in northern regions and if the blackberry variety is characterized by weak winter hardiness.

In autumn, the plant should be planted at least 20-30 days before the first frost, in spring before bud break, when the air temperature rises to + 15 ° C.

For growing in a personal plot planting material must be purchased from reputable nurseries... The best survival rate is distinguished by annual seedlings with two stems, the thickness of which is at least 0.5 cm in diameter.

An important criterion is a formed bud on the roots... The optimum length of taproots is at least 10 cm.

Preparing a site for planting a seedling: where is it better to plant, in the sun or in the shade?

For growing blackberries you need to choose a place well lit by the sun and protected from northern winds... In the shade, young shoots of the plant will grow poorly, stretch out, the fruits become smaller and lose their taste.

A good option is to plant along a fence, where the shrubbery will be protected from the winds and the stems from breakage. In this case, you need to retreat from the fence by 1 m so that the plant does not get too shaded. The shrub is best located on the southern or southwestern side of the site.

To plant blackberries, you need breathable and well-drained soil. Loams are ideal with a humus layer of at least 25 cm.

For planting blackberries, choose well-lit areas, loamy, well-drained soils.

The occurrence of groundwater at the site should be no higher than 1.5 meters. If these indicators are violated, the roots of the plant will be damp and cold, which significantly affects winter hardiness and yield indicators.

To plant a thorny shrub, a planting site must be prepared in advance. All weeds are removed, plant waste is destroyed, preventive spraying is carried out against pathogens and pests.

For growing blackberries saline, rocky, sandy and swampy areas are not suitable.

Severely depleted soils need to be nourished with essential macronutrients. For this, the site is dug to a depth of 30-35 cm, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied.

How to plant in open ground

Planting pits and substrate are prepared in 15-20 days before planting seedlings in open ground.

The blackberry root system is more powerful and penetrates deeper than other berry crops. Therefore, the pits need to be made more voluminous. The best option - adhere to parameters 40x40x40 cm.

Untreated shrub varieties are placed at a distance of 1 m, creeping plants at 1.5 m. 2 m are left between the rows.

Organic matter and minerals need to be added to each hole:

• compost or humus 5 kg;
• superphosphate 120 g;
• potassium sulfate 40 g.

The nutrient components are mixed with fertile soil and the resulting substrate is poured into a pit by 2/3 of the volume.

The shrub is planted vertically with a deepening of the root collar 1.5-2 cm... In light sandy loam soils, they are buried up to 3 cm.

The blackberry is planted vertically with a deepening of the root collar of 1.5-3 cm, covered with a substrate and watered

Blackberry roots are placed in a hole, straightened and covered with a substrate. In this case, the hole is not completely filled, leaving a distance of 1-2 cm to the soil level.

Thus, there will be a notch under each bush, which will contribute to the rational hydration of blackberries.

Then the surface of the substrate must be compacted and water the seedling with 5-6 liters of water... After the spring planting of blackberries, the plant must be provided with regular watering for 40-50 days. After compaction of the soil, the trunk circle is mulched with sawdust, peat or straw.

Mulching the soil surface under a bush with peat or rotted manure with a layer of 15 cm will protect against weeds and prevent the appearance of dense crusts.Additionally, it is a source of balanced supply of nutrients to the blackberry roots.

Planting blackberries:

How you can and should take care of a bush in the garden - advice from agricultural technicians

Blackberries are more drought-resistant and easy to care for than raspberries. The only flaw in culture - relatively low winter hardiness and frost resistance. Therefore, you need to take care of the plant taking into account its biological characteristics.

With proper care and preparation for winter, blackberries will grow and please with a high yield, according to which among berry crops it is second only to grapes.

The golden rule of grooming is pruning

Throughout the life of a blackberry you need to control the density of the bush and make formative pruning.

These activities include:

1. Removing inflorescences in the first year of growth... This is done to stimulate the development of the root system.
2. In the second year after planting, you need to shorten the stems, leaving a height of 1.5-1.8 m. The procedure is carried out in the spring before bud break. The sections should be made over the kidney.
3. Frozen areas should be cut off after each winter. stems to a living bud.
4. In the summer, at the beginning of June, the shrub is thinned out... At the same time, young shoots are removed, leaving an average of 6-8 strong stems for creeping varieties and 4-5 for erect ones. The tops of young shoots are cut off by 5-8 cm.

Pruning is necessary for blackberries: this is how the density of the bush is controlled and the stems frozen during the winter are removed

Shrub blackberry - shrub with a two-year fruiting cycle... In the first year, the stems of the plant develop, woody and form fruit buds. The next year they bear fruit and only in rare cases can they form new fruit buds.

Agricultural technicians advise removing biennial shoots, thereby stimulating the development of new growths and thinning the crown of the blackberry, it will only look better from this.

Thorn bush garter

For creeping shrub species, you will need a trellis with 3-4 rows of wire with a distance of 50 cm between them.

In the first year of development, 2-3 shoots are fan-shaped to the lower wires. Annual shoots are directed to the center of the shrub, tying them to the uppermost wire.

Before the onset of cold weather, young shoots are removed from the support and make a shelter for the winter.

Stems of erect blackberry varieties tied to a trellis with a slight slope to one side. When new shoots grow during the growing season, they also need to be tied up. This time, the slope is made in the opposite direction from the fruiting branches.

A feature of growing blackberries is the need to shade the shrub during the ripening of the fruit. Exposure to direct sunlight negatively affects the commercial quality of the fruit. To do this, shade nets are pulled along the rows of shrubs.

Fertilization and top dressing are the key to a good harvest

Blackberries need feeding every spring. nitrogen fertilizers that will stimulate the growth of annual shoots - this is another golden rule. To do this, 50 g of ammonium nitrate is introduced under each bush, embedding it to a depth of 10-15 cm.

Every 3-4 years, the shrub in the garden needs to be fed and other macronutrients. This procedure is carried out after harvesting. At the rate of 1 m2, the following is introduced into the soil under the plant:

• compost or humus 10 kg;
• superphosphate 100 g;
• potassium sulfate 30 g.

Blackberries need feeding with ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, humus

It should be remembered that nitrogen fertilizers are applied only in spring... Also, this mineral is found in large quantities in pig manure and chicken droppings.

Blackberry fertilization activities can be combined by spraying with 1% bordeaux liquid, which will inhibit the development of microorganisms. For additional prevention of diseases, the area under the bushes must be cleaned of fallen leaves.

When to water, do you need to loosen?

Deeply buried, in comparison with other berry bushes, the root system of the blackberry makes the plant drought tolerant... But this does not mean that the plant should be left without irrigation and not watered.

Watering is especially needed during the period of fruit filling. and when hot weather is established. At this time, the wide leaf plates of the plant evaporate a large amount of moisture.

The optimal amount of water for an adult bush during the pouring of fruits is 15-20 liters per week. At other times, you need to focus on the state of the substrate and not let it dry out too much.

Several times during the growing season you need to loosen the soil under the bushes to a depth of 10 cmwhile removing weeds.

It is especially important to carry out the procedure in the fall, at the end of August, in September. The looser the soil, the less the soil will freeze through in the root layers.

Shelter for winter time

The shrubs will need shelter before the winter season. For this plant stems are bent to the ground... It is important to do this until the air temperature drops to -1 ° С. Otherwise, they will lose elasticity and break.

To do this, the branches are tied into bunches, bending to the ground and fastening with hooks. Erect blackberry varieties are difficult to bend without breaking the stems.

Many gardeners have found a way out and at the end of the growing season, weights are tied to the tops of the stems, under the weight of which they gradually bend to the ground.

Regardless of the characteristics of frost resistance, all blackberry varieties need shelter for the winter... To do this, you can apply:

• hay or vegetable tops;
• roofing material;
• sawdust;
• peat or humus.

Shelter blackberries for the winter:

The most dangerous time for blackberries is the snowless beginning of winter.... Therefore, it is necessary to cover the plant before the onset of the first cold weather, and in winter to pull snow to it. Blackberry stems are not prone to podoprevaniya, so the plant can be covered with polyethylene.

The foliage of fruit trees is not suitable as a covering material. Pathogenic microorganisms are often hidden in it, which in the spring can begin to actively develop on the bush.

Spruce branches are well suited for shelter, which will additionally protect from rodents.

Fruiting blackberries uneven and can cover a whole month. The shrub fruits are characterized by good transportability and long shelf life at low temperatures.

Leaves and roots of the plant possess bactericidal, sedative properties and will take a worthy place in the home collection of phyto-remedies.

Blackberries are similar to raspberries not only in appearance. These plants have much the same taste, growing seasons and agricultural techniques. It is no coincidence that this berry is grown in the USA on an industrial scale. This is an unpretentious and responsive shrub. Planting and caring for blackberries is easy.

When to plant blackberries outdoors

Blackberries are not as hardy as raspberries. Therefore, many gardeners do not risk growing it on their site. But these fears are not justified. If you follow the rules of planting and care, you can get good yields of tasty and juicy berries.

Russians do not yet have enough experience in growing blackberries, and there is no consensus on some issues regarding this crop. This also applies to the optimal landing dates. As the experience of the Americans shows, blackberries can be planted in spring and autumn. The exact calendar dates depend on the climatic conditions of the region.

In choosing the time for spring planting, the main reference point is weather conditions. The air temperature must correspond to 15-16 ° C, and the ground must be warmed up to a depth of at least 20 cm. The bushes are planted before bud break.

Optimal dates for spring planting in 2018:

• in the middle lane - from April 25 to May 5;
• in the southern regions - April 5-15;
• in Siberia and the Far East - May 1-10.

Planting blackberry seedlings during this period eliminates the risk of freezing, the plants take root well and manage to take root thoroughly until autumn. In the warm season, you can provide full care for the shrub

Fall planting is a more risky undertaking. It is recommended in those regions where it is relatively warm until mid - late November. The rule common to all climatic zones is as follows: blackberries are planted a month before the onset of the first frost. During this period, the plant will have time to recover after transplantation and take root. For the winter, he must be covered.

Optimal dates for autumn planting in 2018:

• in the middle lane - mid-September;
• in the southern regions - beginning - mid-October;
• in Siberia and the Far East - early September.

Types for growing on the site

In the wild, blackberries are extremely unpretentious, grow well on heavy and waterlogged soils, are distinguished by their short stature and small fruit size. As a result of domestication and selection, more than 40 varieties of this plant have appeared, a significant part of which are hybrids obtained by crossing with raspberries.

There are three types of garden blackberries:

• kumanika;
• dewdrop;
• transition.

The main distinguishing feature of these plants, in particular, of growth: kumanika is a bush plant that looks like a raspberry, a dewdrop is a liana-like, creeping plant. The transitional form combines the features of the first two.

Types of blackberries in the photo

Among the variety of varieties, ordinary, studless and remontant are distinguished. Among the first are plants that have retained the features characteristic of wild blackberries (hardiness, the presence of thorns on the branches and pubescence on the leaves). Thanks to selection, these berries have improved characteristics of yield and taste of fruits compared to wild blackberries.

Thornless varieties are called so because their main distinguishing feature is the absence of thorns. These are high-yielding shrubs, the most convenient for picking berries. The first thornless variety was brought to Russia from America in the 60s of the XX century. This is the Thornfrey variety, which still occupies one of the leading positions in popularity. Shipless varieties contain potassium, calcium, sodium

Repaired blackberries are the fruit of painstaking selection. These varieties are capable of bearing fruit twice a year. Among them there are those that are distinguished by high frost resistance, recommended for growing in regions with a harsh climate. The timing of harvesting depends on the weather conditions of the place of growth. The first ripening wave corresponds to common varieties, the second begins from mid-July in the south and from the beginning - mid-August in the middle lane.

The best varieties of blackberries, depending on the region

Among the variety of varieties, there are those recommended for cultivation in different regions of the Russian Federation. These plants showed a high rate of acclimatization and a stable yield.

Conditions for landing

Choosing the right place for planting blackberries is the key to its high yield. It is necessary to take into account everything that this shrub loves and does not like. For good development, he needs space. Blackberries, like raspberries, produce long lower shoots. The root system is branched, penetrating to a depth of two meters. The size of the planting site is chosen based on the number of seedlings and the optimal distance between them: from 1 to 2 meters, depending on the variety (creeping or bush).

Another important selection parameter is the degree of illumination. Blackberries prefer sunny and sheltered places from the wind. It is advisable to plant all creeping varieties along natural or artificial supports. Most often these are all kinds of fences and trellises.

The main requirements for the soil are moderate moisture and air permeability. The most picky about the quality of the soil are bush varieties. For kumanik, fertile soils, loam or sandy loam are needed. Rosyanika is less whimsical. It bears fruit well on heavier soils, but does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of moisture.

If the soil lacks the substances necessary for the optimal development of the plant, this will certainly affect its growth, yield and taste of berries. Therefore, when growing garden varieties of blackberries, special attention is paid to feeding.

The choice of location also depends on the correct neighborhood of cultures. The blackberry has a special feature: it is a nitrogen fixer. This indicates the ability of the shrub to enrich the soil with oxygen. Therefore, the apple tree is the best neighbor for him. A tall tree nearby will protect the blackberry bushes from sudden gusts of wind

It is not recommended to plant blackberries next to raspberries, strawberries or strawberries. These plants have many common diseases and pests. Such a neighborhood can lead to the rapid reproduction of the most common pests of berry crops.

Advice! Blackberries prefer moderately acidic soils. If sorrel, horsetail and moss grow well on the site, liming of the selected area must be carried out before planting. For this purpose, dolomite flour is added at the rate of 350-500 g per 1 m2.

Planting: step by step instructions

Before planting seedlings, a soil mixture is prepared with top dressing, which will be laid on the bottom of a pit or trench. The composition is as follows:

• 3.5 - 4 buckets of manure;
• 300 g superphosphate;
• 500 - 800 g of wood ash (you can replace 8 g of potash fertilizers without chlorine);
• 7 - 8 buckets of garden soil.

The optimal planting schemes for blackberries are the same as for raspberries:

• Rows in trenches or pits with a distance between bush varieties of seedlings 0.8 - 1 m, between creeping ones 1.5 - 2 m. Row spacing is about 1.8 m.
• Staggered, keeping the same distances as for the first circuit.

If it is decided to form the crown of the shrub using one- or two-sided weaving methods, the distance between the bushes is increased to 2.5 m.There are trellises next to it, consisting of three rows of wire stretched between two supports at a height of 90, 120 and 150 cm from the ground level.

Saplings

Fertilizers should be applied to the soil six months before planting.

If there are doubts about the quality of the planting material, you need to remove the seedlings from the container and inspect the root system. If signs of rot, mold or disease are found, these parts of the plant should be removed and burned.

Before planting, the root of the seedling is sprinkled with wet soil or sawdust. In case of forced transportation, they are wrapped in plastic wrap.

The order of planting seedlings:

1. Dig holes 50x50x50 cm in size.
2. 1-2 buckets of the prepared substrate are poured into the bottom of the pit. The top of the knoll should be at ground level.
3. Place the seedling on the top of the hill, gently straighten the roots.
4. Another layer of substrate is poured onto them. The root collar is not buried.
5. Watering from a watering can. In this case, the substrate will settle slightly.
6. The pit is filled with previously excavated soil, and it is compacted.
7. Water the plant.
8. Shoots are cut with pruning shears, leaving 3-4 buds on the branches.

Seeds

Blackberries are also planted with cuttings and seeds. The second method is more troublesome, optimal for nurseries. But many gardeners have long and successfully used it on their plots.

Seed planting rules:

1. The seeds are kept in rainwater for 3-4 hours.
2. Dried in the sun.
3. Mix in equal proportions with sand.
4. Spread an even layer over a previously prepared box with soil.
5. Sprinkle with a thin (no more than 5 mm) layer of earth.
6. Spray thoroughly with a garden spray.
7. Cover with plastic wrap, which is lifted daily to provide air access. Provide indoor temperature + 20 + 22 ° С.
8. Maintain moderate soil moisture.

When 2 leaves are formed on the emerged plants, they are engaged in planting blackberries in open ground or in a greenhouse, depending on weather conditions. The distance between the seedlings is 10-15 cm. The rooted plants are dug up and transplanted to a permanent place.

Cuttings

The cut sites are treated with indolylbutyric acid.

Green cuttings are harvested from the apical shoots of the current year in early - mid-July. Cut so that each cutting has a leaf and 1-3 buds. Before planting, prepare the soil. To do this, take the following ingredients in equal shares:

• peat;
• perlite;
• sifted sand;
• humus;
• garden land.

Cuttings are planted to a depth of 3-4 cm. They are covered with plastic wrap or a container with planting material is placed in a greenhouse. It is important that the air temperature does not drop below +20 ° C. Watered daily. The humidity in the room or greenhouse must be high enough. After 28 - 30 days, the cuttings are transplanted to the garden bed, maintaining a distance of 15–20 cm between them.

Caring for garden blackberries after planting

In order for the plants to thrive, they are provided with appropriate care. For blackberries, this is pruning, feeding, watering, garter.

Watering

All blackberry varieties need regular watering. Do not allow the soil to dry out. After planting, the seedlings are watered as often as necessary to maintain soil moisture. In a rainy summer - rarely, in a dry - after 2 - 3 days, while the trunk circle is mulched.

Loosening

Several times a season, the soil around the shrubs is loosened to a depth of 5 - 10 cm. Thus, its air permeability is increased and oxygen is provided to the roots of plants. Weeds are removed at the same time. Do not allow the formation of thickets of grass around the bushes. This is fraught with the appearance of pests.

Pruning and shaping

Blackberry agrotechnology is simple, in many ways similar to caring for raspberries. But it has its own characteristics. All types of blackberries bear fruit on two-year-old shoots. After harvesting, they must be cut with a garden pruner and burned. This procedure is called fall pruning. It consists in cutting two-year-old branches under the root, removing damaged and weak ones. The procedure is carried out in late September - early October

Next year, the shoots of the current one will bear fruit. In order to stimulate their growth in the coming season, all annual branches are shortened in the fall. Moreover, this procedure is different for erect and creeping blackberry varieties. The first ones are shortened to a height of 1.6 - 1.8 m (the tops are cut off). No more than 12 branches are left on each bush. Creeping varieties are cut shorter: up to 1.4 - 1.5 m.

An important technique of blackberry farming is pinching. It consists in regularly cutting off the tops of the shoots. As soon as they grow 8-10 cm, they are cut off. This is a great stimulus for the growth of branches and an increase in the yield of the bush in the next season.

Pinching rules:

• in the first year after planting, all shoots are cut off when they reach a height of 0.9 - 1.2 m;
• on the second and all subsequent ones, the tops are cut off, the lateral shoots are shortened to 40 - 50 cm.

Creeping blackberries bear fruit in the middle of two-year-old shoots. Therefore, you should not be afraid to shorten the tops as often as possible. This helps to increase the size of the berries.

Garter

A garter is not the same as shaping a bush. It is only required to keep the plant upright. For this purpose, trellises are built and the wire is pulled along the existing supports. A fence, landscape elements can act as a support

The most successful technique for growing blackberries is the formation of a crown. It allows you to more efficiently use the available areas, gives the area well-groomed, and the plants - decorative. The most commonly used fan formation in one or two directions. The first method is optimal for slow-growing varieties, the second - for vigorous ones. This applies equally to bush and creeping.

Fan formation is carried out in several stages:

1. In the first year after planting, all branches on the seedling are bent to one side and tied to trellises.
2. New shoots are tied up in the opposite direction.
3. All side shoots are cut off.

Top dressing

In the spring, before bud break, the following composition is prepared:

• 1.5 - 3 kg of humus or compost;
• 10-15 g superphosphate;
• 4 - 5 g of potash fertilizers;
• 5 - 7 kg of garden soil.

The resulting mixture is introduced at the rate of 1.5 - 3 kg 1 m2. The poorer the soil, the more fertilizer is required. The next similar feeding is carried out after 2 - 3 years.Between these procedures, 200-250 g of ammonium nitrate and 100-150 g of urea are added annually in the spring for every 10 m2. Also, at the beginning of the growing season, 6 - 7 kg of humus or compost are introduced under each fruiting bush.

Advice! In caring for blackberries, it is not recommended to use chlorine-containing fertilizers.

Pest and disease control.

Blackberries are highly resistant to many types of diseases of horticultural crops. This berry can be called the only environmentally friendly one, which largely determines its healing properties. The most common blackberry disease is rust. With due attention to plants, its first manifestations can be noticed in a timely manner.

Rust spores are a sticky, dark orange mass that covers the leaves. The fight against the disease consists in removing and burning the affected parts of the plant, treating the crown with a garlic solution by spraying. Also for this purpose, a Bordeaux mixture is used, which is prepared from 400 g of copper sulfate, 40 g of lime and 10 liters of water.

The most common pests are the raspberry beetle and the shoot aphid. As a method of treatment and prevention, spraying with "Fitoverm" (2 ml per 10 l of water) or "Kinmiks" in the same concentration is used.

Preparation for wintering

Preparing blackberries for winter is no different from a similar procedure with raspberries. The branches are bent to the ground and covered with burlap, spandbond, rags. Before that, soil and fallen leaves are raked to the base of the bush.

Reproduction methods

Blackberries are propagated not only by seeds and green cuttings. There are other ways too:

• Apical layers. In the middle of summer, the top of the one-year-old shoot is bent to the ground and buried in. After the appearance of the roots, they are separated and transplanted to a new place.
• Division of the bush. The plant is dug up, the root ball is carefully divided into several parts with your fingers. They are planted in a new place, observing the distance between the seedlings prescribed for this variety.
• Root offspring. In the spring, before the buds swell at the base of the root, 10–15 cm long shoots are separated. They are kept in Kornevin solution for 10–12 hours. Planted in a greenhouse or open ground.

If you follow the accepted agricultural practices of blackberries, the yields will be stable, and the berries are tasty. There is nothing difficult in planting and caring for this shrub. This garden crop can be successfully grown in any region of Russia.

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Blackberries have a lot in common with raspberries, not only in appearance. Crops are similar in taste, agricultural techniques and growing seasons. In America, blackberries have been cultivated for many years for industrial purposes. The plant is unpretentious and pleases with a high yield. Planting and leaving per blackberry gardeners will not cause difficulties.

Terms of planting blackberries in open ground

Blackberry bushes cannot withstand freezing temperatures as hard as raspberries. It is for this reason that summer residents refuse to grow blackberries. However, the fears are in vain. If you follow all the rules of agricultural technology, the culture will delight you with a rich harvest of tasty and juicy berries.

Nowadays, blackberries are not grown very often in Russia. At some points in agricultural technology, summer residents disagree. For example, there is a lot of controversy about the timing of planting blackberry seedlings. Experienced Americans believe blackberries can be planted in the spring and fall. More accurate dates depend on the weather conditions of a particular area.

For spring planting it is necessary to focus on climatic conditions. The air should be kept at around 15-16 ° C, and the ground should be warmed up by about 20 centimeters. Shrubs should be planted before budding.

Planting time for blackberries in spring:

• Middle lane - April 25-May 5;
• Southern regions - April 5-15;
• Siberia and the Far East - May 1-10.

If you plant a crop at such a time, then the risk of freezing of seedlings will be excluded.The bushes will take root well and have time to take root before the autumn frosts.

Planting shrubs in the fall is risky. This planting is suitable for those regions in which warm weather lasts until about mid-November. The only condition for many climatic regions is that the crop must be planted about a month before the onset of cold weather. This period is enough for the shrub to take root and be able to overwinter. For the winter period, the shrubs must be covered.

Planting dates for blackberries in the fall:

• The middle band is mid-September;
• For the southern regions - early or mid-October;
• For the Far East and Siberia - the first half of September.

Types of blackberries for growing on the site

In the wild, blackberries feel comfortable and do not require additional maintenance. The bush grows in swampy soils. The shrubs are undersized and the berries are small. After the cultivation and selection of the plant, about the order of blackberry varieties were bred. Most of these plants are hybrids that were obtained by crossing with raspberries.

Three main types of garden blackberries and their differences:

• Kumanika, outwardly similar to raspberries;
• Rosyanica, liana-shaped shoots;
• Transient, includes features of the first and second.

Types of blackberries in the photo

There are many varieties, among them:

• Berry varieties without thorns;
• Common varieties;
• Repaired varieties.

Regular grade retained all the features that are characteristic of a wild berry, namely:

• thorns on branches;
• pubescence on the leaves;
• endurance.

In studless varieties

• the main difference is the absence thorns on plants;
• high-yielding plants,
• make it easy to harvest an excellent berry harvest.

The very first studless variety was brought to the territory of Russia in the 60s of the 20th century from America. It is a variety called Thornfrey that is still very popular today.

Repaired varieties - were bred during the selection process

• allow you to harvest twice a season;
• frost-resistant crops, which are recommended to be grown in regions with a harsh climate;
• bear fruit 2 times a year. The first ripening of the crop coincides with the ripening of common varieties. The second time the berries ripen around mid-July in the southern regions and in mid-August in the middle lane.

Recommended varieties of blackberries for different regions

Among the whole variety of blackberry varieties, there are those that are recommended for growing in different regions of Russia. Shrubs of these varieties quickly acclimatize and give a stable harvest.

For Siberia and the Far East:

• Karaka Black;
• Agave;
• Delight Cascade;
• Loughton;
• Erie;
• Taylor;
• Thornfree.

For the Leningrad region:

• Helen;
• Thornfree;
• Smutstem;
• Thornless Evergreen;
• Diamond;
• Loch Tei.

For the Kuban:

• Thorn Free;
• Doyle;
• Sewn in;
• Osage;
• Chester;
• Polar;
• Rovada;
• Loch Tei.

For Uralbut:

• Kiova;
• Loch Ness;
• Thornfree;
• Loch Tei;
• Valdo;
• Black satin.

For Moscow and Moscow region:

• Navajo;
• Wilson Earley;
• Darrow;
• Apaches;
• Triple crown;
• Thornfree;
• Agave;
• Black Satin.

For Crimea:

• Black Prince;
• Apaches ZKS;
• Triple crown;
• Triple Crow;
• Asterina;
• Kiowa;
• Boyceberry Thornless;
• German undisguised.

Watch the video! Meet new yielding varieties

Planting conditions

A competent choice of a place for planting a crop is a guarantee of a high yield. It is important to take into account all the nuances. For the comfortable growth of plants, space is needed. Blackberries, like raspberries, have long lower branches. The roots of plants are quite branched, they can go two meters deep. The territory for planting must be chosen based on the number of shrubs. The optimal distance between the bushes should be about 1-2 m so that the plants do not interfere with each other. For different varieties there can be individual recommendations regarding the distance between plants.

One of the important growing conditions is the degree of illumination. The culture needs sunny and sheltered places.

The soil should be moderately moist and breathable.The most picky about the quality of the soil are bush varieties. Kumanik needs fertile, loamy soil or sandy loam. The mildew is less whimsical, it gives an excellent harvest on more heavy soils, however, the culture does not feel well in conditions of stagnant moisture.

If the soil contains few nutrients that are necessary for the growth and development of shrubs, this will affect the yield and taste of the berries. That is why, when growing blackberries, it is important to pay due attention to fertilizers.

When planting a culture, it is important to consider the neighborhood with other crops. Blackberries are considered a nitrogen fixer. This means that the plant can oxygenate the soil. An apple tree is considered to be the optimal neighbor for blackberries.

You should not plant a berry along with raspberries, strawberries or strawberries. Since these crops have common diseases and pests. And growing plants together leads to the rapid reproduction of these parasites.

Advice! Blackberries feel comfortable in moderately acidic soils.

If moss, horsetail or sorrel grow well on the soil, then liming of the territory should be done before planting. It is recommended to use dolomite flour for this. For 1 m2 there should be approximately 350-500 grams of the substance.

Landing: step by step instructions

Before planting the plant, you need to prepare a fertile mixture, which must be laid at the bottom of the planting pit. Mix preparation:

• 300 grams of superphosphate;
• 4 buckets of manure;
• 500-800 grams of wood ash (or 8 g of potash fertilizers without chlorine);
• 8 buckets of garden soil.

Recommended crop planting patterns are similar to raspberry planting patterns:

• Planting blackberries in rows should be in a prepared trench or pit. The gap between shrubs should be about 1 m - for bush varieties. For creeping plants - 1.5-2 m. The distance between the rows should be made about 1.8 m;
• Plant in a checkerboard pattern. The gaps between the bushes should be similar to the first scheme.

If it is necessary to form the crown of plants one- or two-sided by weaving methods, then the distance between the bushes should be about 2.5 m. Nearby it is necessary to install trellises, consisting of three rows of wire. The wire must be pulled between the two supports at about 90, 120 and 150 centimeters above the soil level.

Saplings

To exclude the defeat of the seedling by diseases, it is necessary to carefully examine its roots. If signs of decay, mold or other diseases are found, then the entire infected part should be cut off and burned.

Before planting, the roots of plants must be sprinkled with damp earth or sawdust. If we are talking about transportation, then the root system must be wrapped in polyethylene.

Blackberry planting scheme:

• Dig a hole 50x50x50 cm in size;
• The bottom is covered with the prepared planting mixture, about 1-2 buckets. The mound should be at ground level;
• Place the plant on the top of the mound, straighten the root system;
• Next, you need to add another layer of substrate. It is important not to fill up the root collar;
• Pour water with a watering can so that the substrate settles a little;
• Fill the hole with soil, compact;
• Water the plant with enough water;
• Cut off the shoots, leaving 3-4 buds on the branches.

Seeds

The culture can be planted from seeds and cuttings. The seed growing method is rather difficult and suitable for nurseries. However, some gardeners use this method to grow blackberries on their plots.

The scheme for growing blackberries from seeds:

• Soak seeds for 3-4 hours in rainwater;
• Allow to dry in the sun;
• Mix in equal proportions with sand;
• Spread evenly over a container with soil;
• Sprinkle with earth, the layer of covering earth should be approximately 5 mm;
• Spray from a spray bottle;
• Cover with plastic. The film should be lifted every day to allow air to flow. The air temperature should be at the level of + 20 + 22 ° С;
• Maintain optimum soil moisture at all times.

After 2 independent leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings should be transplanted into open ground or a greenhouse. The distance between plants should be about 15 centimeters. Once the seedlings have taken root, they must be transplanted to a permanent location.

Cuttings

Cuttings should be prepared from the apical shoots of the current season around the first half of July. Each stalk should be with leaves (at least one) and buds (1-3 pcs). Preparation of planting soil:

• Humus;
• Garden soil;
• Peat;
• Perlite;
• Sand.

All ingredients must be mixed in equal parts. Cuttings should be planted to a depth of 3-4 centimeters. Next, cover the container with polyethylene or put it in a greenhouse. In this case, the air temperature should not be lower than +20 ° С. Watering is done every day. It is important that the humidity in the air is high. After 30 days, the cuttings must be transplanted to the garden bed, observing an interval of 15-20 centimeters between the plants.

Caring for garden blackberries after planting

For the correct development of blackberries, care must be competent. Shrubs need pruning, feeding, watering and garter.

Watering

All varieties of crops require regular watering. The earth should not be allowed to dry out. After planting, the plants must be irrigated at a frequency that will maintain optimum soil moisture. In the rainy season, watering should be rare, and in drought - at intervals of 2-3 days. The land next to the trunk must be mulched.

Loosening

You should regularly loosen the soil around the bushes to a depth of 5-10 centimeters. This will increase the breathability of the soil. It is worth removing weeds. Weeds should not be allowed to grow next to the bushes - this can provoke the appearance of pests.

Pruning and shaping

Blackberries have simple agricultural techniques, but with peculiarities. All types of blackberries can produce crops on shoots of two years of age. After the harvest is harvested, the shoots should be cut with a pruner and burned. The procedure was named autumn pruning... It includes cutting two-year-old shoots under the root, as well as removing damaged and weak branches.

The next year, the crop can be harvested from the shoots of the current season. In order to stimulate their growth, annual shoots should be shortened in autumn.

Important to remember! Pruning of erect and creeping varieties is different. Erect varieties need to be shortened to a height of 1.6-1.8 m.About 12 shoots should remain on the bush. Creeping varieties should be cut shorter - up to 1.4 -1.5 m.

It is worth remembering about pinching fruit bushes. It involves pruning the tops of the branches. As soon as the shoots grow 8-10 centimeters, they must be cut off.

How to make pinching:

• In the first year after planting, you need to cut off all branches that have reached 90-120 centimeters;
• In the second and other years, only the tops are subject to pruning, they must be shortened to 40-50 centimeters.

Watch the video! How to prune a fruiting blackberry bush in spring

Garter

The garter is similar to the formation of a bush. The procedure is necessary in order to keep the plants upright. To do this, you need to build trellises by pulling the wire along the supports.

The most optimal technique for growing blackberries is crown formation. The garter gives the territory a neatness and allows the rational use of the area. Fan tying of plants in one or two directions is often used. The first option is suitable for slow-growing varieties, and the second for vigorous ones. For bush and creeping plants, both are applicable.

Stages of fan formation of shrubs:

• In the first year after planting, the shoots of the seedling must be bent to one side and tied to the shralers;
• New branches are tied in the opposite direction;
• Cut off all lateral branches.

Top dressing

Spring feeding is carried out before the buds bloom. Need to take:

• Humus or compost - 1.5-3 kilograms;
• Superphosphate - 10 grams;
• Potash fertilizer - 4-5 grams;
• Garden soil - 5-7 kilograms.

It is necessary to add the mixture at the rate of 1.5-3 kilograms per 1 m2. Re-fertilization is applied in 2-3 years. It is also recommended to apply 200-250 grams of ammonium nitrate and 100 grams of urea for every 10 m2 in the spring. After the growing season is over, it is worth adding about 6 kilograms of humus or compost under each plant.

Important! Do not use chlorine-based fertilizers for fertilizing.

Pest and disease control

Blackberries are resistant to many diseases. The fruits are considered to be environmentally friendly and healing. The most famous blackberry disease is rust.

Rust covers the leaves with sticky, dark orange spores. To fight, you need to remove the affected part of the bush and burn it, then treat the crown with a solution of garlic. Bordeaux mixture is considered quite effective.

Recipe for making Bordeaux mixture:dilute 40 grams of lime and 400 grams of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water.

The most famous crop pests are the shoot aphid and the raspberry beetle. For prophylaxis, plants can be treated with Fitoverm or Kinmiks. At the rate of 2 ml per 10 liters of water.

Preparation for wintering

The technology for preparing blackberry bushes for winter is the same as for raspberry bushes. The shoots are bent to the ground and covered with a covering material. Near the base of the bush, it is necessary to lay fallen leaves.

Reproduction methods

Blackberries can be propagated not only with the help of seeds, but also with green cuttings.

There are other methods:

• Apical layers. In summer, the top of the annual branch must be bent to the soil and dug in. After the roots appear, the seedling can be separated and planted in the main place;
• By dividing the bush. The plant must be dug up, the roots must be divided into several parts and planted in a new place, observing the distance between the bushes;
• With the help of root processes. In the spring, it is necessary to separate the shoots that are at the base of the root. The length of the shoots should be 10-15 centimeters. Then the shoot is placed in Kornevin's solution for 10 hours and then planted in a permanent place.

Advice! Beginners should watch a video of instructions on how to properly reproduce blackberries in order to avoid mistakes.

Conclusion

If you follow all landing rules, then this will allow you to collect an excellent harvest of berries. Every lover of tasty fruits can grow useful garden blackberries.

Watch the video! Planting blackberries in open ground