Blackberry Black Butte: all about growing a variety

All the berries grown in the personal plot are endowed with a large amount of nutrients and have beneficial properties. Among the many varied varieties blackberry a completely new American hybrid appeared - Black Butte. It has a large size and original taste. For those who want to plant this shrub on their own territory, you should familiarize yourself with its description and advantages, as well as learn about soil preparation for planting and growing rules.

Content:

• Description and advantages of the variety
• Reproduction methods
• Site and soil preparation
• Planting a seedling: terms and rules
• Care advice
• Composition and properties of blackberries

Description and advantages of the variety

Blackberry Black Butte was developed by American scientists in Oregon through the Agricultural Research Service program. According to the characteristics of a large-fruited plant, certain points are distinguished. The plant belongs to the genus sundew, is not an upright bush. Mostly the vine spreads on the ground, but if it is fixed on a support, it will develop on it safely.

Shoots with good, high-quality care can reach up to 3-4 m in length. The vine has a flexible structure, the top is covered with small black thorns. The bush does not have excessive spreading.

Blackberry produces only 4-6 shoots, on which large berries are formed. The root system does not give root growth, therefore, it is necessary to cut off the branches that have matured annually, giving freedom to the young vine. It is these shoots that will bear fruit next year. On each brush there are no more than 5 rather large berries, bluish black.

The variety is considered early ripe, its berries can be eaten at the end of June, if the plant is grown in the southern strip, or in the first decade of July, in more severe regions of Russia. Fruiting lasts for several weeks, on average up to 7 weeks, the bush releases inflorescences and bears fruit.

The fruits are elongated, reaching up to 5 cm. The largest.

The weight of each berry averages 10 grams, the largest specimens weigh 20 grams. and more. They differ in pleasant taste, predominantly sweet aftertaste, and have a slight sourness. With good growing care, you can get up to 3.5 kg and more from one bush. If you water more often and fertilize more with minerals, then some will achieve a greater yield. But if the soil is excessively waterlogged, then the fruits, although they will become more weighty, will lose their sweetness.

The advantages of this blackberry variety Black Butte are revealed in the following points:

1. Increased frost resistance - can withstand frosts down to -18 C, but at the same time the plant must be closed for the winter so that it does not freeze thoroughly.
2. Early ripening period compared to other varieties of fruit crops.
3. Large berries significantly different in appearance and weight.
4. The fruits perfectly tolerate long-distance transportation and do not deteriorate during long-term storage.
5. When assembled, the fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, while remaining the same tasty.
6. Berries can be used for different purposes: fresh, for freezing in the refrigerator, for making jam or jam, as a filling for baking or decoration for a dessert.

In this case, the shrub has a number of disadvantages. The increased number of thorns greatly complicates not only harvesting, but also caring for the shrub. The yield of the variety is low, in comparison with the new hybrid varieties of blackberry developed and introduced into the modern economy. Therefore, before planting a plant in your garden, you should first find out its advantages and significant disadvantages.

Reproduction methods

Reproduction of a large-sized fruit and berry crop of the Black Butte variety is carried out only with the rooting of split off young tops:

• The selection of planting material is carried out in August. For this, young shoots of this year are selected, never bearing fruit.
• The upper part of the shoot must be removed - by 1.5-2.5 cm. This is necessary to stop the growth upward. Depart 15-17 cm from the upper part and tear off the lower leaves from this mark.
• After that, bend the vine to the ground and dig the marked area into the soil, attaching the shoot so that it does not bend with a staple or hook.
• Sprinkle with soil substrate on top. You should not detach the sprout from the mother shrub.

In the future, the usual care of the plant is carried out. It is watered and fed in a timely manner. By the end of the growing season, you should not disconnect the young plant from the mother shrub. You need to let him spend the winter with the mother liquor.

Only in the second year can the plant be detached from the mother bush. This is done with a garden tool or a sharp shovel. In the future, in the spring, a young seedling can be transplanted to a new place of residence or left in the same area.

Site and soil preparation

In order for the blackberry to develop quickly and give a good harvest, it is necessary to determine the place where the culture will be planted before planting. She loves a lot of sun and begins to wither when exposed to northern winds and constant drafts. At the same time, if you place it behind a fence, in the shade, then the shoots will begin to stretch sharply, the foliage will become shallow, and the fruits will shrink.

If there is no other option, and you have to plant a blackberry near the fence, then you need to step back from the fence 1 m and recreate a support for the plant. The ideal option for planting would be to place the seedling on the south side of the buildings or on the southwestern part of the personal plot. Black Butte BlackBerry prefers soils that conduct water and air well. For her, loams with an admixture of humus in the soil substrate, at least 25 cm, are suitable.

Although the variety loves moisture, the groundwater should not lie higher than 1.5 m from the location of the plant's root system.

Otherwise, the rhizomes will be constantly damp, which will lead to the acquisition of diseases and cold, which will adversely affect frost resistance. Before planting, you need to prepare a pit. To do this, a deepening is dug out in 15-20 days. The root system of a fruit crop is much more powerful than that of other plants, so the planting hole must be made deeper. Parameters 40 x 40 x 40 cm are ideal.

Due to the fact that Black Butte blackberry is a creeping shrub, adjacent shrubs must be placed at a distance of 0.8 m or more from each other. Mostly the Black Butte variety is compact, so a small distance from neighboring bushes will be enough for it, especially since it is necessary to constantly prune in the spring and autumn.

The rows should be placed 2 m apart from each other. This will allow the trellis to be erected without hindrance, the berries will receive a sufficient amount of light and the bush can be favorably looked after. Organic substances are introduced into each cavity in advance and mineral fertilizers... It is necessary to add 5 kg of humus and rotted compost, potassium sulfate in a volume of 40 grams to the excavated soil. and superphosphate weighing 120 grams. Mix everything thoroughly and put 2/3 of the resulting substrate back into the well.

Planting a seedling: terms and rules

You can plant a plant in the spring and autumn. But before any rooting, it is necessary to accurately identify the timing for planting. Autumn planting is most often recommended when purchasing seedlings. Usually, planting in the fall is advised to be carried out no later than 45-30 days before the air temperature drops. This is due to the fact that during the rooting of the sprout, the shrub manages to acclimatize in a new territory, absorb minerals from the soil, and also release new young roots. All this helps to prepare the plant for wintering.

If planting is carried out in the spring, then this is not always comfortable for the plant. If you manage to root the bush in a new place before the moment of warming, when sap flow begins, then the plant has time to completely take root and grows. Otherwise, when the shrub moves into the ground at the onset of warm days and the increased growth of the leafy part begins, the bush does not have time to grow root system... He constantly has to balance on the verge of wilting foliage and releasing new leaf plates. Therefore, it is worth considering at what point it is better to plant a plant in open ground.

Planting recommendations:

• The plant is planted in a prepared hole in such a way that the root collar is deepened by 1.5-2 cm.If planting is carried out in light sandy soils, then it can be rooted 3 cm deep.
• Blackberry roots should be carefully spread out and covered with earth so that no hollow spaces remain. They will accumulate water and provoke rotting of the root system, which, as a result, will lead to the wilting of the plant and its death.
• After sprinkling the soil, you need to form a small notch near the base of the plant. It is necessary so that the introduced nutrient moisture only enters the culture, and does not spread throughout the entire area.
• In the next step, all the earth next to the trunk is compacted. Into the resulting recess for 1 blackberry bush Black Butte, 5-6 liters are injected. water. In the case of spring planting in the next 1.5-2 months, it is necessary to constantly moisturize the plant, preventing the soil from drying out too much.
• It is recommended to mulch the trunk circle from above. For this, wood sawdust or dry grass. If you perform this action, then the moisture entering the soil will evaporate less, and weeds will not germinate next to the bush.

Care advice

After the process of rooting the seedlings for Black Butte has passed, it is necessary to equip the trellises. Otherwise, the plant will begin to creep along the ground, which will lead to a large loss of yield. To stretch the trellis, it is necessary to install supports on both sides of the row of plants, between which wires are pulled in 3 rows. The height of the tiers should be - 40 cm from the ground level, 100 and 150 cm.

In the future, as the vines grow, the second-year ones that bear fruits must be distributed to the south side. This is necessary so that the shrub receives the maximum possible amount of sunlight. It is necessary to saturate the fruit with sweetness and ripening. The north side is intended for this year's shoots. In the prepared area, the young vine will have enough sunlight to ripen, lay fruit buds and prepare for winter.

In the autumn, after the harvest has been fully harvested, the fruiting vines are cut from the bush, and young shoots are transferred to the south side.

For Black Butte blackberry, the process of preparation for wintering is important (if it is not carefully packed, then young shoots, as well as rhizomes, can completely freeze out under the influence of severe frosts):

• For shelter, you can use agrofibre, but in the absence of funds, it is recommended to use spruce branches, and on top, after snow falls, apply a snowdrift. The smell of the needles does not allow parasitic insects to come close to the plant and has disinfecting properties.
• You can use leaves or stems from corn. But before covering, it is necessary to carefully check that the covering material is not susceptible to rot. Otherwise, blackberries can completely rot during the winter cold.
• Straw is not recommended for preparing plants for wintering. Rodents feed on it in cold weather, which can not only bare shoots, but also eat them.

It is imperative to carry out periodic watering. The introduction of nutritional moisture begins with the appearance of the first warm rays. But do not get carried away, you need to monitor the condition of the soil, avoiding a swampy consistency

Top dressing of an adult plant is carried out at the onset of the vegetative period. You need to add potassium in the amount of 30 grams. and superphosphate - up to 100 gr. do not overdo it with nitrogen-containing preparations. With an excessive application of nutrients, blackberries begin to release leafy plates instead of fruit buds.

Composition and properties of blackberries

Black Butte Blackberry is known for its beneficial qualities and unique composition, which are even more appreciated than raspberries... The dense pulp of the fruit of the plant contains a large amount of nutrients and vitamins: sodium, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus. Potassium, as well as vitamins of group B (1 and 2), PP, E, A, C. In addition, tannins, as well as citric, malic and nicotinic acids are included in the composition. Its low calorie content - only 34 kcal per 100 g. of the product make the plant a dietary food.

Useful qualities of Black Butte blackberry qualitatively distinguish it from other plants:

• The pulp of the fruit is famous for its ability to prevent signs of aging of the upper layers of the epidermis, and also blocks the development of atherosclerosis. Thanks to its constant use, the body's immune defense is significantly increased, which leads to a decrease in colds.
• The culture contains phenolic compounds that have a beneficial effect on human blood vessels. They stimulate the strengthening of the inner walls of the capillaries, allowing them to become more elastic. Prolonged consumption of fruits leads to blood thinning and neutralization of the development of blood clots in the circulatory system.
• In the event of a cold or viral disease, eating the fruit leads to a significant decrease in body degrees. In addition, it stimulates the elimination of fever, increased sweating and quickly quenches thirst.
• If a patient has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in particular with the intestines, then doctors recommend increasing the intake of blackberries. With the development of diarrhea, you need to eat unripe blackberries, they have a fixative effect and eliminate an upset stomach. Otherwise, with the formation of constipation, you need to feast on overripe berries, they will provoke relaxation.

But before use, it is imperative to check the body for contraindications. If there are similar ones, then you need to refuse to take berries or feast on them in small quantities.

Thus, the Black Butte blackberry is a young hybrid, distinguished by large fruit sizes, but requiring specific care. But in contrast to everything, this variety has a large set of nutrients and can increase human immunity.

More information can be found in the video: