Blackberry Agawam: variety description and characteristics, planting seeds and care

Besides fruit trees, summer residents plant berry bushes, harvesting from which they pamper their household and stock up on vitamins for the winter. The Agawam blackberry has a 150-year history. During this time, it has become widespread throughout Russia. Summer residents appreciate her for her unpretentiousness and abundant harvests.

History of Agawam breeding

Nobody knows exactly about the origin of the blackberry species. It is only known that it was created in the USA. The parent varieties were wild representatives of the culture. The first mention of it dates back to 1865. At that time, berries were considered large and tasty.

Pros and cons of blackberries

The Agawam plant has many positive and negative characteristics. Summer residents were divided into two "camps", someone advises to grow it, and someone, on the contrary, says that it must be removed from the site. The decision is up to the gardener.

Pros:

unpretentiousness;
high yield;
great taste;
wet resistant;
universality of application;
capable of bearing fruit for 15 years in the same place;
preservation of presentation during long-term transportation.

Cons:

heavily growing growth;
loss of flavor when overripe;
sharp thorns on stems and leaves.

Planting Agawam blackberries on the site will not cause difficulties for the gardener, it will be difficult to deal with the constantly developing growth, which is not stopped by any obstacle.

General characteristics of culture

The appearance and characteristic features of the plant are necessary for the summer resident to familiarize themselves with. This information helps to correctly allocate space on the site and allocate a separate segment for blackberries.

Fruits

The berries of the Agawam variety are not very large. Their weight reaches 5 g, the shape is oval. There are practically no spines on the stem. Taste, according to tasters, 3.5 points. It is sweet and sour with a standard, cultural flavor.

Bush and foliage

Medium-sized blackberry plant produces few side shoots. Agave is not sprawling, but forms a lot of shoots. The berry grows on 2-year-old shoots. Blackberry variety Agawam shade-tolerant. The trunk and leaves are covered with sharp thorns. Foliage green shade, slightly pubescent.

Root system

Highly branched, tenacious and powerful root system allows blackberry Agave to grow in any conditions, on any type of soil.

Technical description

Data from this category of plant properties help the summer resident to understand whether the variety is suitable for growing in the region of residence.

Fruiting period and yield indicators

Up to 20 berries are formed on one shoot, they ripen separately. Therefore, the harvest is greatly extended. Yield depends on growing conditions.

Minimum 5 kg, maximum 15 kg from one bush.

Berry taste and uses

Fruits of mediocre taste, tasters rate it very low. But this does not prevent gardeners from growing it on their plots. The fruits are used for:

preparing compotes;
cooking jams, jams;
frost;
juices.

The fantasy of housewives has no limits, so the scope of berries is extensive.

Frost and disease resistant

Agawam has medium resistance to common crop diseases. It does not need special and frequent treatments for pests and diseases.

Winter hardiness is high. Sometimes bushes go into winter covered with green foliage.

Optimal Growing Regions

The variety is unpretentious, not afraid of a strong drop in temperature. For these reasons, it is grown in all regions of the Russian Federation.

Methods of reproduction

There are several ways to reproduce. Everyone can choose the right one for themselves: layering, shoots and seeds. Nobody propagates blackberry Agave by layering. The reason is that out of 10 rooted shoots, only 1 takes root. It is difficult and time consuming to propagate by seeds.

The nuances of growing blackberries from seeds

Despite the fact that this process is lengthy, summer residents often use it. From the seed grows a plant strong, powerful and resistant to many factors.

How to collect and prepare seeds

Fruits are harvested only from he althy bushes. Berries must be overripe. Blackberries are crushed, turning into gruel. Rinse under running water until the planting material is clean. The collected seeds are dried.

Seed material stratification before planting

Seeds are kept in wet sand for 2-3 months. Keep it in the refrigerator. The optimum temperature is +2 … +4 ⁰С. Planting material older than 1 year is unsuitable for planting, as it loses its germination capacity. Some summer residents damage the shell of seeds with a sharp object before planting.

Timing and sowing technique

In order for the landing to not be fruitless, it is necessary to follow a certain technology. Containers are prepared, the soil is filled in them fertile. Fill up the container by 2/3, so that as the seedlings grow, fill the soil, stimulating the formation of additional roots. Then grooves are made, deepening the planting material by 3-5 cm. They are tightened with polyethylene. Watered every 2 weeks.

Spring

Planted in February in containers. Arrange lighting. After 2.5 months, they are planted in a permanent place. Growing at home allows you to pay more attention to seedlings and get he althy bushes.

Autumn

When the leaf falls, form a bed and plant directly in a permanent place. Seeds lie all winter, wake up in spring and begin to grow. Seedlings obtained in this way are more hardy.

Seedling care

Blackberry Agave needs care just like other plants on the site. Growers recommend standard farming practices.

Water and loosening

Watered as the top layer dries. After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the ground to provide the root system with oxygen.

Fertilizer

Feeding with organic matter and complex mineral fertilizers will help grow powerful and strong plants. It is advisable to alternate fertilizers with each other.

Seasonal pest and disease control

Blackberry Agawam is immune to diseases, so if you follow the rules of planting and care, problems with plants should not arise. If necessary, they purchase special preparations and spray the bushes with them. Stop chemical treatment during flowering and fruiting. They use folk remedies.

Garter and trim

To increase the yield of the bush, it is necessary to cut the shoots that bear fruit in the season to the ground. The first few years Agave does not need pruning, then do it systematically in spring or autumn.

Preparing for winter season

To preserve bushes in the northern regions, Agawam blackberries are covered for the winter. Use special material or improvised means, dry plant residues and polyethylene. After they add a layer of soil.

What is needed for a good blackberry harvest

Every gardener dreams of getting the declared harvest. But growing it can be very difficult. High yields are obtained only with proper care and proper planting.