Blackberry varieties: description of the best species, features of choice for different regions with photos

Gardeners often get lost in front of the abundance of blackberry varieties. I would like to plant an undemanding and productive variety or hybrid. And it should take up little space. Some summer residents are afraid of the possible spread of the plant over the site. They are attracted by varieties of remontant blackberries. These shrubs are quite compact and calm. Before buying a plant, you need to understand what the plant should be like. And what specific crop do you want to get from it.

Early varieties

Blackberry is a member of the Rose family. This is a perennial shrub with erect, creeping or semi-creeping shoots. In culture, there are forms with or without spikes.

Early varieties please harvest in June. But one should not expect a wonderful taste from the berries: they are sour, watery. But the value of the early types lies in the fact that they bear fruit when there are no berries in the gardens other than blackberries.

Giant

This is a product of breeders from Arkansas. Giant - repair blackberry. Plant Feature:

• upright shoots with thorns;
• plant height from 1.5 to 2 m;
• stems brittle: need garter to support;
• flowers are large, fragrant;
• withstands frosts down to -40 degrees Celsius without shelter;
• fruits twice: in June and August.

Berries have an elongated rounded shape. They taste good. The mass of the berry reaches 25 grams. The yield of the Giant is noteworthy: up to 35 kg from one bush.

Karaka Black

This is a hybrid created by New Zealand breeders. The plant is different:

• semi-creeping flexible shoots up to 6 m long;
• stems with many thorns;
• stretched berries;
• sweet and sour taste of berries.

The advantage of the hybrid is unpretentiousness, ease of sheltering shoots for the winter. Disadvantage: the tops of the stems easily take root on their own and form continuous thickets in the country.

Columbia Star

A relatively new type of blackberry without thorns. Requires a garter to support. Gardeners love:

• taste (sweet-sour) berries;
• compact bush (shoots creeping up to 5.5 m);
• high yield (up to 10 kg per bush);
• self-fertile.

After picking, the berries are stored for 3-4 days without loss of marketability.

Natchez

Representative of blackberry without thorns. Plant characteristics:

• upright shoots up to 3 m long;
• yield up to 20 kg from one bush;
• few replacement shoots;
• frost resistance up to -20 degrees Celsius;
• extended (up to 40 days) fruiting;
• sweet berries, weight up to 12 g;
• excellent transportability.

Sprawling bushes: it is recommended to maintain a distance of up to 1 m between them.

Osage

The most delicious type of thornless blackberry. Its features:

• low (up to -13 degrees Celsius) frost resistance;
• yield up to 3 kg per bush;
• upright shoots up to 3 m high.

Main advantage: special taste of berries. Because of this, gardeners put up with the shortcomings of the variety.

Ouachita

The advantage of the variety is the absence of thorns. Ouachita is different:

• thick erect shoots up to 3 m high;
• yielding up to 30 kg per bush;
• unpretentiousness;
• easy to grow;
• resistance to diseases and pests.

The berries are round, weighing up to 7 g. When growing a whip, it is recommended to tie it to a support: the plant overloads itself with fruits. Plant disadvantage: low frost resistance (up to -17 degrees Celsius).

Czachanska Bestrna

This is a type of thornless blackberry. Its characteristics:

• yield up to 15 kg per bush;
• flexible semi-spreading shoots up to 3.5 m;
• drought tolerance;
• resistance to diseases and pests.

Berries are large (up to 7 g), sweet. Frost resistance of the plant up to -26 degrees. The keeping quality and transportability of berries is low (after 2-3 days the marketability is lost).

Eldorado

Excellent variety with high (up to -35 degrees) frost resistance. Its features:

• upright (up to 3 m) shoots;
• thorns are rare;
• high (up to 20 kg per bush) yield;
• stable fruiting;
• pleasant dessert fruit taste;
• the shape of the berries is round-elongated.

The plant requires a garter to support. Disadvantage: Eldorado gives abundant root growth, spreads over the site.

Mid-ripening varieties

After the early varieties of blackberries, gardeners are pleased with the mid-season. Breeders have created thornless types and with thorns. These species produce more fragrant and juicy berries. Fruiting in mid-season blackberries is friendly.

Waldo

Gardener tested thornless blackberry. Distinctive Features:

• compact bushes;
• creeping flexible shoots 2 m long;
• medium frost resistance (up to -25 degrees Celsius);
• yield up to 17 kg per bush;
• berries up to 8 g, refreshing.

Blackberries are not demanding to care for: the most important point is shelter for the winter.

Kiev

This blackberry has the largest (up to 25 g) berries. Harvest ripens at the end of July. The variety is characterized by:

• high yield (up to 30 kg from one bush);
• upright shoots up to 2 m high;
• an abundance of thorns;
• transportability without loss of marketability.

Blackberry requires a garter to a support and mandatory shelter for the winter (for regions with cold winters).

Loch Ness

A thornless variety that delights the grower with fruits that taste like wild berries. Excellent yield (up to 25 kg per bush). Variety Attractiveness:

• stability of fruiting;
• unpretentious care;
• sweet taste;
• ease of reproduction.

But there are also disadvantages:

• semi-spreading shoots, grow up to 5 m;
• plant necessarily requires support;
• lack of heat and light affects the taste of berries.

Blackberries are ideal for growers who sell surplus produce.

Loch Tay

The variety is attractive due to the absence of thorns. Blackberry is characterized by:

• semi-creeping shoots up to 5 m long;
• frost resistance up to -20 degrees Celsius;
• large (up to 5 g) berries;
• sweet-sour fruit taste;
• excellent transportability;
• high yield (up to 15 kg per bush).

Gardeners consider the variety ideal for growing in summer cottages.

Columbia Star

Relatively new blackberry variety. Requires a garter to support. Gardeners love:

• taste (sweet-sour) berries;
• lack of spikes;
• compact bush (shoots creeping up to 5.5 m);
• high yield (up to 10 kg per bush);
• self-fertile.

After picking, the berries are stored for 3-4 days without loss of marketability. Colombian blackberry pleases with a mass of berries (up to 15 g). The plant has frost resistance down to -14 degrees Celsius.

Sweet Pie

Another novelty among thornless varieties. It was created by breeders in the late 90s of the last century. Sweet Pie is a cross between Navajo and Brazos.

This variety has the most delicious fruits. They have a high sugar content (up to 12%).

Characteristic variety:

• resistance to diseases and pests;
• unpretentiousness;
• berries of medium size, glossy, juicy.

Sweet Pie is a good addition to the collection.

Won

A distinctive feature of the thornless variety is small seeds that do not irritate while eating. The variety was created in 1998. Features:

• extended fruiting;
• preservation of marketability during transportation;
• first year yield - 12 kg per bush, then increased;
• low winter hardiness (withstands frosts down to -12 degrees Celsius);
• shoots upright, strong;
• lack of root shoots (does not crawl over the site);
• resistance to anthracnose, rust.

Won recommended for growing in suburban areas.

Late varieties

These varieties complete the berry season in gardens. They harvest in August and fruit until September, and some until frost.

Black Satin

An old thornless blackberry. It is grown by many gardeners. Special Features:

• yield depends on agricultural technology (subject to the rules - up to 25 kg per bush);
• mass of berries up to 5 g;
• taste depends on the number of sunny and warm days;
• semi-spreading shoots (up to 5.5 m);
• can be grown without support by bending plants to the ground;
• frost resistance up to -22 degrees.

Black Satin is characterized by unpretentiousness and disease resistance.

Doyle

The most productive of the thornless blackberries. Plant Feature:

• shoots erect, slightly inclined to the ground;
• shoot length up to 4 m;
• maximum fruit weight - 8 g;
• extended fruiting (up to 2 months);
• taste of fruit sweet and sour;
• pulp is dense, fragrant;
• excellent transportability without loss of marketability;
• drought resistant bushes;
• frost resistance up to -15;
• resistance to diseases and pests.

The value of a variety is productivity. Gardeners collect up to 50 kg of fruits from one bush.

Navajo

A wonderfully easy rooting and easy to care for blackberry. Special Features:

• stable fruiting;
• extended fruiting (harvested for a month);
• good taste (sweet-sour);
• frost resistance up to -20 degrees;
• transportability without loss of marketability;
• upright shoots up to 1.5 m high;
• when growing, it is possible to do without support.

Navajo Value: Blackberries are resistant to major diseases.

Oregon Thornless

The bush has creeping shoots. They grow up to 4-5 m. The plant has a stem free from thorns. The fruits are medium (up to 5 g). Dessert taste, sweet and sour. Subject to the rules of care, it gives a crop of 12 kg per plant. Berries are transportable. Oregon grows in any soil, but the maximum yield is obtained by observing the rules of agricultural technology.

Minus: without shelter withstands frosts down to -12 degrees.

Texas

Product of Michurin selection. Plant Feature:

• long (up to 5 m) creeping shoots;
• young shoots are fluffy, then prickly;
• lack of root growth;
• simple rooting tops;
• fruit weight 11 g;
• fruit color raspberry-violet, with wax coating;
• taste sweet and sour.

Texas can be grown without support.

Thornfree

This is an upright form of blackberry. Its shoots grow over 4 m, slightly bend towards the ground. To preserve the crop, a garter to a support is recommended. Plant Feature:

• lack of spikes;
• large brushes (more than 30 pieces of berries);
• pulp firm, juicy;
• excellent transportability without loss of marketability;
• stable fruiting.

This blackberry is a great industrial shape. But in the northern regions it requires shelter for the winter.

Triple Crown

Excellent variety with extended fruiting. Its characteristics:

• shoots upright, slightly inclined;
• length up to 4 m;
• bush vigorous;
• very significant;
• yield up to 13 kg per plant;
• berries are pleasant, sweet-sour;
• pulp is dense, fragrant;
• excellent plant survival.

Berries do not crumble as they ripen. But in extreme heat they dry out on the brush.

Chester

The variety with pink flowers was created by American breeders for industrial use. Special Features:

• thornless form;
• an abundance of brushes with fruits;
• semi-spreading shoots (up to 4-5 m);
• bushes overload themselves with fruits: support is needed.

With proper care, it is realistic to collect 20 kg from one bush.

Gazda

Polish breeders have created a variety with a small number of thorns. The mass of berries is up to 5 g. The taste of fruits is sweet with sourness. The grade differs in high transportability and marketability. The plant pleases with productivity: subject to the rules of cultivation, it gives 20 kg per plant. Gazda is recommended for farms and summer cottages.

Enchantress

The Enchantress was created by Russian breeders. Plant Feature:

• drought tolerance excellent;
• easy maintenance;
• weight of berries up to 7 g;
• taste sweet and sour;
• frost resistance up to -30;
• resistance to major diseases and pests.

The plant yields up to 15 kg of dessert fruits per bush.

Tornless Logan

Representative of the Thornless group. This is a creeping form with long shoots (up to 5 m). It is characterized by abundant brushes (up to 6 fruits in each). The taste of berries is pleasant, sweet and sour. Fruit weight up to 4 g. The variety is easy to transport over long distances: the berries do not lose marketability.

Lawton

This is a typical bramble with erect shoots. They are about 3 m long. Features:

• a lot of spikes;
• medium berry (up to 4 g);
• extended fruiting (1.5-2 months);
• frost resistance up to -21.

Spruce blackberries will delight you with excellent dessert fruits.

Shade-tolerant varieties

Blackberry is a southern plant. To fully reveal the taste, she needs lighting throughout the day. But not all gardeners can provide the plant with such conditions. In this case, shade-tolerant species should be chosen for planting. Representatives of this group grow with a lack of sunlight.

Agawam

Variety of national selection. Special Features:

• bush with great vigor;
• upright shoots, up to 4 m long;
• there are spikes;
• gives a lot of root growth;
• rooted by shoot tips;
• frost resistance up to -30;
• brushes consist of 20-30 fruits;
• wet resistant in spring;
• resistant to diseases and pests;
• grows up to 15 years in one place.

But there are also disadvantages: ordinary, insipid taste, low transportability, low keeping quality.

Thornless Evergreen

Very ornamental plant. Features:

• creeping shoots (up to 5 m);
• lack of spikes;
• flowers are white or white-pink;
• leaf blade indented;
• frost resistance up to -30;
• lack of root growth.

The berries are sweet and sour, almost tasteless when overripe. The plant is used to create hedges.

Black Prince

An interesting variety of large-fruited blackberries. You can find forms with spikes and without them. Excellent frost resistance (up to -30). Productivity up to 25 kg per bush. Minimal maintenance required.

Frost-resistant varieties

Blackberries want to grow residents of different regions. And frost resistance, as a characteristic, is very important.

Such varieties and hybrids hibernate without shelter, if the temperature in winter does not fall below the mark indicated by the creators.

Apache

Winter-hardy variety: easily tolerates frosts down to -20 without shelter. The berries are sweet, large (up to 10 g). Gives a lot of root shoots. But does not tolerate drought well.

Arapaho

The variety gives gardeners sweet berries. Withstands frosts down to -25. Advantage: no spikes. Shoots grow up to 2 m. It is recommended to tie to a support.

Darrow

The variety was created by American breeders. It withstands frosts down to -34 without shelter. The berries have a sweet and sour taste, when overripe they are insipid.

Plentiful

Frost-resistant (up to -30) variety bred by Michurin 100 years ago. In one place successfully bears fruit for 15 years. The average yield is 3 kg per bush. The number of fruits increases with the introduction of top dressing and increased watering.

Polar

Polar is characterized by unpretentiousness and excellent survival. Therefore, from industrial fields spread to private gardens. The frost resistance of the variety is up to -23, but can withstand frosts down to -30.

Ufa

The variety has frost resistance higher than Agawam. Berries are sweet. But the study of the variety has not yet been completed: tests continue.

Guy

Product of Polish breeders. It was created 30 years ago. Frost resistance of the variety up to -30. The fruits taste like mulberries.

Cherokee

The variety withstands frosts down to -23 degrees. Shoots are thornless, berries up to 8 g. Honey berries, ideal for preservation and fresh consumption.

German uncovered

Thornless blackberry hibernates without shelter. It is characterized by a bunch up to 65 cm in length. The berries are sweet and fragrant. Yield up to 30 kg per plant.

Repair varieties

Gardeners are attracted by varieties and hybrids that bear fruit 2 times per season. The first harvest is received at the very beginning of summer, the second - at the end.

Black Magic

Berries grow on this year's shoots. Moreover, there are no spines at the locations of the brushes. The fruits are sweet, weight up to 11 g. Productivity up to 6 kg per bush for one fruiting.

Prime Arc

The shoots have thorns at the bottom. Gives berries of excellent dessert taste. Excellent transportability. But winter shelter is needed.

Prime Jim

Plant characteristics:

• shoots have thorns;
• bush grows up to 2 m;
• requires support garter;
• fruits are sweet with sourness;
• fruit weight up to 10 g.

Blackberry's distinctive feature: pink and white flowers.

Prime Yang

The fruits grow up to 6-7 g. They are characterized by a sweet taste and apple aroma.

Prime Arch Freedom

Fruits weigh up to 20 g, sweet, fragrant. Escape without thorns. Breeders give data on high yields among remontant types. Frost resistance is low: up to -13.

Ruben

The most large-fruited of remontant species. The mass of berries reaches 16 g. The shoots are strong, upright. Can be grown without support.

The best varieties for different regions of Russia

Gardeners want to grow blackberries everywhere. But when choosing a variety or hybrid, it is recommended to take into account the climatic features of the region and the degree of compliance of the plant with them.

For Mid lane

Agronomists recommend planting Agawam, Black Satin, Karaka Black, Ruben.

For Moscow Region

Ideal for the Moscow region: Apaches, Aparaho, Brzezina, Doyle, Karaka Black, Lawton.

For cultivation in the Urals and Siberia

In the Urals and Siberia, they bear excellent fruit: Polar, Eldorado, Gazda.

For the Leningrad region

In the Leningrad Region, gardeners get good harvests from: Brzezina, Doyle, Aparaho, Polara, Eldorado, Triple Crown, Darrow.

For the South

In the Kuban you can grow: Ouachita (Auchita), Columbia Star, Jumbo.

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