Blackberry Karaka Black: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care with photo

Blackberry Karaka Black is grown for its delicious berries. Shiny black fruits the size of a matchbox amaze with delicious taste. The variety is suitable for commercial cultivation. Decorative bushes will decorate any amateur garden. Thanks to the extended fruiting, there will be a fresh, he althy berry on the table.

History of breeding Karaka Black

The hybrid form of the blackberry was obtained in New Zealand. Worked on it from 1982 to 2003 by Harvey Hall. As parental forms, I used well-known blackberry varieties of American breeding:

Aurora;
Comanche.

Advantages and disadvantages of culture

One of the drawbacks is the spikes. Because of them, farmers do not really like the form, as they complicate the care of blackberries. The disadvantages of Karak Black include unstable immunity to anthracnose, the need for artificial shade in the heat. Young replacement shoots and fruits suffer from direct sunlight.

The advantages of the variety include:

large fruit size;
high pulp density, good transportability of berries;
wonderful raspberry-blackberry taste;
self-pollination;
early ripening;
long fruiting;
high productivity.

General description of blackberries

Fruits are the main advantage of Karak Black. It is thanks to their characteristics that the old variety is so in demand.

Berries

The size of the fruit is impressive. The length of the largest specimens reaches 5 cm, and the weight is up to 10 g or more. The taste depends on the climate. In southern orchards, the pulp contains more sugars. In temperate climates, Karaka Black berries are less sweet.

The shape of the fruit is cone-cylindrical. Color changes as it matures:

originally red;
in technical ripeness shiny, black;
dull black when fully ripe.

Bush and foliage

The bush is formed from creeping shoots. According to the Russian classification, Karaka Black belongs to the dewberry group. The length of replacement shoots reaches 3-4 m. Some branches reach 5 meters. The spikes are small, hard.

A large number of fruit-bearing branches are formed on the shoots. In an adult plant, 3-6 fruits are formed in the brush, on young bushes - from 2 to 3 pieces.

The shape of the leaves is 3-5-lobed. The color of most plates is green, but yellow may occur. This shade is a varietal feature, not a sign of disease.

Root system

At a depth of 60 cm there is the main part of the root system, the most powerful roots penetrate into the thickness of the earth by 1 m. There is no root growth. This makes planting care easier.

Specifications

Analysis of technical characteristics helps in choosing a new variety for the garden. You need to know the frost resistance of blackberries, yields, recommended regions for growing.

Fruiting terms and yield indicators

Karaka Black Berries are among the first to ripen.In the southern latitudes, the first wave of berries is harvested on June 10-15. In temperate latitudes, harvesting begins in the last days of June. The fruiting period lasts from 6 to 8 weeks. A full-fledged harvest is given by adult plants (3-year-old and older). 10-12 kg of berries are harvested from one bush. On industrial plantations in New Zealand, 25 centners of marketable berries are obtained from 1 hectare.

Berry tasting evaluation and application

Caraca Black berries are highly valued on the market. The scope of their application is wide. They are always in demand, as they are stored for a long time, they do not crumple during transportation. The main uses of blackberry Karaka Black:

fresh consumption;
deep freeze;
blanks (juice, jams, preserves);
winemaking.

Resistant to low temperatures and infections

The form is not frost-resistant. Flower buds and shoots freeze if temperatures drop below -15°C. Immunity to most diseases is high, preventive measures are required to maintain he alth.

Recommended Growing Areas

Amateur gardeners grow Karaka Black in Siberia, the Urals, the Moscow region and, of course, in the southern regions. Frost resistance of shoots and buds is not high, therefore, even in warm climates, bushes are covered for the winter.

Reproduction methods

The variety is easily propagated by top layering. If the shoots are not tied to the trellis, they take root themselves when they come into contact with the ground. Layers retain all varietal characteristics.

To replenish the collection, seedlings are purchased in nurseries.

Planting technique

Karaka Black is planted in private gardens at intervals of 3 m. On industrial plantations, a planting step of 1.5 m is allowed.

Preparation of planting material

Seedlings with an open root system keep 12 hours in water. Plants in a container are watered before transplanting.

Choosing the best seat

The sweet taste of blackberries depends on the light. In temperate latitudes, bushes are planted in areas illuminated by the sun throughout the day. In the southern latitudes, plantings shade in the midday heat.

Requirements for soil composition

Before planting, humus and long-acting mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil. Use superphosphate and potassium nitrate. Improve structure, normalize acidity:

high-moor peat is introduced into alkaline and neutral soil;
add sand to clay soil, organic matter to carbonate soil;
acid soil lime.

Terms and technology of disembarkation

In temperate latitudes, seedlings are planted in spring. The soil should warm up to a depth of 0.5 m. In the southern latitudes, autumn planting is practiced. Seedlings planted in springtime suffer from the heat and take longer to adapt. Blackberries are planted in holes (50 x 50 cm), the root neck is deepened by 1.5-2 cm:

form a hole;
watering;
the trunk circle is mulched.

Specific care

Care for planting Karaka Black is standard. Necessary activities are carried out throughout the growing season.

Irrigation, loosening and fertilization

DescriptionLooseningEarly spring, autumn Mulching

Event	Period

Summer	Straw on acid soil, humus, riding peat on neutral, alkaline Carbamide, mullein infusion
During flowering	Complex mineral fertilizer
Autumn	Potassium monophosphate

Shaping a bush

In autumn, 2-year-old shoots are cut out (those that bear fruit). For 1 adult bush, 6 to 8 replacement shoots are left.

Tie to supports

For growing Karak Black, a trellis 1.5 (1.7) m high is built. 3 rows of wire are pulled:

1st row - 0.9m;
2nd row - 1.2m;
3rd row - 1.5 m.

Treatment from diseases and pests

The main danger for planting Karaka Black is fungal diseases:

anthracnose;
powdery mildew;
gray rot (botrytis).

The main causes of diseases: flaws in agricultural technology, damp, cool weather. The appearance on the leaves, replacement shoots of gray spots with a purple or purple border indicates an outbreak of anthracnose. Botrytis can be diagnosed by spots, dry leaves covered with spores.

The causative agent of gray rot can destroy a young bush in a week. Fruits affected by the fungus are not suitable for consumption. The causative agent of powdery mildew is activated in warm, humid weather. It affects berries, young leaves, growing point. The first sign of infection is a white coating.

Exemplary action plan for the control and prevention of fungal diseases:

applying organic and mineral fertilizers in early spring;
plantation sanitation;
spraying with fungicides before flowering, when the shoots reach a length of 30 cm, after the final harvest.

They use drugs: Fundazol, copper sulfate (5%), Topaz, Kuproksat.

How to prepare for winter

Flexible annual shoots are tied into bundles, laid on the ground or bent down, fixing with staples. Bushes of Karaka Black are thrown with straw, hay, spruce branches or use non-woven covering material.

It is pulled over the arcs in 1-2 layers. It is not inferior to natural materials in terms of efficiency. In Siberia, blackberries winter in trenches. They don't dig deep. Shoots are laid in them, covered with a layer of covering material. Snow is thrown in in winter. A good harvest is guaranteed if there are Karaka Black blackberry bushes in the garden.