Repair blackberry: the best varieties, planting, growing and care with photo

Gardeners rarely take up space in the garden by planting remontant blackberries. Yes, and the usual is still rarely planted. But the culture is spreading fast enough. The re-harvesting blackberry was introduced only 10-15 years ago. But she already has supporters who are ready to replace her usual bushes. But is this plant really that attractive?

How is it different from regular blackberries

Remontant differs from a simple blackberry in the possibility of re-fruiting. The first berries ripen on the shoots of the last year, and the second - on the shoots of the current year, grown over the summer.If you take care of the plant, like an ordinary blackberry, then it will bear fruit once. But remontant involves competent pruning for the winter. Shoots (old and young) are shortened to stumps 20-25 cm from the soil surface.

Then, top dressing and shelter are carried out, for which peat, sawdust or covering material is used. Overwintered bushes will give the first harvest in June-July. And the regrown branches will delight you with repeated fruiting in August-September.

Pros and cons of remontant varieties

Gardeners who have such a plant in their country house note the positive qualities of the shrub:

1. The plant is easy to prepare for winter. Pruning and shelter exclude freezing of the ground part of the plant.
2. Artificially induced late flowering protects blackberries from recurring frosts: the ovaries are not damaged, the harvest is guaranteed.
3. When planting in spring (April - early May), the berries will ripen in August-September. Ordinary blackberries will please the harvest only next spring.
4. Low winter pruning is pest prevention. Affected branches are cut to a he althy area and burned.
5. The bushes are very decorative throughout the season: they are either covered with fragrant flowers or ripening fruits.
6. The plant is compact. When planting, it is not required to limit the bed, it will not spread over the site.

But there are also disadvantages:

• the total weight of two crops is no more than the weight of one crop of regular blackberries;
• increased need for ridge moisture;
• Overloaded bushes require strong support.

Repeated fruiting allows the grower to gradually process a bountiful harvest.

Classification of varieties

Blackberries can be conditionally divided into:

• kumaniku (its stems hardly bend);
• dewberry (has thin creeping stems up to 5 m long);
• semi-creeping varieties.

Most of the cultivars grown in gardens belong to the Kumanica.

By maturity

Blackberry varieties ripen at different times. By maturity, plants are conditionally divided into:

• early;
• medium-early;
• medium;
• medium-late;
• late.

The taste of berries in varieties of different ripening periods is different.

Early

Berries on such bushes ripen at the very beginning of summer: June. But one should not expect sugar content and flavor from them: they are not. But the pulp is watery, juicy. The value of the harvest is its early appearance.

Mid-ripening

Berries ripen in mid-July. They are less watery, more fragrant. They are nice to eat fresh or cook compotes.

Later

Late varieties delight the gardener in August - early September. Their pulp is juicy and aromatic, the juice contains a lot of sugars. Such berries are eaten fresh, put into preparations, dried.

Winter hardy

Gardeners are attracted by winter-hardy varieties of remontant blackberries. Such bushes hibernate without shelter, their fruit buds and shoots do not freeze slightly. Winter-hardy blackberries save the grower time preparing bushes for winter.

By growth pattern

Remontant blackberry has bushes of different growth patterns. It depends on the type of shoots.

Spruce blackberry varieties

Spruce blackberries have tough, hard-to-bend shoots. Their height rarely exceeds 2-2.5 m. There are usually 3-5 shoots in one bush. This is enough to get a harvest. Excess stems weaken the plant.

Spreading Blackberry

This blackberry shoots are thin, easily bent. Their length reaches 5-6 m. The tops easily take root on their own. Over time, such a blackberry turns the site into impenetrable thickets. Rarely found in country gardens.

By growing areas

Blackberry is a southerner. But because of the pleasant taste of berries and unpretentiousness, it has become widespread in different climatic zones.

For Moscow Region

Remontant blackberry with upright shoots has become widespread in the Moscow region. They are easy to care for, but it is necessary to tie them to a support: the plant overloads itself with fruits. The best varieties for the region: Ruben, Black Magic, Prime Jim, Prime Arc, Prime Yang. They easily produce two bountiful harvests. With the complete removal of last year's shoots, the only crop increases.

For central Russia

For central Russia, early varieties of remontant blackberries are preferred. They will have time to give both crops before the onset of cold weather. With warm autumn, the plant pleases with berries until mid-October.

The varieties Freedom and Giant have proven themselves to be excellent. Their shoots are upright, up to 2.5 m high. Plants are winter-hardy.

For the Urals

The climate of the Urals is continental. It is characterized by cold, long winters and hot, but short summers. In such conditions, remontant blackberries do not feel well and bear fruit poorly.

But we can recommend some varieties that, with good winter shelter, will please the harvest. It is worth paying attention to Ruben, Polar, Loch Tay.

According to external parameters

Remontant blackberry differs in bush habit. But gardeners are interested in another difference: the presence or absence of thorns.

Prickly

Traditionally, the spines of the plant are frequent and sharp. You have to wear gloves to collect berries. Which is inconvenient. And during trimming and gartering, you have to wear special clothes so as not to damage the skin.

Thornless

Breeders have created blackberry varieties without thorns. Caring for such plants is much easier.

By yield

Gardeners want to have the most productive variety of remontant blackberries in their dachas. But it is important to remember: the declared yield is obtained only if all fertilizing, watering, garters are observed.

Among high-yielding varieties stand out:

• Ruben (up to 7 kg per square meter);
• Prime Arc (has large berries up to 10 g);
• Giant.

These varieties traditionally give two good harvests.

How remontant blackberry breeds

Remontant blackberry does not produce root shoots like the traditional one. But for its reproduction, there are methods.

Layers

Propagation by layering is the easiest way. The top of the shoot is slightly incised, pinned to the ground and sprinkled with soil. The place is regularly moistened. After 3-4 weeks, a new bush is ready for planting in a permanent place.

Cutting

For this method of reproduction, cut off a part of the stem with 3-4 buds. The top cut is made straight and waxed. Lower - cut at an angle of 45 degrees. Leave 2-3 sheets, the rest are removed. The lower cut is placed in a solution of the root former. A glass with a handle is placed away from direct sunlight. After 3 weeks, the shoot takes root.

Seeds

Gardeners practically do not use this method because of its laboriousness. In addition, only varieties can be propagated in this way, hybrids do not transmit parental qualities.

Seeds are scattered on the surface of moistened soil and placed in a greenhouse. The container must be constantly ventilated, the soil must be moistened. After the appearance of true leaves, the blackberry is planted in a mother liquor, and the next year - in a permanent place in the garden.

Root buds

The perfect way to rejuvenate the culture. The old plant is dug up, the rhizome is examined. Allocate he althy areas with 2-3 kidneys. The root is cut into pieces, the slices are sprinkled with activated charcoal. Then the root pieces are planted in pre-prepared planting pits. It is important to regularly moisten the soil before the stems appear.

Features of planting and care

To get regular harvests, it is recommended to follow the rules for planting and caring for blackberries.

Soil Requirements

Blackberries prefer slightly acidic medium nutrient soil. It grows well on medium loams and sandy loams. Heavy loams should be sanded. Sandy soils are recommended to be acidified with peat.

Blackberries love organic. Before planting, mature compost or humus should be added to the soil. It is important to avoid high groundwater levels in bush locations.

Dates and schemes of disembarkation

Repairing blackberries are planted twice a year: in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). Spring plantings have an advantage: the seedling will have time to build up the root system and successfully overwinter.

When planting in the fall, the gardener risks getting a frozen bush in the spring. With late planting dates, the plant should be carefully covered, the soil should be moistened.

Shrub loves sunlight. This should be taken into account when placing bushes. Plants with a powerful habit are placed at a distance of 70-90 cm from each other. Compact plants allow planting in 40-50 cm.

Optimal climatic conditions

The plant is a native of the southern regions. Therefore, it grows and bears best in regions with mild winters and long warm summers. At the same time, the plant is sensitive to the number of sunny days. But breeders create frost-resistant varieties and hybrids with a short ripening period. Subject to the rules of care and proper selection of the type, you can get two plentiful harvests in problem regions.

Feeding

Blackberries are responsive to organics. When planting, it is recommended to fill the planting pit with compost or humus. During the season, it is recommended to add compost mixed with mulch 2-3 times under the bushes.In the autumn, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the amount of 20 g are required for each plant. It is recommended to loosen the soil and cover it with mulch after application.

After the snow melts, it is required to feed the bushes with nitrogen fertilizers (urea). Under each plant, 10-12 g should be applied. Then it is recommended to remove the old mulch and cover the near-stem space with a new one. The layer should be 15-20 cm thick.

Cutting

After the plant leaves wintering, it is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning. All frozen, broken shoots are subject to removal. Then 2-3 pinchings are carried out in the summer: lateral fruit-bearing shoots are shortened at a height of the main 30 cm and 70 cm. get one harvest, old shoots are cut at ground level.

Diseases and pests: ways to deal with them

Due to the characteristics of cultivation, remontant blackberries are practically not affected by the raspberry beetle and raspberry fly. But in a dry summer, the plant is threatened by a spider mite. To prevent damage to plantings, it is recommended to monitor soil moisture.

Landings are sometimes affected by anthracnose. To prevent disease, it is recommended to make timely feeding.

Shelter for the winter

Blackberries need shelter for the winter. For this, spruce branches collected in the forest are suitable. It will protect plants from damage by mice. Hemp is completely covered with spruce branches, and on top - with straw (it will give warmth). Near plantings on the south side, it is recommended to stick a few branches to ensure snow retention in winter.

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