Blackberry varieties. Blackberry varieties without thorns. Description of blackberry varieties

Recently, the garden blackberry, the closest relative of all known raspberries, is very popular among gardeners. Scientists of many countries started to cultivate this interesting plant at the end of the 19th century, creating hybrid varieties that differ significantly from the wild fruits and their size. In Russia, the first species were deduced by IV Michurin.

General description of blackberry

This plant belongs to the Rosaceae family. In the wild, it is found in the form of blackberry thickets in open areas of the forest, near water bodies. This is a perennial shrubby plant with a well-developed root system with developed lateral roots. But above-ground shoots, like raspberries, are renewed every two years. In the first year of life from the sleeping buds of the rhizome grow stems up to three meters in height. Generative kidneys are formed on them, the basis for future fruiting. Varieties of blackberries are distinguished by annual shoots, their appearance. Their color range varies from green to brown. They are with spines and without them, with and without pubescence. The following year, these branches no longer grow, and from the fertile buds at the base of the leaf, shoots are formed with buds collected in the brush. After harvesting, the stems dry out, and new young shoots develop in their place.

Blossoms blackberries in early summer white or with pinkish tinge buds, which are located on the top of shoots in the hands.

Berries are a complex fruit, consisting of a number of juicy roots, located tightly to each other on the cone-shaped flower-sail. They mature in the middle of the summer season. Like raspberries, it has different blackberry varieties. Their photos show the differences of the fruit.

Complex stems are violet, black or dark red, sometimes have pubescence in the form of small villi located on each small component. The shape of the berries is elongated or globular. Modern large-berry varieties of blackberry produce fruits weighing up to 25 g, whereas in the usual culture of this plant they are about 4-6 g.

Species of the blackberry

Depending on the structure of the bushes, the plant is divided into the following types:

1. Kumarnika - a blackberry, in which the stems grow straight up.

2. Rosyanika - a species with creeping and creeping shoots on the ground.

3. Transitional appearance, which is inherent characteristics of the first two.

Description of varieties of blackberry, belonging to the first variety, indicates the high growth of sprouting shoots, reaching 4 m. This feature should be taken into account when choosing a place for planting, for such bushes we need supports so that the branches do not hang or touch the ground. You can put in one or two rows near the fence, using a wire trellis. The distance from one bush to another is no more than a meter. Tie the ends of the stems to the upper trellis, and the young short processes are attached to the lower wire. Propagation of such varieties by root layers.

Kumarnika loves moistened soils, because water is necessary for the normal development of stems and fruits. Lack of moisture leads to a deterioration in the quality of berries, their underdevelopment occurs or they are not at all tied up.

Many tall varieties of blackberries have winter hardiness, which allows them to grow in the middle belt. In contrast to the stalking species, the kumarnik better tolerates frosts. To do this, pruning the tops of annual shoots is done for several dozen centimeters. Cut biennial branches, as well as weakened, broken young shoots, on the bush they leave to 8. After that, the stems are tilted to the ground, fixed and sprinkled with foliage.

For the second species (sparrows), no backups are needed, since the creeping stems are located on the soil. It multiplies due to the rooting of the apical buds. When forming a bush, the young shoots are bent to the ground and attached with hooks to the soil, after which pruning of their tops is made. Soon on the stems are formed branches with fertile kidneys.

In comparison with the upright varieties, the creeping blackberry has a greater yield, but it is much inferior in winter hardiness. Rosyaniku must necessarily be closed from frosts. If such technologies are violated, or when the bushes are released from the mulcher not in time, because of insufficient ventilation the shoots may become frozen or burns develop on them. During a sharp warming in the last days of winter, you should regularly ventilate the shelter.

The transitional form (semi-mature) absorbed the characteristics of the two previous ones, and therefore can reproduce both by the layers of the roots and by the rooting of the apical buds. It is recommended to shelter from frosts.

By the presence of outgrowths on the shoots, blackberry varieties without thorns and thorn plants are distinguished. By the number of harvests per season, there are remontant and ordinary cultivars.

Blackberry garden: varieties

Hybrids of modern cultivated blackberries are superior to their wild relatives in yields, consolidation of fruits, greater winter hardiness. However, unlike the weed blackberry, garden varieties do not tolerate a surplus of moisture in the soil, which can cause the roots to rot. Lack of light negatively affects the formation of the bush and the taste qualities of the fruit.

Russian gardeners are widely used by the Blackberry garden varieties Izobilnaya, Thornless Evergreen, Thornfrey, Smutstem, Black Satin, Orcan, Black Diamond, Arash, Helen, Lucretia, Jambo, Agavam, Darrow, Texas.

Bessship blackberry

At the present time, fruit varieties with several positive qualities have been widely used. This and excellent taste of berries, and large fruits, and the lack of shoots spikes. Blackberry varieties without thorns have been bred for a long time by breeders, since such a feature allows you to ensure a safe collection of berries and save time. The best are Thornfrey, Loch Ness, Ruben, Navajo, Chester, Helen, Natchez, Arash, Chief Joseph, Asterina, Jumbo.

In Russia, the first such product was the blackberry Tornfree. His breeders received in the 60 years of the last century.

Blackberry garden without thorns Loch-Ness is a plant that fructifies from the end of summer and to the first frosts. Such a winter-hardy variety was bred in Sweden. Berries are medium-sized, weighing about 5 grams, black with a glossy coating, with excellent taste, well withstand transportation and storage.

Another remarkable frost-resistant plant is the Navajo garden without spikes of the Navajo variety. This is another late high-yielding hybrid, whose fruits reach 5 grams, with a beautiful appearance, black and glossy finish, with a pleasant taste and suitable for long-term storage.

If we compare the yields of blackberry and raspberry varieties, the preponderance will be on the side of the blackberry. Both these plants begin to bear fruit for the second year of life of shoots. Annual blackberry stems shorten to increase branching, resulting in increased yield of the bush, and old biennial shoots are removed.

High rates of charges are due to late flowering, in which buds are not damaged by May frosts. The best varieties of blackberries give berries about a month, which increases its yield.

The roots of the blackberry are deep enough to allow moisture to be extracted from deeper layers of soil and to withstand the dry period. It grows on virtually any soil, but prefers a readily permeable for water and air earth with a weak acidity. Excess moisture has a disastrous effect on the growth of the plant.

Blackberry is rich in mineral substances: iron, sulfur, phosphorus, calcium.

Repair varieties

A variety of blackberry are plants that bear fruit already in the first year of planting, at a time when other varieties have already moved away from fruiting. These are rugged varieties. Such plants do not need to be harvested in autumn to keep the bush until next season, because the fruits give annual shoots.

Among gardeners is considered high-yielding, perfectly pollinated blackberry repair grade Ruben. Her fruits appear on the stems of the first year. Having thick, strong shoots growing up to 2 meters, this blackberry does not require a support, but due to a well developed root system it can grow on any soils. Ruben variety is very resistant to unfavorable factors, such as lack of moisture in the soil, summer heat or shading.

The first large fruits weighing up to 14 g begin to ripen in late summer, and then two more months you can harvest a wonderful crop of juicy, fragrant berries, until the first frosts.

Fruit branches do not have thorns, which facilitates harvesting, but on the stems there are small outgrowths.

When the berries are all collected, the shoots are cut at the ground level. This pruning protects the bush from freezing in winter and prevents the development of diseases. Fruits of the next year will be without residues of harmful chemicals, which are usually treated with bushes for disease prevention.

Blackberry Thornfrey

Thornfrey is a blackberry variety bred by American breeders of the state of Maryland in the 60s of the last century. This hybrid is popular among gardeners and is introduced into the industrial scale of gardening.

The Thornfrey variety belongs to the variety of large-fruited cropland with late fruiting. It has creeping shoots without thorns, reaching a length of 5 meters. The tops of the stems are cut for better branching, which allows you to get twigs covered with large black berries, beginning in the middle of summer, for 30 days. The leaves of this plant are complex, dark green, composed of five leaf blades.

Such a blackberry is inherent in quality, allowing to develop resistance to various diseases and insect pests. If you use the basic rules of agronomy of the foxes, this sort gives little growth and pleases the gardeners with their abundant flowering in the early summer.

For many blackberry thornfri lovers, the flaw is the abundance of sweetness and the absence of acidity in a mature fragrant berry that becomes inelastic and difficult to store. To avoid this, the fruits are torn beforehand, then they are not so sweet, but the smell is practically nonexistent. Blackberry of the Tornfri variety has elongated berries, weighting up to 6 g, they are collected in a brush, which can have up to 40 fruits.

They plant such plants with the help of rooted tops. Bushes in winter without shelter can freeze, so shoots are laid on the ground, and then covered with earth or mulch from the leaves.

Blackberry Black Satin

Blackberry variety Black Satin was also bred by the American breeders of the state of Maryland, but already in the 70s of the last century as a result of crossing three different hybrids, one of which is Thornfrey. Therefore, it is inherent in some of the qualities of the ancestor.

Blackberry of the variety (photo is presented in the article) Black Satin belongs to the intermediate type, since strong bessear shoots first grow up by 1 meter, and then go down and spread along the ground. Young stems are initially green, and as they grow older they turn yellow or even brown, grow to a length of 4.5 meters. The stiffness and strength of such shoots prevent bending and formation of the bush.

Ripened fruits appear faster than the related Tornfri variety, and in early August, you can start harvesting large black berries with an excellent sour-sweet taste, reminiscent of mulberry, and a weak aroma of blackberries. Detached difficult bone is hard from tsvetolozha, but overripe fruits due to their softness is easy enough to tear down.

The shape of the berries resembles an elongated cone with a rounded tip, the mass is 5-8 g, which is slightly larger than Thornfrey's. Complex knuckles are collected in bundles in a brush. Blackberry variety of Black Satin gives a high yield, from the beginning of summer and until the first frosts.

With good care, this hybrid can become remontant. This property appears in late summer in the form of a growth of fruit branches with buds from the lower buds on young stems. Well developed resistance to pathogens of various diseases. For the winter bushes require shelter, since they are subject to freezing.

Blackberry with spikes

The best varieties of blackberries, whose shoots have thorns, are all known to Agawam, Darrow and Texas.

Agavam is an American hybrid. Young stems of green color grow straight, and only their upper ends are lowered downwards. Branching shoots of annual bushes become purple or brown, covered with spike-like processes and fluff from glandular villi. Leaves with the next arrangement, divided into 3 plates, also there are needle outgrowths.

Complex fruits of this kind consist of large kostyanok, and berries themselves are also obtained large - up to 6 g by weight, black. Their taste is sweet and sweet. Stems for the winter are not covered because of the inability to bend them to the ground.

Darrow is another American variety from the Kumarnyk species. Its straight-growing shoots are covered with spines, the length of which reaches 3 meters. Very high-yield and winter hardy variety of blackberry. The fruits are elongated, with medium weight, black, glossy, sweet with a slight sourness.

Texas - Michurinsky variety, obtained as a result of selection of seedlings of Logan variety. The hybrid belongs to the cedar, creeping shoots are covered with spines and fluffy bloom. Huge berries of this variety - weighing about 9 g - are pleasant to taste due to sweet and sour notes. The color of the fruit varies from dark red to black, there is a touch of wax. Shrubs of Texas strain do not tolerate severe frosts.

Blackberry varieties for the Moscow region

When choosing a variety of blackberries for the Moscow region should take into account a characteristic such as winter hardiness. Therefore, the description of blackberry varieties should indicate their ability to tolerate frosts. If you do not pay attention to it, you can waste your time and energy.

In the Moscow region and in the Moscow region, blackberry varieties such as Thornfi, Agavam, Ufimsk early, Wilsons Earli, Loch Ness, Thornless Evergreen, Darrow, Flint, Chester, Smutsem, Izobilnaya became especially popular among gardeners. These species have medium or high resistance to frost. In the Moscow region, the ambient temperature can reach quite low values, which has a very negative effect on the condition of the bush in the spring and further yield. Despite the high winter hardiness, almost all of the above varieties require shelter at the end of autumn.

Among the hybrids with spikes, the Agavam variety is suitable for this region, which is especially resistant to colds, high yields, no diseases, and a beautiful view.

Flint - another frost-resistant variety. The shoots of this plant reach a medium size, covered with spines. This large-berry variety, black berries with a blue tint, weigh about 5 g, globular, with a wonderful smell and taste of blackberries. Compared with the hybrid Agavam, the yield is slightly lower. Not affected by diseases and pests. In the care of the blackberry Flint is very unpretentious.

Thornless Evergreen is a frost-resistant variety, the bush leaves for wintering without discarding the leaves. Powerful shoots spread along the ground, without spines, although there are plants with spines. Very fruitful variety, bushes literally covered with fruits. Starting from the twentieth of August and until the end of September, pickled sweet and sour berries are black with a glossy coating, they weigh up to 3 g. One of the disadvantages of this variety is the ripening of large seeds, which worsen the taste of the fruit.

In the Moscow region, blackberry sprouts Thornless Evergreen is better covered, laid on the ground and covered with sawdust or foliage.

Wilsons Earley - another winter-hardy sprout variety with small spines, shoots reach two meters. It is an early hybrid, in the middle of summer harvest begins, and it lasts until the beginning of autumn. The fruits are black-violet, oval, not very large, up to 2 g by weight.

Variety Izobilnaya although not winter hardy, but is popular gardeners of the Moscow region. The founder of this variety is the Russian breeder IV Michurin. The growing stems of powerful bushes are covered with hook-shaped spines. This late variety gives a high yield of large berries, the weight of which reaches 10 g, sweet-sour for taste. To protect from frost, bushes are covered.

Blackberry growing in Ukraine

More and more popular is the garden blackberry. Varieties Ukraine buys abroad. In some southern regions of this country, where the climate is milder and winter frosts are low, farmers began to grow high-yielding types of blackberries on an industrial scale. The area under it occupy up to 200 acres of land. In the north of the country it is difficult to do without sheltering such plants, because in winter there is often no snow, and severe frosts will not spare the bushes from freezing, if they are not prepared in the fall. With varieties of foxes, things are much better, they do not need to be specially bent. But the sprouting species, as shoots grow, should be gradually tilted, otherwise their sharp bending will damage the branches. In order to gradually bend the stem, a load is attached to it, and due to the elasticity of the tissues they will gradually bend.

Ukrainian farmers for the production of blackberries often use late varieties, the fruits of which ripen in late summer, and harvesting lasts until the end of September. At this time, many berry crops have already disappeared from the counter, which doubly increases the demand for blackberries.