Blackberries Columbia Star: photos, description, cultivation

The article presents the Columbia Star blackberry: photo, description of the variety, guidance on growing, care, and propagation.

Blackberries have existed for a long time and even the Russian biologist and breeder Ivan Michurin himself, back in the 18th century, developed varieties such as Izobilnaya and Texas. However, it did not become popular and did not spread widely throughout our country and in neighboring countries. In the territories of the American continent, this tasty and healthy berry is grown everywhere and on an industrial scale. This is precisely why in most cases North American breeders become the ones through whom we can see your diversity of new varieties. The best of all new products is considered to be the Columbia Star blackberry variety.

Blackberry Columbia Star: origin of the variety

Blackberry Columbia Star: photo

The new blackberry variety Columbia Star was developed quite recently, namely in the 8th year of the 21st century, after which it was tested for 4 years. It was registered in 14, and a year later patented. It appeared thanks to the work of Chad Finn, who works at the University of Oregon and is patronized by the US Department of Agriculture.

It was bred by crossing the New Zealand variety, which does not have a patent, and the Orus variety. The new blackberry variety Columbia Star mixes many genes from blackberry and raspberry varieties. To obtain a thornless bush, genes from the Lincoln Logan variety were used.

The purpose of the creation was to create a new blackberry bush that would bear fruit that would taste perfect and be easy to grow for industrialists. There was no goal to develop a variety with high yield.

History of hybridization

This type of blackberry was developed by a group of scientists from Oregon State University Corvallis, led by Dr. Chad Finn. The berry got its name from a mountain stream. Columbia Star has been successfully grown at Ukrainian enterprises for several years. In Russia, this variety is not so widespread, but it is possible to buy materials for planting in various online stores.

Blackberry Columbia Star: variety description

Blackberry Columbia Star: photo

To begin with, it is worth saying that the Columbia Star blackberry variety is a completely new variety. It was tested in the United States. The plant appeared there less than 10 years ago, which is not enough to conduct all the tests.

The Russian climate is very different from the North American one, and he stayed in our latitudes quite recently. At the moment, it is extremely difficult to assess how the bush will behave after 5 years, how long it will be able to produce crops and what quality they will be, how high the resistance to various diseases is during periods of infections. What size the fruits will be can also change along with the place where the plant will be grown.

Therefore, the only reason we can judge this variety is based on the little experience of specialists from overseas and with confidence in the American Department of Agriculture, who speak of the variety as very worthy. Considering how popular it is becoming there, and that entire plantations of this variety are being planted, then the experts’ statements are probably not unfounded. They promise that Columbia Star will be a real sensation and will be able to conquer the whole world.

To grow Columbia Star blackberries you will need support. In the first year of life, its shoots grow by 4 meters, and then another 1 meter is added. The variety has flexible, durable, thornless vines that are easy to shape, tie, and prepare for winter. You don't have to tie up the branches, otherwise they will become creeping. Lateral branching is strong. Internodes reach an average of 5 centimeters in length. When young, the leaves have a light green tint, but after a while they become green and large. The variety has a well-developed root system.

The formation of Columbia Star blackberry fruits occurs on the branches of the previous year. I would like to note that there are no thorns on the surface of the entire length of the shoot.

When flowering begins, the bush is covered with large white flowers, 3 centimeters in diameter, collected together from 3 or 4 pieces. The fruits of the Columbia Star blackberry have a cone-like shape, they are of the same large size, dark brown with a hint of burgundy color, which is most often found in raspberry + blackberry hybrids. When you cut the berry, you can see that it is red inside.

On average, the weight of one such berry, according to the manufacturer, is about 8 grams. However, some experts say that the berry can reach 18 grams, but whether it will reach such a size in our country will only be clear with the passage of time. It is likely that by indicating such sizes, the company selling the berries simply used it as an advertising ploy. Regardless of this, the very fact that the fruits reach 8 grams is enough to talk about the large size of the Columbia Star blackberries.

The fruits of the Columbia Star blackberry are about 2 centimeters in diameter and can reach 3.8 centimeters in length. The berries have aromatic, tender, elastic and very juicy pulp with small drupes inside, which are practically not felt when consumed fresh. They have a balanced sweet and slightly sour taste, with a light raspberry and cherry flavor. Tasters rated Columbia Star at 4.7 points.

It should be noted that when grown in our conditions, this rating is reduced to 3 points.

It is difficult to characterize Columbia Star and its unique consumer qualities, because it takes time to test them and expect that it will be able to take root and perform well in our country.

At the moment, there are quite a few positive reviews, but relying on them will not be entirely correct, because only after 4 years of cultivation will it be possible to obtain truly correct information.

The “Star of Columbia” lit up in our sky

Columbia Star - first berries

The taste of Columbia is characteristic of blackberries, but there is a hint of cherry.

COLUMBIA STAR - first signals

The harvest begins on last year's shoots. They do not have thorns - another plus of the variety! They are creeping, quite powerful, and long, which is convenient when covering the bush for the winter.

Shoots that have produced a harvest are removed after fruiting so as not to overload the bush with excess nutrition for already unnecessary branches and to facilitate further care and development of the root system - it, as it turned out, also has characteristics during the adaptation period - it is not at all similar to other varieties. The roots look like a ball of twine. And only over time they mature... and rather slowly.

My bush is located in “free” cultivation - without trellises. The varieties from our collection are mounted on trellises on the plot of my daughter, Oksana Ponomarenko. I mainly have a uterine field for reproduction. The bushes are planted on agro-fabric, which turned out to be very convenient for trellis-free cultivation: fruit-bearing branches, being on clean fabric, do not get dirty or rot.

Collection is generally very convenient at my age - everything is at arm's length. In general, it is necessary to form bushes on trellises, like your daughter’s. Their most common type is single-strip, with three levels of wire tension. At the same time, we try to make the top row no taller than human height (1.7 meters). Most often, the formation of shoots is carried out on a vertical trellis attached to a horizontally stretched thick wire.

When can you plant blackberries? It is recommended to do this both in spring (for the middle zone) and in autumn (more often in the southern regions). But when growing seedlings with a closed root system (ZRS), planting dates become optional - therefore, you can plant them at any warm time of the year.

The planting holes are ordinary, with the usual composition of light soil: peat with the addition of sand and garden soil. We always add osmocotes (long-acting fertilizers) so that development goes along with the nutritional run. When planting, we do not bury the root collar - we leave it at ground level. Like all blackberries, Columbia Star prefers light, slightly acidic soils.

We are comfortable with the absence of thorns, the vine is very flexible, which is important for shelter. Resistance to major diseases is still to come, as long as no diseases or pests have been seen on it. We love this culture very much, so we use all our accumulated experience in caring for, pruning and propagation for our beauty

In the meantime, we rejoice at the beautiful berries, cherish and cherish them, we hope that it will live up to our hopes

We love this culture very much, so we use all our accumulated experience in caring for, pruning and propagation for our beauty. In the meantime, we rejoice at the beautiful berries, cherish and cherish them, we hope that it will live up to our hopes

Let's hope the Columbia Star will thank us for this attention. A fairly large group of owners of this variety will also rejoice with us, with whom we share our impressions and joy of new settlers on our plots!

Blackberry Columbia Star: requirements for growing the variety

Blackberry Columbia Star: photo

Columbia Star does not differ in its winter hardiness from all dews; it is average and during the winter cold the bushes must be covered. If the conditions are favorable, then a temperature of -25 degrees will not be scary for the plant. If the thermometer is not covered below -14 degrees, there is little snow, and there is either a thaw or a sharp cold outside, then this can lead to the death of the bush. The main thing to remember about this is when growing in the Urals, where the weather changes quite often.

Columbia Star has good resistance to long dry periods. It needs to be watered regularly only in the first year of life after planting in the garden. The main thing to remember is that blackberries are a shrub plant and, unlike fruit trees, they need more moisture, especially if they are grown in the southern regions.

She loves loose loamy soils, high in organic matter and low in acidity.

Growing this variety is quite simple, just by pruning and tying the bush on time. If you do not take these measures, then pretty soon the area will be overgrown with impenetrable thickets, which will be quite difficult to cope with, even despite the fact that Columbia Star has absolutely no thorns. Well, and what is most important for the gardener, the yield will decrease significantly, and it will be more difficult to collect the fruits.

Columbia Star blackberries hold their shape perfectly, which allows them to be transported.

Landing Features

The Natchez blackberry variety is quite unpretentious in maintenance, but in order to obtain a good harvest in the future, the necessary planting conditions must be met. Blackberries love fertile loamy, well-drained soil with a low level of acidity and groundwater flow at a distance of at least 1.5 m. Too wet soil leads to rotting of the roots and death of the plant.

The most favorable season for planting Natchez blackberry bushes, due to their average resistance to low temperatures, is spring (the period before buds open). The seedling will take root well in the soil, produce new growth of roots and survive the winter in more comfortable conditions (with mandatory shelter).

Step by step planting process

1. The soil for planting blackberries must first be cleared of weeds and dug up.
2. Holes for seedlings are formed at a distance of 1 to 2.5 m from each other, depending on the number of shoots. The diameter and depth of the hole are about 45–50 cm.
3. The top layer of soil should be set aside.
4. Pour a fertilizer mixture consisting of 5–6 kg of humus, 100 g of superphosphate and 60 g of potassium into the planting hole.
5. Fill the hole 2/3 full with the top layer of soil and mix with fertilizers.
6. Add the remaining topsoil and place the seedling on it, carefully spreading out the roots.
7. The seedling should be sprinkled with soil in stages, making sure that no air pockets are formed, and then compacted thoroughly and watered with 2 buckets of water.
8. It is not recommended to deepen the growth bud by more than 3 cm.
9. Upon completion of planting, the seedling is trimmed, leaving a length of no more than 30 cm from the surface of the ground.
10. A hole is formed around the bush, in which moisture will subsequently be retained.
11. After watering, the soil is mulched with a thin layer (3–5 cm) of humus.

Reproduction

The Natchez blackberry variety reproduces by rooting apical shoots.

Rooting apical shoots of blackberries

Young shoots whose growth has reached 55–60 cm have their tops cut off by 10–12 cm. Side shoots grow from the buds. When the upper part of the shoot is overgrown with small leaves, it should be bent to the ground, deepened by 5 cm and sprinkled with a damp and loose substrate. At the end of the vegetative period, the tops will take root sufficiently and produce vegetative buds.

Next spring, small cuts are made on the side shoots using a razor and placed in grooves with moist soil. In the fall, new shoots will appear from these cuts. After several shoots have formed, they are dug up and divided into separate seedlings, being careful not to damage the tender young roots.

Flowering, ripening, yield

The Columbia blackberry is old and has not yet had the opportunity to demonstrate the actual timing of fruiting and flowering, since cultivation in our country has not yet taken place for more than 3 years, and this is only a period of adaptation. Only when the necessary information about flowering and fruiting is collected, and this will happen no earlier than in 2 years, will it be possible to announce the timing. Considering that the cultivation of this crop began in the Central and southern parts of Russia and in neighboring countries, the information can be quite complete.

At the moment, we can confidently state the timing of flowering in the southern part, where it occurs at the end of June. In the Middle Zone, this happens later. It is difficult to make any statements regarding fruiting. According to the manufacturer, it is medium early and stretched.

It is important to know that the Columbia blackberry is a self-pollinating plant.

In America, it is believed that cultivators are responsible for high productivity, and for dessert varieties, the most important thing is the taste and appearance of the berries. For this reason, when breeding varieties, yield is not put in the first place.

However, companies selling the Columbia Star variety talk about the plant’s productivity as phenomenal and record-breaking. At the same time, in the USA, 16.7 tons are harvested from one hectare of land, which indicates an average yield. Regarding our conditions, it is still very early to talk about productivity, because the data will appear only in three years.

Characteristic

The characteristics of Columbia Star blackberries as a variety with exceptional consumer qualities have not stood the test of time. We can only hope that he will show himself well and take root in our conditions.

Comment! You shouldn’t rely too much on gardeners’ reviews of the blackberry variety Klumbia Star either. Reliable information will be available no earlier than in 3-4 years.

Main advantages

Like all dewberries, the Columbia Star variety has average winter hardiness and needs shelter. Under favorable conditions, this blackberry can easily tolerate 25 degrees of frost. At temperatures below -14⁰ C without shelter in a snowless winter, with periodic thaws followed by sharp cold snaps, the plant may die.

Important! Particular care should be taken to grow the variety in the Urals, where the climate is changeable.

Columbia Star blackberries have high drought tolerance. It needs regular watering only in the first year after planting. Just don’t forget that blackberries are a shrub, not a fruit tree, and they need more moisture, especially in the south.

Blackberries grow best on loose loam, well seasoned with organic matter. The soil should be slightly acidic.

Growing Columbia Star blackberries is not a troublesome task if you trim and tie up the bush in time. If you neglect these procedures, you will quickly end up with impenetrable thickets that are difficult to deal with. And although the shoots of the Columbia Star blackberry are absolutely thornless, it will be difficult to get the bush in order. And the harvest, firstly, will fall, and secondly, it will be difficult to harvest.

Columbia Star blackberries do not lose their shape for a long time and are easy to transport.

Flowering period and ripening time

The thornless blackberry variety Columbia Star has not yet had time to show real fruiting and flowering dates in our conditions. It is grown only for 2-3 years, and this is the time of adaptation of the culture. Having collected the necessary information, it will be possible to talk about the exact indicators of flowering and fruiting in 2-3 years. In addition, Columbia Star blackberries are planted everywhere - in central Russia, Belarus, and in the south.

Today we can say with confidence that in the south the variety blooms in mid-to-late June. In the middle zone, naturally, later. Fruiting is more difficult. The manufacturer states that it is extended and should take place in the mid-early period.

Important! The blackberry variety Columbia Star is self-pollinating.

Yield indicators

When creating a new variety, we always pay attention to its yield. In America, they believe that high productivity is the destiny of industrial cultivars. For dessert varieties, such as Columbia Star blackberries, the main thing is a tasty, beautiful berry. But the yield may be average.

Despite this, our seedling sellers describe productivity as “phenomenal”, “record-breaking”, and Columbia Star blackberries are advertised as producing the highest yields. In fact, in the conditions of the United States, the variety produces 7.5 kg per bush or 16.75 t/ha. This is the average yield.

How the variety will perform in our conditions is generally unknown. There is no such data. And it won’t happen sooner than in 3-4 years.

Area of ​​application of berries

Columbia Star blackberries are delicious and have a rich cherry and raspberry flavor. They are eaten fresh, especially since the transportability of the fruit is good, and they can be stored in a cool room for a long time without losing their marketable qualities. Processed products - preserves, wine, jellies, jams are tasty and healthy.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Columbia Star variety is resistant to typical crop diseases and pests. Of course, it can be affected during epizootic years or in close proximity to infected raspberry or blackberry bushes.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Columbia Star variety is considered promising. If he performs as the breeders plan, he will become one of the best. Its advantages include:

1. Absolutely no thorns.
2. Delicious berries (4.7 points).
3. Resistance to diseases and pests.
4. The yield of the Columbia Star blackberry variety is average, but for a dessert berry it is good.
5. Fruiting period is more than 2 months.
6. Good transportability and keeping quality of berries.
7. Possibility of mechanized cleaning.
8. High resistance to drought.
9. Self-pollinating.
10. The shoots of this blackberry bend well - they can easily be attached to a support or removed from it.

The disadvantages include:

1. The high cost of planting material.
2. Lack of information about Columbia Star blackberries. This is due to the fact that the variety is new. Over time, this defect will correct itself.
3. The need to cover the crop for the winter. Unfortunately, today this applies not only to the Columbia Star variety.

Use, resistance to diseases, pests

Columbia Star blackberries are incredibly tasty; the aroma they emit is reminiscent of cherries and raspberries. When fresh, they are delicious, and thanks to their good transportability and the ability to be stored for a long time under cool conditions, the freshness of these berries can be enjoyed for a long time and in different places. They will also be excellent in jams and jams and can be used to make wine.

The variety is resistant to various diseases and harmful insects. During periods of infectious diseases and adjacent to diseased blackberry or raspberry bushes, the plant may become ill.

Blackberry Columbia Star: pros and cons

Columbia Star predicts good prospects. If he really turns out to be what they expect him to be, then he will take first place among all varieties. The advantages of this plant include:

• Spikes are completely absent;
• The taste is rated 4.7 out of a possible 5;
• Resistant to diseases and harmful insects;
• Despite the fact that the dessert berry yields are average, which is very good;
• Fruiting lasts for 60 days;
• Stores well and withstands transportation;
• Ability to harvest crops using machinery;
• Tolerates long periods of drought;
• Self-pollinates;
• Good flexibility of the shoots, allowing you to easily attach and remove them to frames.

The disadvantages include:

• High price;
• There is not enough information about the variety due to the fact that it has only recently appeared;
• The need for shelter during the winter cold. But this applies to most varieties of blackberries.

Reviews

Due to the fact that this hybrid was obtained quite recently relative to other varieties, very few reviews have been received - this species is common only among exceptional professionals and gardening gurus, and among amateur gardeners there are few owners of Columbia Star blackberry bushes found. However, the available feedback from gardeners is encouraging - the berries pleasantly surprise with their taste and aroma, and the yield is currently very high.

Propagation of blackberries of the Columbia Star variety

There are no difficulties in propagating blackberries. This can be done in several ways:

• Using seeds. Then, by growing only one variety, it will be possible to obtain a third of the plants that will appear with the characteristics of the mother plant;
• With the help of layering. This option is the simplest. To do this, at the end of summer, you need to select a shoot that appeared this year, clear it of leaves, bend it to the ground, secure it with metal staples and dig it in. Next, water, and with the arrival of spring, separate and replant in a new place;
• Using apical shoots. When the lash reaches 60 centimeters in length, you need to cut off the top 10 centimeters long. One bud will produce several shoots, they must be bent and deepened into the ground by 5 centimeters, secured and watered using a large amount of water;
• Using root cuttings. This procedure will help to obtain a larger number of new plants;

You can also propagate the bush by dividing it and using green cuttings.

Please note that the Columbia Star blackberry variety cannot be propagated using root suckers. This is due to the fact that they are not formed in him.

Even a person who is just starting to garden can cope with planting blackberries. Columbia Star does not have thorns, so planting is safe for your hands.

Reproduction

Ogina propagation occurs using the upper parts of the shoots. In the first ten days of August, the upper part of new shoots that did not bear fruit breaks off at a distance of approximately 1.5 - 2 centimeters. Then the leaves fall at a level of 15 centimeters from the top. The part of the shoots that does not have leaves is bent down, covered with soil and strengthened in it. Regular watering should be done throughout the season.

Bush propagation scheme

Blackberry Columbia Star: Planting Guide

When to plant:

In the southern territories, it is preferable to choose autumn for planting, because here spring can end very quickly, which will have a bad effect on the rooting of the plant. In regions with a temperate climate, planting should be carried out in the spring, after the soil has warmed up to a depth of 50 centimeters.

How to choose a place:

For planting, you need to choose an area well lit by sunlight and protected from winds. Groundwater must go to a depth of at least one meter. Blackberries are a moisture-loving plant, but if there is stagnation of moisture in the soil, it will suffer.

In the southern regions, active sun can also cause the plant to feel unwell.

How to prepare the soil:

Blackberries can grow in any type of soil, but prefer light loams rich in organic matter and low in acidity.

Preparation of planting holes should be carried out a couple of weeks before planting. Their diameter and depth should be 50 centimeters. To prepare the earth mixture, you need to mix the fertile top layer of soil with humus (1 bucket), with phosphate (150 grams), with potassium (40 grams). If the soil is too acidic, then you need to add lime to it; if it is neutral or has a high alkali content, then you need to add a little acidic peat. Sand should be added to heavy clay soil.

How to select and prepare seedlings for planting

When choosing, you need to pay attention that the seedling has shoots with good development in the amount of 2 pieces. and on the root system there were a pair of thickened shoots and many fibrous thin roots. If there are wrinkles or cracks on the bark, you should refuse to purchase. The wood can be exclusively green in color. If the plant’s root system is closed, then it is enough to water it and plant it on the site. If there is no earthen lump on the roots, then you need to soak them for half a day.

Landing rules:

If you plan to plant several bushes, then you need to think in advance about how they will be located in the garden. On private territory, the planting scheme can be completely different, depending on the specific situation.

Plants can be planted quite densely, leaving a distance of 80 centimeters between them and 3 meters between rows. But in this case, it will be necessary to take a responsible approach to the formation and feeding of the bush three times during the year. Basically, when planting, leave a distance of one and a half meters between bushes in a row and 3 or 3.5 meters between rows.

After the earthen mixture is ready, you need to fill the holes 2/3 with it, fill it with water and let it stand for a couple of weeks. If it was not possible to prepare them in advance, and the purchase has already happened, then you can plant them immediately, allowing the water to be absorbed.

• The first thing to do is trim the shoots so that no more than 20 centimeters of length remain. The cut must be treated with a garden decoction.
• You need to make a small hill in the center of the hole and plant a seedling on it, carefully straightening its roots.
• Afterwards, you need to fill the plant, so that the root collar goes deep into the ground only a couple of centimeters.
• Next, the earth is compacted, watered abundantly and a layer of mulch is applied.

Please note that if the soil has a neutral acidity level or has a high alkali content, then mulching is carried out using acidic peat.

Features of planting chokeberry Cumberland raspberries

Knowing all the features of planting black raspberries is very important. Not only the survival rate of the seedling depends on this, but also its ability to fully demonstrate all its characteristics in the future.

Site selection and site preparation

Before you buy a seedling, you should find the right place to plant it. Raspberries love the sun very much, so we choose the brightest area. We place the rows in the direction from north to south, so the plants will get more light. Cumberland prefers light loamy and fertile soils.

Wind protection is another important condition. In winter, prevailing air currents can greatly dry out the wood.

As a result, not all plants wake up in the spring.

Cumberland can be planted along fences, which in winter will serve as an excellent shelter from the cold wind.

Once you have decided on a location, you need to prepare it. This should be done in advance, for example, if you plant raspberries in the fall, then in the spring carefully dig up the area, at the same time clearing it of the roots of perennial plants and adding organic matter. Cumberland is very fond of natural fertilizers, so per 1 m² of soil you need at least 2 - 3 buckets of manure. For spring planting, instead of manure, you can sow the area with green manure, which, after digging in the fall, will become the basis of nutrition for the seedlings.

Green manure is an excellent alternative to manure

Planting dates and seedling selection

The choice of time for planting directly depends on the region in which you live. Gardeners in the southern regions prefer autumn, and in spring planting work begins in areas of risky farming.

Autumn planting is ideal for warm climates. Raspberries planted at the end of September will have time to acquire new roots before the onset of cold weather and will safely wait until spring. Autumn is also good because the seedling does not need to be constantly watered. Enough precipitation will do all the work for you.

In cool regions, preference is given to spring planting, which is carried out in April. It will allow you to observe how the seedling is rooting and help it if something goes wrong. But you need to plant the plant before the buds begin to actively bloom.

Finding a Cumberland raspberry seedling is not easy

But if you're lucky, focus on the root system. The roots should not be overdried, broken off, or have traces of disease.

It is best if the root system is closed. Such a seedling can be planted even in summer.

For planting, choose 2-year-old plants

Don't forget to pay attention to the color of the stem and the presence of thorns. The seedling's shoot bark must be covered with a bluish coating

The root system of black Cumberland raspberries is much more powerful than that of red raspberries.

Step by step planting process

1. Considering the fibrous nature of the raspberry root system, the recess should be sufficient for the roots to fit into it without creases. As a rule, a hole with a volume of 45/45 cm is quite enough.
2. Carefully inspect the open root system and trim dry and broken areas, if any, to healthy tissue. Then dip in mullein mixture (the consistency of pancake batter).
3. Be sure to add fertilizer to the hole: a bucket of rotted humus, 2 handfuls of nitrophoska, 4 cups of wood ash. Add fertile soil and mix well.
4. Place the seedling on a mound made from soil mixture, straighten the roots. Fill with the remaining soil and tamp it down around the seedling.
5. Gently water the bush with 1 – 2 buckets of water. When it is absorbed, mulch the surface.

Video: planting Cumberland raspberries

Given the rapid growth and height of the bushes, up to 70 cm should be left between plants in a row. And if you grow using a two-row method, then the row spacing should be 2 m.

Blackberry Columbia Star: care rules

For some time, after the blackberries have been planted, it is necessary to water twice every 7 days, using half a bucket of water.

Columbia Star must be tied to two-meter trellises in which the wire is arranged in three rows. The location of the first should be 50 centimeters from the ground.

You can increase the volume of the harvest with the help of fertilizing, timely pruning and gartering of the plant.

Blackberries love moist soils despite the fact that they are resistant to dry periods. If you do not give the plant the required amount of moisture, the length of the shoots will become shorter and the fruits will become smaller. In the absence of rain, in the southern regions watering should be carried out once every 14 days, in other regions it can be done less frequently.

After spring pruning and tying to the trellis, it is necessary to carry out the first fertilizing. To do this, nitrogen fertilizers should be used. As soon as flowering ends, the plant must be fed with a complex of mineral fertilizers. You can limit yourself to only the first fertilizing and apply large volumes of other fertilizers only once every three years, but then the yield will be reduced, although maintenance will become easier.

It is better to replace loosening the soil with mulching, using humus if the acidity level in the soil is high and acidic peat if it is neutral or alkaline.

Harvesting and storage

Blackberries are harvested as the berries ripen. The fruits must be fully ripe, since they do not have the ability to ripen after being picked. The collection must be carried out in dry weather and not early in the morning: there should be no drops of rain or dew on the berries.

Important! At temperatures from +2°C to +7°C, the berries are stored for 4 days. After that they start to deteriorate

If you collect wet fruits, they will not sit well and will quickly become moldy. To preserve them, they can be frozen and then consumed as needed. Another storage method is drying in an oven or a special dryer.

Rules for preparing for winter

The most important step in caring for a bush is pruning. In the first year of life, no more than three strong shoots are left, which must be tied to a trellis in the form of a fan. The new growth is directed along the middle of the structure and secured to the top wire. Before the onset of winter cold, the shoots of the first year of life are removed, laid on the ground and covered with spruce branches or other material. How deep the shelter should be depends on where the bush grows. In the southern territories, you can cover it with agrofibre and pour a 10-centimeter layer of earth on top. In colder regions, spruce branches and agrofibre are used and the thickness of the soil layer is doubled.

The shelter must be removed before the buds open. It is very important to prevent damping off, because this is much worse for the plant than frost damage.

After the shelter is removed, the old branches and those that appeared only last year are removed. It is enough to leave only the 7 strongest ones, the tops of which are cut off if they are frozen or dry. Afterwards, a garter is placed on one side of the trellis.

In the future, the procedure is carried out in exactly the same way; with the onset of spring, all branches are cut off to the base.

It is important to know that in the autumn only sanitary pruning is carried out.

Preventive measures and possible problems

The plant’s resistance to various diseases and harmful insects allows you not to worry too much about it, but it is necessary to carry out preventive measures by spraying the plant. They are carried out during preparation for the winter cold and with the onset of spring, as soon as pruning is completed. Copper-based preparations are used for processing. During periods of epidemics, other drugs may be needed.

If the leaves on the bush begin to turn yellow, but the veins do not change color, then the plant has become ill with chlorosis. This disease occurs when there is not enough iron. To help the plant you need to use spraying coats.