The subtleties of growing Karaka Black blackberries: planting and care

Blackberry bushes are a new product for domestic gardeners. The fruits have different taste qualities and are perfect for universal use. All that remains is to choose the most attractive variety. Blackberry Karaka Black is a New Zealand plant species.

It was developed quite a long time ago and is in demand among lovers of exotic berries. The variety differs from the mass of related crops not only in taste.

It has special characteristics, for which it has gained popularity among Western gardeners.

How to plant a crop correctly

Having chosen a blackberry variety for planting, each gardener begins preparatory work.

How quickly and well the bush takes root and begins to bear fruit depends on the correct preparation. There are no special requirements for landing. They are standard with minor nuances.

Recommended timing by region

Regardless of the region of cultivation, Karaka Black blackberries are planted in the spring. In this case, the indicators for work are the soil - warmed up by 45-55 cm. This is enough for the seedling to take root and settle down in a new place.

Since in some places there is a risk of return frosts, it is recommended to cover the young plant at night. When a warm temperature is established, the insulation is removed.

For the southern regions, autumn planting is acceptable. It is more convenient for these places, since in the spring the warming occurs rapidly. The sun's rays can burn young blackberries. To save the bush, you can shade the bush at noon.

Choosing a landing site

The area for planting Karaka Black blackberries is selected according to a certain scheme:

• plenty of sun, but the presence of shade during midday;
• absence of drafts;
• the presence of a fence or building at a distance of 1.5-2.5 meters to protect the plant from the wind.

An important point is checking and preparing the soil for blackberries. The ideal soil is slightly acidic loam. Before planting, create a fertilizing soil mixture.

Mix the following ingredients:

• potassium – 50 g;
• phosphorus – 130 g;
• humus - bucket;
• soil from the planting hole - ½ part.

Selection and preparation of planting material

When purchasing planting material, the gardener must carefully inspect it. The seedling has thorns - a sign of the variety. You shouldn’t believe the stories that Karaka Black doesn’t have them until a year old. Carefully study the root system.

It should not have defects, breaks, or wrinkled places. Before planting, the blackberry seedling is placed in water at room temperature for 12 hours.

If you bought it in a container, then it is enough to water it abundantly 4-6 hours before planting. To improve rooting, it is recommended to soak and water with diluted Kornevin and Heteroauxin.

Disembarkation scheme

Karaka Black blackberries are planted freely, but rows are made to save space. The row spacing is 3 m, 1-1.5 meters are left between the bushes.

Be sure to make trellises for garters. The planting hole is 45 by 50 cm in size. Next:

• the first layer is drainage (5-7 cm);
• the second – fertile soil with a layer of 10-15 cm;
• the seedling is installed, straightening the roots;
• cover with the rest of the soil mixture;
• on top is the remainder of the earth after digging the hole.

Compact the soil around the planting with your hands or a roller and water. For the first watering, 4-5 liters of settled water is enough. The final touch is mulching. Mulch material: straw, hay.

During the spring planting of blackberries, pruning is carried out (20 cm cut). The procedure is aimed at stimulating branching.

Characteristic

The Karaka Black variety in England and other European countries is grown as an industrial variety in open ground and under film covers. This blackberry came to us not so long ago, but small farmers and gardeners have already appreciated it. On large farms, the Karaka Black variety is still being tested for resistance to the vagaries of our climate.

Main advantages

Karaka Black blackberries are not intended for frosty winters. Its shoots and flower buds are not able to withstand temperatures below -16-17⁰ C. They cover it even in the south of Ukraine, with the exception of areas where winters are mild and frosts are rare.

The drought resistance of the variety is low; regular watering is needed, especially if you want to get a decent harvest. Extreme heat can damage those berries that are exposed to the scorching sun all day, but this only happens in the south.

The transportability of fruits at the stage of technical or full ripeness is excellent. Overripe berries become soft. Not only do they become difficult to transport, their taste becomes worse.

Karaka Black blackberries can not be called either a capricious or unpretentious variety. Its care requirements are moderate, but you can’t just plant a bush and not pay attention to it. To a large extent, shoots equipped with dense small thorns make care difficult.

Flowering period and ripening time

Flowering of the Karaka Black blackberry in the southern regions begins in early or mid-May, in the north - a little later. There, the first buds open starting in mid or late May.

One of the features of the Karaka Black variety is that flowering (and, consequently, fruiting) occurs in waves. First, the upper buds open, located at the ends of well-lit shoots raised on a support. Then the flowering seems to flow down. When the buds open on the lower fruit branches located almost at ground level, the upper clusters are already ripe.

Comment! This is a definite advantage for private and small farms. But on industrial plantations, extended fruiting is a minus.

The Karaka Black blackberry is one of the first to ripen. In Ukraine, the first berries are harvested in early to mid-June, in the middle zone - by early July. And fruiting of Karaka Black is really extended - 6-8 weeks.

Yield indicators, fruiting dates

The blackberry variety Karaka Black is considered promising and productive. An adult bush produces an average of 10-12 kg of berries, and with a good location and good agricultural technology - up to 15 kg. They harvest 15 centners per hectare; in their homeland, New Zealand, the yield of Karaka Black blackberries reaches 25 centners/ha. There is evidence that some European farms are approaching this figure, but only with active feeding and good care.

Fruiting of Karaka Black blackberries lasts for two months. This is not always convenient on large plantations. But the early dates (June-early July) of ripening of the berries allow them to be sold at a high price. When grown in small areas, long fruiting makes it possible to enjoy fresh blackberries for a long time. If there is not enough space, you may not want to grow other varieties.

Area of ​​application of berries

Blackberries Karaka Black belong to the elite varieties. It can be eaten fresh, frozen for the winter, made into wine, juices, and jams. At the stage of technical maturity, the Karaka Black variety withstands transportation well, is stored for a long time and can be sold in markets or supermarkets.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Karaka Black blackberries are resistant to diseases and pests. Despite this, preventive treatments are mandatory.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Karaka Black variety is clearly promising for cultivation in private and small farms. In our conditions, planting it on large plantations is still in question. The undoubted advantages of this blackberry include:

1. Large beautiful berry.
2. Good taste.
3. Flexible lashes that can be easily bent to the ground and covered for the winter.
4. Karaka Black is one of the earliest varieties.
5. If you do not intentionally damage the root, the variety produces little growth.
6. High yield, as for dessert blackberries.
7. Extended fruiting (good for private households and small farms).
8. High resistance to pests and diseases.
9. Good transportability at the stage of technical maturity.
10. Long shelf life of berries.
11. Dense juicy pulp.

The disadvantages of the Karaka Black variety include:

1. Low frost resistance.
2. Thorny shoots.
3. Average resistance to heat and drought.
4. Extension of fruiting (for large farms).
5. Overripe berries are prone to shedding.

How to water blackberries correctly

The irrigation system depends on weather conditions. If summer and spring are not humid, the young plant is watered weekly. In this case, the daily norm is divided into two times: early in the morning and in the evening after 18.00.

There are three options for the procedure:

• irrigation ditches;
• sprinkling;
• drip irrigation.

After harvesting, the amount of watering is halved. Then it stops completely so that the blackberries enter the dormant stage. In mid-autumn, moisture-charging irrigation is carried out (8 liters of water at room temperature per bush).

Do you water your blackberries morning and evening?

Not really

Variety Karaka Black: large-fruited thorn with a sweet taste

In fertile New Zealand, breeders have developed many popular blackberry varieties.

These include the early-ripening variety Karaka Black (ojina Karaka Black or blackberry Karaka Black), the main advantage of which is the shape and size of the berries.

And it is precisely due to the presence of such dignity that ogina has become popular in most countries of the world, including as an industrial raw material.

History of selection

The Karaka Black blackberry variety was obtained by crossing the descendants obtained after the merger of the Aurora variety and the Arkansas Comanche variety in 1982. The author of the breeding work was New Zealand scientist Harvey Hall.

Description of the blackberry variety Karaka Black

As mentioned earlier, the main advantage of this variety is the berries, which have the following varietal characteristics:

• An elongated shape resembling a cone. The fruits are very long - reaching a length of five centimeters.
• Sweet taste with a pleasant sour aftertaste (as tasters note, there are pineapple and apple notes). There is a deep and rich aftertaste.
• Black in color with a purple undertone and a characteristic blackberry gloss.
• The mass of fruits is also large - up to seventeen grams per berry. It is possible to harvest up to 15 kilograms from one bush, and up to 12 tons from a hectare of planting.
• There is a dense texture.
• They can be easily removed from the bush, making harvesting easier.
• High degree of resistance to transportation and storage.
• Increased ripening - plants bear fruit for two months. At the same time, the vision process begins simultaneously with other types of blackberries that are the earliest according to this criterion - in the southern regions you will be able to taste the first berries already in the second or third decade of June, and in latitudes with a temperate climate or in the north, the harvest ripens by July.

Some other features of this type should also be highlighted:

• The scourge reaches five meters in length. A high degree of flexibility is noted.
• Creeping shrub - dewberry.
• Internodes are short in length.
• On the stems and shoots there are small prickly thorns, which become harder and harder over time, making it necessary to use special gloves.
• Low degree of winter hardiness - even in mid-latitudes, this berry will be seriously damaged if there is no shelter for the winter.
• High rates of resistance to common diseases and attacks by common pests, but do not forget about preventive measures and measures that should be taken when an infestation is detected. There may be yellow leaves, which is normal for this variety.

Planting and care

Loamy soils away from various water sources (groundwater, lakes, rivers and others) are ideal for growing the Karaka Black variety.

The blackberry area must receive sufficient sunlight.

You need to be careful when choosing seedlings - some cunning nurseries pass off the descendants of Karaka Black as the newest and improved Karaka Black variety, although in reality it is the same Karaka Black.

Planting is best done in spring

It is better to plant in the spring to prevent freezing of still weak plants. However, in the southern regions with warm winters, planting in the autumn is possible. In the spring, you should wait until the soil warms up to 50 centimeters in depth, and in the fall, planting activities should be carried out a week or two before a sharp cold snap.

A complex hybrid, the result of crossing several raspberry-blackberry hybrids and blackberry varieties. Parents of Aurora (OSC 616 (Zielinski x Logan) x OSC 73 (Logan x Austin Mayes), an Oregon hybrid and an Arkansas Comanche (Darrow x Brazors).

Breeding work, led by Harvey Hall, has been carried out since 1982. Patent: EU - CPVO 19991654; Grant 10720; Ukraine 1363101.

In the UK it is named one of the most promising new products among early ripening varieties. According to English producers, Karaka Black is more productive than Natchez. Recommended for open ground, frame-film shelters.

In New Zealand and Europe with a different climate, industrial cultivation is possible. On the territory of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, large-scale production is questionable; it can be recommended for small agribusiness and amateur gardening as clearly promising.

Description of blackberry Karaka Black

The yield of Karaka Black blackberries is from 10-12 kg per bush, according to some sources up to 14 kg.

Industrial yield is up to 15 t/ha at the request of the originator, which exceeds the productivity of Triple Crown, Silvan, Valdo and other analogues. There is data even higher, up to 25 t/ha.

In the first year of fruiting, the yield is low. The replacement shoots of the third or fourth year are more powerful, there are more fruit branches - productivity increases significantly.

Early fruiting - ripens earlier than Loch Tay, Natchez by 5-7 days. The harvest begins in early July (in the southern regions of Ukraine the first berries are at the end of June, in Kherson - in mid-June) and until mid-August.

The fruiting period is extended to 6-8 weeks - up to 2 months. The consolation is that 3/4 of the total volume occurs in the first 3-4 weeks. Creeping type, spiny stems.

The thorns are not particularly large, but in sufficient quantity.

It produces several waves of fruiting - when the berries of the first harvest have long been picked, flowering is just beginning on the branches of the lower tiers. For industrial cultivation, this is not an advantage - rather, it is a disadvantage. And for a gardener and small producer, for the fresh market, this is a definite plus.

• Blooms from early to mid-May in southern regions, from mid-May to late May in more northern regions. Produces many fruit branches and fruit buds - more than Natchez because the internodes are shorter.
• Fruit branches are numerous, but there are not as many berries as some competing varieties with small berries: each bears 3-6 berries on a 3-year-old bush. Sometimes a fruit arrow can bear 2-3 berries - on young plants. But this does not affect the yield: there are a lot of fruit branches - the bush is literally hung with long earrings of black pearls and red ones that are ripening. From a distance they resemble a very large mulberry - in length and shape.
• The lashes are creeping and pliable, reach a length of 3-5 m, the growth force is average. Strong, but flexible, they are easy to remove from the trellis in September - they fold easily, without breaking.
• It reproduces by the tips of shoots and practically does not produce root shoots - unless the root system is damaged.
• Frost resistance is low - up to -16-17 °C. Shelter is absolutely necessary for the winter: the vines, flower buds and horses of a heat-loving crop, zoned not at all for frosty winters, may suffer.
• Disease resistance at the level of standard varieties.

The berries are black, dense but juicy, with an intense gloss. The shape is remarkable - elongated, slightly narrowed towards the end and slightly curved. Average weight 8-10 g, individual 11-14 g (individual!), length 4-5 cm.

The taste is multifaceted, sweet and sour with a rich aftertaste and a pronounced raspberry-blackberry aroma.

Experienced tasters who have grown more than one generation of blackberry varieties will highlight Karaku Black for its original, incomparable taste.

However, you can’t please everyone - some lack sweetness (in cool climates, with a lack of potassium and other mineral nutritional components), others lack a hint of acid (those who try overripe ones).

Those that are not fully ripe have a purple tint and pronounced sourness; those that are overripe and fallen from the bush are very sweet, but somewhat bland, a bit soft and overly juicy. They are collected for transportation and storage when the berry is completely colored and has collected enough sugar - at the stage of technical ripeness it is sour.

When grown in cool climates, in low light areas the sugar content is lower. When refrigerated to +4 °C, Karaka Black can be stored for 4-5 days without loss of taste and presentation - it does not leak or wrinkle.

After harvest, the fruits are well stored, transported well without loss of presentation and taste, and are suitable for freezing.

The new owners of Karaka are frightened by the yellow leaves appearing on the plants. This is not a disease, but a genetic feature, the legacy of raspberry-blackberry hybrids affects: over time they will take on a green color.

As for pests, the pest that loves sweet berries will probably be aphids.

Features of caring for Karaka: planting, rationing

You can’t call it a variety for the lazy, but you can’t call it picky either. Like all crops, it loves well-drained soils, soddy-podzolic loams, pH 5.5-6.5. Will reveal its potential well on soils rich in organic matter - fill the planting hole well before planting.

Planting: an acceptable planting distance for growing Karaka Black on a garden plot or small farm production is from 3x3 m to 2-2.5x3 (distance between bushes and between rows).

In industrial areas with a high level of agricultural technology (drip irrigation, intensive fertilizing), it gives better results with denser planting of 1.5-2 m in a row - less often is not recommended.

During flowering, fertilizing is a complex mineral fertilizer with an emphasis on the predominance of potassium or, at a minimum, good old nitroamphoska. It is advisable to apply foliar fertilizers after flowering, during the ovary period, and during ripening - applying complex mineral fertilizers using the fertigation method.

• The root zone is mulched with humus, peat - both mulch, which protects from drying out, and fertilizer; Vegetable mulch is also good - it will retain moisture in the ground and the roots from overheating. There are also mulching ones with agro-fabric.
• It is grown on a trellis with a height of 1.4 m to 1.7 m of three wires. The length of the vine in most cases is not standardized - it grows up to 4 m on a trellis. According to reviews, pinching the branches is not necessary - fruit branches are enough.
• The growth needs to be rationed - leave 6-8 adult shoots per bush.

Karaka Black reproduces well from the tops of shoots - give it free rein, and without outside help it will grow young shoots - up to ten pieces. It does not produce root shoots like most hybrid semi- and creeping varieties and hybrids.

... and reviews

You can’t pass by this variety - the Karaka Black blackberry has earned reviews as a worthy variety, with excellent berries and decent yield. Among the advantages are large fruits with high taste, early harvest.

There are also disadvantages - thorns, sourness (what can you do, but sour notes still predominate over sweet ones in a complex range of flavor shades), extended fruiting time.

As a private opinion, without any claim to the truth: some doubts about the commercial cultivation of blackberries, the Karaka Black variety, are justified - the modest yield in the first year of fruiting will surprise you, as will the clusters that do not have many berries.

In the 3-4th year, productivity increases to a fairly decent level.

In addition, the huge number of fruits compensates for the average number of berries in them. Easy to assemble is another secret to success in New Zealand commercial spaces. In Europe, Karaka is held in less esteem on industrial plantations: less prickly varieties are preferred there. The aplomb of the inhabitants of Foggy Albion is alien to New Zealanders - the novelty has taken root, and they predict a bright industrial future for it.

As a disadvantage, some gardeners complain about the acidity in the taste: most likely, the season was rainy, or the tasters did not wait for full ripening.

The deficiency occurs on poor soils with a deficiency of microelements potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and iron. Among the reviews, moderate resistance of seedlings to anthracnose in a damp, humid climate is mentioned - again, at the level of standard varieties.

Whether the blackberry variety Karaka Black will take root in our area as a commercial one is a controversial question. For the garden and small and medium-sized production - it already lives in many gardens and plantations, delighting gardeners and farmers.

As for large-scale cultivation, there is currently no specific data on the industrial profitability of the variety.

It can be compared with some of the leading commercial blackberry favorites, the field champions - the gap will be small.

Let's compare it, and not at a loss in taste. You benefit from a spectacular, truly luxurious look. In combination, the list of advantages is much greater than the disadvantages, which, in fact, do not exist. Farmers are in uncertainty: whether to choose it or the good old proven ones. Time will tell - hopefully, in favor of a not-so-new product. Have a generous harvest!

Source: https://vizazh-2.ru/sorta-ezheviki/o-sorte-karaka-blek-temnoy-loshadke-ezhevichnyh-poley/

Feeding scheme by season

Good nutrition is important for Karaka Black blackberries. Since a nutritious soil mixture is added to the hole during planting, feeding is continued after 1-2 years. Complete feeding is according to the following scheme:

1. Spring: solution of saltpeter or urea (dosage depends on the age of the blackberry).
2. Fruiting period: nitrophoska. To increase potassium, ash is sealed or watered with an ash solution (the presence of the element is first checked to prevent an excess).
3. After harvest: superphosphate mixed with potassium salt (ratio: 100 g + 30 g per square meter).

For mature blackberry bushes, it is advisable to add foliar feeding to the scheme.

Prevention of diseases and pests

Preventive treatment of bushes is done at different periods. After flowering, in spring (May), spraying with Bordeaux mixture (1%) is carried out. In early spring, before buds open, the plant is treated with copper sulfate (5%). For the same purpose, you can use Nitrofen (300 g per bucket of water). When insects attack, insecticides are used.

Important! It is necessary to promptly prune, harvest and burn leaves for preventive purposes.

Planting fragrant plants (garlic, mint, marigolds, onions) between the bushes makes it possible to reduce the risk of insects arriving. If they have already settled in the blackberry bush, then Agraverin, Bi-58, Envidor or Confidor will help.

Performing trimming

Karaka Black blackberries do not grow vigorously. Therefore, the amount of trimming depends on the neglect. At the same time, preventive measures are taken during the awakening of the bush and before wintering.

Sanitary

Prevention of diseases and pests takes place regularly in spring and autumn. Sanitary pruning is aimed specifically at maintaining the health of blackberries:

• in the spring, remove broken, damaged or infected branches;
• autumn: branches that have already borne fruit should be pruned. The lashes with defects are also removed.

Formative

The perennial needs regular care. Blackberries also differ from most plants in their two-year development period. The branches are removed after fruiting.

To give the opportunity to develop new things. For the winter, 7-9 strong shoots with buds are left.

Garter

It is necessary to tie up blackberries in the first year after planting. They are removed from the trellis only to prepare the bush for winter.

The garter provides the blackberries with good lighting, ventilation, and improved berry picking.

Story

Blackberries belong to the genus Rubus, which has about 200 species. America is considered its homeland. It was there that in the 19th century they first started cultivating this berry bush. Garden blackberries confidently conquered the countries of Europe and Asia. At the end of the 19th century, the first varieties of the crop appeared in Russia.

Now the largest producers of black berries are the USA, Brazil, and China. Australia is engaged in its cultivation and processing. And in New Zealand, they created a new interesting direction of production - winemaking based on blackberries.

In 1982, New Zealand breeders under the leadership of Harvey Hall crossed two varieties - Aurora and Comanche. As a result of further selection of raspberry-blackberry hybrids and blackberry varieties, a sample with very large berries and a long harvest season was obtained. The new hybrid was given the name Karaka black.

Blackberry variety Karaka black bred in New Zealand

Features of soil care

Regular mulching will help grow healthy blackberries. The top layer helps retain moisture and supply it to the roots as needed.

After watering, loosening must be carried out. But they carry out the manipulation carefully so as not to injure the roots.

Mandatory soil care activities include weed removal.

Preparing for winter

There will be no particular difficulties with laying the lashes, since the branches are flexible and pliable. 1-2 weeks before frost, dig a hole. Place a good layer of straw on the bottom.

There will be tied blackberry branches on it. Be aware of spikes - wear gloves. The tied blackberry bunches are carefully pinned and covered with additional material. Suitable:

• corn stalks;
• agrofibre;
• spandbond.

A small layer of dry earth is poured on top. In the spring, do not be late with unraveling to prevent the branches from becoming warm.

Reproduction methods

Since Karaka Black does not produce shoots, two options are used for propagation: tops and cuttings. The first one is the most convenient and simple.

Apical shoots

Select a healthy one-year-old shoot and bend it to the ground. A small depression is made for it to be pinched and covered with soil.

Water immediately and cover with a small layer of straw. Next, standard care is carried out, as for the mother bush.

Cuttings

It is used extremely rarely, since well-developed annual branches are suitable for planting material. Collect material during pruning.

The ends are cut at an angle of 45 degrees. If harvesting takes place in the spring, then planting can be done 14-21 days after cutting.

Preparing the pit according to the scheme described above. If in the fall: send to a warm, dry place. The cuttings are laid out on straw and sprinkled with earth on top. Water regularly, preventing the soil from drying out.

Description of the Giant blackberry, one of the most productive varieties in Russia and Ukraine

Blackberry variety Giant

The characteristics of the variety, indicated in the description on the sellers' websites, are simply stunning: yield - 30 kg per bush, weight of one berry - 23 grams, ripening - already in July, frost resistance - down to -30⁰C. No other information about the Giant is given. Nothing is known either about the type of growth of the shoots (erect or creeping), or about their thorniness, and the origin of the variety is completely a mystery.

On gardening forums you can find the following complaints:

Don't order anything from Becker. Every year I “find myself” for 20-30 thousand rubles, because I chase exotic things, but these surpassed everyone. Instead of goji, they sent Thunberg barberry, and instead of Gigant blackberry, they sent Agawam.

Gorky’s question arises: “Was there a boy? Maybe the boy never existed?

Why are such manipulations needed? It's simple: to intrigue hunters of new items and rarities. Changing a brand is an old marketing ploy that stimulates demand for a slow-selling product. And if you also talk about the fantastic 30 kilograms per bush...

However, Black Butte blackberries are worthy of the attention of Russian gardeners without any fog.

Additional tips and care tips for beginners

Blackberry Karaka Black is not particularly demanding. This makes caring for the variety easier. Beginner gardeners should adhere to the previously stated planting and care rules. Also take note:

1. If you purchased seedlings in the fall, it’s better to dig them in. Do not rush to plant, since you have not yet studied the possibilities of regional weather conditions well enough.
2. Be sure to choose seedlings with thorns, in containers two or three years old.
3. Container plants are removed from the container to check the roots. They should wrap around a lump of soil.
4. The shoots must be healthy. This is indicated by the color of the bark: a brownish tint.
5. Be sure to check the soil before watering. Mulch retains moisture. Excess water leads to root rot and the development of fungal diseases.

Characteristic

Karaka Black is considered a typical dewberry, the shoots of which tend to creep. An important advantage of the variety is its fruits: they have a rather long shape, which slightly tapers towards the end and looks unusual and attractive compared to similar varieties. When the fruits ripen completely, they become sweet in taste, with a slight acidity and a bright aftertaste. The acid will be felt stronger at the moment of technical maturity.

The blackberry fruit is large, black and glossy. One berry weighs about 9 g and is up to 5 cm long. The variety's harvest is highly transportable - all thanks to the fact that blackberries have a high density and can be stored for a long time.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

Providing blackberries with a sufficient amount of moisture occurs thanks to a powerful root system. Accordingly, the described variety has a high level of drought and heat resistance. Despite this fact, there is no need to allow the soil to dry out. For a rich harvest and excellent growth, blackberries need a sufficient amount of moisture.

If there is not enough water, then at the beginning of spring the young shoots will give a small increase. Karaka Black cannot boast of good frost resistance, so in mid-latitudes the bushes can be seriously damaged without shelter from a snowy winter.

Did you know? In England, the richest harvest of Karaka Black was collected - 35 kg from one bush .

Productivity, fruiting

On average, the yield of Karaka Black can reach approximately 8 kg per bush, and the record for domestic gardeners is over 12 kg. However, this indicator directly depends on how the bushes were formed. Often in practice, fairly dense planting is used - every 1–1.5 m, with relatively short pruning.

From one hectare you can collect approximately 11 tons of berries.

The crop in question bears fruit for quite a long time - up to 2 months. The berries begin their ripening at the same time as the first early varieties, but when the fruits of the latter have already been eaten, there may be buds on the lower branches of Karaka Black that have not yet blossomed. It is this feature that characterizes the variety as the best for home use. The fruits may become a little smaller towards the end of the season, but this does not in any way affect their sweetness.

Advantages and disadvantages

• The undoubted advantages of Karaka Black, which allow us to confidently call it one of the best for growing on private farms:
• Big beautiful fruits.
• The flexibility of the branches, which are simply pressed down to the soil and covered for the winter.
• Early maturation.
• Sweet taste.
• A bountiful harvest.
• Long-term fruiting.
• Resistant to diseases and pests.
• Excellent transportability during the period of technical maturity.
• The pulp is juicy and dense.
• Long shelf life of fruits.

• The disadvantages of the described variety include:
• Low winter hardiness.
• Dense and small thorns on the bushes.
• Shedding of overripe berries.

Reviews

Pavel Andreevich . I really like Karaka Black for its taste and easy care. I don’t see anything difficult in following the patterns that I create myself according to the lunar calendar. The main thing to remember is winter. Therefore, I prepare the covering material in advance.

Efim Stanislavovich . Karaka Black is ideal for sale. The first fruit harvest is in May, and the berries are large. Excellent income for me. After winter, people want something exotic, and blackberries are just right as a delicacy and health product.

Main characteristics

This berry is rightly called the queen. In many European countries, this variety of shrubs is widely popular due to its unusually tasty and juicy berries. The fruits are successfully used in industry. This plant has also taken root in our area, both among amateur gardeners and small farms.

A little history

The first mentions of blackberries date back to the 19th century, when this shrub began to be cultivated in America. The plant belongs to the genus Rubus. There are about 200 types of blackberries. At the end of the 19th century it appeared in the gardens of Russia.

1. New Zealand is the birthplace of many varieties of blackberries, and this complex hybrid is no exception. It was obtained by crossing the Aurora variety with Camanche (an Arkansas variety) in 1982 by a group of breeders led by Harvey Hall.
2. After the first harvest, we took several berries, one the largest, and the other the densest in structure. The second harvest has already pleased us with larger fruits with high characteristics. The subsequent harvest was the “cleanest”, and the newly bred variety was named “Karaka Black”.

Botanical description

Many gardeners are disappointed by the small fruiting in the first time after planting a seedling. However, before purchasing a seedling, you should be thoroughly familiar with the basic characteristics. In subsequent years, one bush can produce up to 14 kg of fruit.

And every year the yield increases. If you compare this variety with the fruits of Natchez or Loch Tay, then the indicator is very good. Of course, the main advantage of the shrub is its large, tasty berry, up to 5 cm in length.

• The shrub has a dense, lush crown. Its height can reach up to 5 m in diameter. The shoots are not long, since the internodes are also short, but numerous. They are very elastic and flexible, bending perfectly under the wind or snow. The bush grows at an average rate. It is not recommended to trim the shoots to produce more flower buds.
• The main distinguishing feature of this shrub is its ripening in waves: on the upper part of the bush the fruits can already be collected, and at the bottom of the plant the berries are just turning red. The ripening period lasts up to 8 weeks. This is very convenient to collect berries gradually if the shrub is planted for home consumption. The first berries can be collected along with the rest of the early ripening garden trees and shrubs already in the first half of May.
• The main advantage of the variety is its berries. When it is fully ripe, the taste is very sweet with a slight sourness. The aftertaste is especially wonderful. When the fruit is only in the ripening stage, the acid is felt more strongly.
• The berries are black with a glossy shiny tint, large, weighing from 8 to 10 grams. Length 4 - 5 cm. The shape is cylindrical, the tip of the berry is elongated, the upper part of the fruit resembles a cone.
• To propagate the plant, it is better to use the upper parts of the shoots of the bush.
• The great advantage of the variety is its high transportability. When the berries are picked, they can be stored for about 5 days in excellent condition, do not wrinkle and retain their taste.
• This variety has some disadvantages: the first is its low winter hardiness; the shrub can withstand frost up to -17 degrees maximum. Therefore, during the winter months the plant needs shelter, otherwise it may suffer greatly.
• There is also one unpleasant feature - the branches of the bush are very prickly. When harvesting, you must wear protective gloves.

Blackberries have average resistance to infections and diseases. Gardening experts recommend periodically inspecting the plant and spraying it with special products for preventive purposes.