Blackberry variety Lochtey (Loch Tey): characteristics, description with photos, planting, cultivation and care

History of selection

The blackberry variety Lochtay was obtained by cross-pollinating Loch Ness and SCRI 82417D. The originator is the Scottish Crop Research Institute. There is no data on the specific date of receipt of the varietal unit. Currently, the hybrid is widespread in Europe, the post-Soviet space and in the UK - as an industrial one.

Story

The blackberry variety was developed by scientists in Scotland as a result of cross-pollination that occurred between raspberry varieties from Europe and the loganberry.

Scottish breeders have been selecting parent plants for a long time in order to obtain a variety suitable for industrial production with the maximum number of advantages.

Using the experience of British scientists, they were able to perfect the Loch Ness variety. The fact that the variety can be cultivated on an industrial scale is one of the main advantages of the new variety of blackberries. In Russia, a new variety appeared quite recently - in 2011.

Botanical description

Description of external culture data:

semi-creeping bushes, 4–5 m high;
shoot smooth, thornless, light brown;
approximately from the middle the branches begin to curl;
foliage is carved, leathery, emerald green;
shoots appear only when the root system is damaged;
inflorescences consist of 10–12 milky flowers;
the fruits are large, weighing 5–12 g;
The berry is black, shiny, with a dense structure.

Did you know? Blackberries quench thirst and also help reduce fever during colds.

Description of Loch Tay blackberries

Loch Tay is a variety cultivated mainly by amateur gardeners in Russia. However, in Europe and America it is grown mainly on an industrial scale.

External description of the bush

The height of the bushes reaches 3.5-4 m. But for ease of care and harvesting, it is limited to 2-2.5 m. The shoots are initially erect, but as they grow, they droop, turning into some kind of arches.

The bush can be described as semi-creeping

The shoots of Loch Tay blackberry are completely smooth, without thorns. The bark is pale brown and often flaky and peels off in long strips. The leaves are rich green, large, dense to the touch (even leathery), and have a typical shape for the crop.

The root system of the bushes is powerful, the roots quickly grow both in depth and in breadth. If this process cannot be uncontrolled, plants are quite capable of “taking over” the entire garden. Thanks to its developed root system, the tall bush successfully maintains its vertical position.

Important! The Loch Tay blackberry stands out for its rapid growth rate. During the season, shoots can add 2.5-3 m in height.

Taste qualities of berries

The berries of the Loch Tay variety are one-dimensional, quite large (10-12 g). The shape is something between a cylinder and a cone. They taste richly sweet, but not cloying or bland, with a light “balancing” sourness and a fruity-spicy aftertaste.

The pulp is juicy, with a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma of forest berries. During the ripening process, it becomes denser, the black skin acquires a glossy sheen and “silkyness.” The seeds are small and almost unnoticeable when eaten.

The skin is thin, but elastic and quite strong, which provides Loch Tay blackberries with very good shelf life and transportability

Important! The achievement of full ripeness by the berries is indicated not by the black color of the skin, but by the dried sepals.

Characteristic

The ultra-early hybrid is distinguished by its advantageous characteristics, thanks to which it has gained its popularity among farmers from different countries. Its main advantage is its good resistance to various diseases and pests.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

The plant tolerates drought well. It develops well and bears fruit even at +40°C. With regard to cold, its resistance is at an average level: the bushes survive the winter period well at temperatures not lower than –20°C. Taking this into account, vegetation should be covered during the winter.

Advantages and disadvantages

Blackberry Lokhtei, the description of the variety and photo of which is published in the article, has many more advantages than disadvantages.

These include primarily:

early ripening of the crop (usually 10-20 days earlier than other similar varieties);
smooth stems without thorns, which allows you to harvest comfortably and not be afraid of scratches;
rich harvest even with average crop care;
resistance to high and low temperatures (the bushes can withstand both heat of +40 degrees and frost);
excellent taste (very sweet and rich);
the ability to remove berries from bushes using special mechanical devices;
long-term comfortable storage of crops;
the ability to transport berries over long distances for sale.

This entire list of advantages makes Lokhtei blackberries very popular among gardeners. She has practically no flaws. Among the rare ones, only the rapid growth of bushes throughout the area can be distinguished. As noted above, they need to be trimmed regularly. Otherwise, plantings can quickly take up all the space. But once you get the hang of it, it’s quite easy to do. The main thing is to arm yourself with a high-quality, sharp and powerful pruner.

Due to the fact that blackberries begin to bear fruit quickly, the fruiting process ends early. Gardeners usually pick the last berries already in July. Another significant disadvantage of the variety is its low resistance to rust. To protect the plant from disease, regular prevention is required. To do this, the bushes are treated with preparations containing copper.

Landing Features

The crop in question is unpretentious, but to get a good, tasty harvest, you need:

select and prepare the site correctly;
buy good planting material and also carry out preparatory work with it;
decide on the planting date, taking into account the climate of your region.

Did you know? Blackberry bushes are excellent honey plants. Honey collected from this vegetation has a liquid structure, does not crystallize and is transparent.

Deadlines

It is better to plant the described crop in the spring - this way, next year you will have the opportunity to enjoy the first berries.

Selecting a location

The area for planting should be selected taking into account humidity and lighting. Blackberries have roots that go much deeper into the soil than raspberries, their closest relative, so you need to take into account the level of groundwater - it must be at least 2 m. In order for the berries to ripen well, the vegetation needs good lighting. The southern, southwestern or southeastern side of the site is ideal. From the north, plantings should be protected from cold winds.

A good option is to plant blackberries at a distance of 3 m from buildings or fences on the south side.

In terms of soil quality, the vegetation is completely undemanding. However, the best results in terms of yield levels are observed in well-aerated areas fertilized with organic matter, so special attention should be paid to preparing the soil for planting. Another nuance is compliance with crop rotation. Blackberries cannot be planted after nightshade crops and strawberries. The best precursors for it are grains and legumes. Preparations on the site begin in the fall.

The area is thoroughly cleaned of plant debris, dug up to a depth of 40 cm. Then disinfection is carried out using 3% copper sulfate concentrate. The solution consumption per 10 m² is 1 liter. About a week later, they dig again to a depth of 20 cm, adding 20 kg of manure, 10 kg of sand, 120 g of superphosphate and 60 g of potassium salts into the soil for each m².

Characteristics of Loch Tay blackberries

The outstanding taste and external presentation of Loch Tay blackberries are successfully complemented by other characteristics that are important for the gardener. They cannot be ignored when choosing a variety - the fundamental possibility of its cultivation in a certain region depends on this.

Flowering period, ripening period and yield

In terms of ripening time, the hybrid is considered ultra-early. The timing varies depending on the region of cultivation. In the south of Russia, the first wave of harvest occurs in the second ten days of June. In the northern regions (for example, in the Leningrad region), Loch Tay blackberries are harvested 15-20 days later. Fruiting is extended, lasting until the end of July or even the beginning of August.

Flowering is also quite early. The buds are collected in loose clusters of 5-10 pieces and open from mid to late April. The flowers are large, with snow-white petals.

An adult bush (from 4-5 years old), with quality care, produces about 20 kg of berries per season. If the gardener does not pay enough attention to Loch Tay blackberries, this figure drops to 5-6 kg.

According to the originator, the yield of Loch Tay blackberries is 30 kg per bush

Frost resistance

Cold resistance is average - about -20 ° C. In the southern Russian regions, it can easily overwinter without shelter; in the middle zone and regions with a more severe climate, special preparation for frost is required.

Important! Loch Tay blackberries are characterized by very high drought tolerance. The berries tolerate heat up to 40 °C, but they do not “cook”, do not decrease in size, and their taste almost does not suffer.

Resistance to diseases and pests

A powerful root system is the key to the overall endurance and “stress resistance” of Loch Tay blackberries. The bushes are extremely rarely affected by pests and successfully resist pathogenic microflora. As a rule, even special prevention is not required - just proper care and adherence to the planting scheme. However, Loch Tay blackberries lack “innate” immunity, so if conditions are favorable, they can suffer from the most typical fungi of the crop.

Rules of care

Caring for plantings involves the following activities:

watering;
loosening and mulching the soil;
fertilization;
pruning;
garter.

If the plantings occupy a large area, it is advisable to organize a drip irrigation system on the site. When growing a small number of bushes, you can water the vegetation at the root. In both cases, each specimen should receive from 5 to 15 liters of water at a time, depending on weather conditions. The frequency of watering is once every 2–3 weeks.

Important! It is better to combine fertilizing with watering: for example, apply water under the bushes in the morning, and fertilizer in the evening.

After each moistening of the soil artificially or rain, the soil must be thoroughly loosened, then a layer of mulch 5 cm high must be laid. Compost or peat mixed 1:1 with sawdust can be used as mulch.

Fertilizing begins a year after planting. In the spring, before the buds swell, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used - you can use nitrophoska or manure. Using the first option, add 80–100 g of the substance per 10 liters of water, the second - 1 liter of mullein per 10 liters of water. A bucket of the prepared mixture is enough to feed one bush. At the stage of fruit formation, you can use wood ash - for each m², 300 g are embedded to a depth of 5 cm in moist soil.

In the fall (in mid-September - for northern and temperate latitudes, in mid-October - for southern latitudes), 100 g of superphosphate and 60 g of potassium salt are applied to each m². A year after spring planting, pruning is carried out. New shoots are pinched at a height of 90 cm. To get a good harvest, you need to leave 4 powerful new shoots every year for 5 years, and remove the rest. So, by the age of five, the bush should consist of 20 increments of various ages - from 1 to 5 years.

With each pruning, excess branches that thicken the plantings, as well as shoots that no longer bear fruit, are completely removed. Such manipulations can be carried out before the buds open or during preparation for winter. It is usually practiced to grow the variety in question on trellises. This eliminates the risk of branches coming into contact with the soil, which has a beneficial effect on the immunity of vegetation and greatly facilitates harvesting.

Along the entire length of the row, in the immediate vicinity of each plant, wooden supports 2.5 m high are installed. Several rows of rope are stretched between them. The first row is organized at a height of 20 cm from the soil. All others are placed in increments of 30 cm. In total, there are 5 rows of rope for gartering shoots of different ages (as shown in the picture below).

Landing

To plant blackberries, you need to choose level, sufficiently lit and ventilated places. The soil acidity level should be within normal limits, or slightly acidic (pH 5.7-6.5).

Chamomile grows well on acidic soils, which can serve as a guide for choosing a site.

The selection of seedlings should be approached responsibly. To obtain a harvest in the first year, choose plants up to 40 cm long, without any mechanical or fungal damage to the stem. Pay attention also to the central root. It must be well developed.

Planting is done in the spring, according to the standard scheme for all varieties of blackberries. Half a glass of wood ash and half a bucket of humus are poured into pre-prepared holes measuring 40 by 40 cm. Fill with water, lower the seedling, sprinkle with soil and water again. Then the top of the shoot is cut to a height of 20–25 cm and the soil is mulched with organic matter. The distance between holes for summer cottages is about 2 meters, for industrial farms: 1, 2-1.5 m. The width between rows, in both cases, should be at least 2 - 3 meters.

As the seedling grows, it is tied to a support. Wire stretched between wooden or metal posts is usually used as supports. Moreover, only last year’s shoots are vertically tied to the supports, while young shoots are placed horizontally, fastened at a distance of 20 cm from the ground. The horizontal arrangement will allow you to separate young and fruiting branches from each other, which will simplify pruning and harvesting. Also, the location parallel to the ground will simplify the subsequent preparation of shoots for winter.

Harvesting and storage

Considering the extended period of fruit yield, it is better to collect them as they ripen - every 3-4 days. Immediately upon picking, the berries are sorted into small plastic containers lined with paper, laying them out in one layer. Store fruits at a temperature of 0°C and a relative humidity of 70%. Under such conditions, the products remain fresh for 5–7 days without losing weight.

Did you know? Blackberries can be used as a natural fabric dye to produce purple or blue shades.

Planting and care

To get a high-quality and rich harvest, you should buy carefully selected seedlings and properly organize their cultivation and care.
The planting should be located in an area with good sunlight, a flat surface and regular ventilation. Such conditions will allow the bushes to grow to their full potential, and moving air masses will contribute to the formation of healthy fruits.

Annual seedlings for planting in open ground

The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral. Such soil will have a good effect on the development of blackberries. You can determine the acidity of the soil using other free-growing plants. The soil will be suitable if there are daisies and field bindweed on it.

For planting, you need to buy annual seedlings, the height of which ranges from 20 to 40 centimeters, and the trees should not have damage to the skin; they must have buds and lateral branches with ovaries.

Before planting seedlings, holes are prepared, the depth and diameter of which are 30–40 centimeters. It is worth placing the holes at a distance of 2.5 - 3 meters, so that in the future it will be convenient to care for the bushes, because later they will become large.

In addition, you should prepare a fertile mixture, including half a glass of ash and half a bucket of humus. It is also possible to use mineral fertilizers containing potassium, boron, phosphorus, nitrogen and others. These substances will help the bush quickly grow stronger and gain strength.

Before planting, the prepared holes are watered; after the liquid has been completely absorbed, the seedling must be dug in so that the growth bud is at a depth not exceeding three centimeters.

After planting, it is necessary to water the plants again so that there are 1.5 - 2 buckets per bush.

At the end of planting, it is necessary to apply a layer of mulch 3 to 5 centimeters thick. Sawdust, peat, bark or dried grass can be used as mulching material. The shoots are also pruned to a height of 30–40 centimeters, which will stimulate the growth and development of blackberries.

In addition to proper planting, you should properly care for the bushes in order to get a rich and tasty harvest.

Complete care includes the following activities and procedures: watering, pruning, organizing a trellis system, winter shelters and fertilizing.

Lokhtea bushes are drought-resistant plants, so it is good to carry out drip watering (before this, the lower branches are raised and tied at a height of half a meter). This type of watering provides access to 5 – 15 liters of water per shrub.

Watering is organized in the evening or morning once every two to three weeks.

It is worth watering the bushes with caution when they are blooming and when the berries are visible, as this action can lead to rotting of the soil.

The last watering of the year is carried out 14 days before the blackberry cover for the winter.

As mentioned earlier, Loch Tay grows quickly throughout its life, which is why regular pruning is a must. It is necessary to get rid of old shoots and stems that have already produced a harvest.

When developing new stems, you need to tear off the apical bud at heights of 35 and 90 centimeters to provoke lateral growth. A developed and mature shrub should have from fifteen to twenty shoots of different ages, so that in insufficient light it is possible to thin them out and get rid of the oldest stems.

In the summer, as necessary, pruning is carried out for sanitary purposes - infected and dried shoots and damaged stems are cut off.

Under its own weight and the mass of the ripe crop, Lochtea shoots can bend to the surface of the earth, which will have a bad effect on the plants and complicate care and collection activities. To avoid this, you should organize a system of trellises two meters high, between which wire is stretched. The blackberry branches are attached to the latter at a height of about one and a half meters.

Berry bush on a personal plot

In order to avoid freezing of shoots and buds, it is necessary to organize shelter for the winter season. Spruce branches, dry grass, fallen leaves, cotton wool and others are used as shelter. The cover layer should be 10 - 15 centimeters thick.

For a better harvest, do not forget about regular feeding. Chicken manure is applied simultaneously with the first digging of soil, slurry - in late spring and early autumn, mineral fertilizers - during watering or while digging between rows.

Preparing fertilizer for a plant

Preparing for winter

When cultivating in southern regions with a mild climate, there is no need to cover the plantings for the winter . If the crop is cultivated in temperate and northern latitudes, the bushes must be removed from the trellises, about 2 weeks before the onset of cold weather. The branches are bent to the soil and pinned with metal staples, then covered with spruce branches or agrofibre, sprinkled with a layer of soil 10 cm high on top. After the snow melts, in the spring, the cover is removed and the branches are again placed on the trellis.

Characteristics of culture

Knowing the detailed characteristics of a crop will be useful for every gardener. They will tell you when to expect a harvest from the bushes, what conditions to protect the plant from, and how many berries you will eventually be able to collect.

Ripening period

The berries on blackberry bushes ripen very early. Already in June you can taste the first fruits. The plantings do not begin to bear fruit immediately. The harvest should be expected the next year after planting. You won't be able to pick a lot of berries the first time. It will be possible to expect a bountiful harvest only 4-5 years after planting.

The exact timing of ripening depends primarily on the region in which the blackberries are planted. The earliest time to pick the first berries is in the southern regions with hot summers. In colder regions, the dates are usually shifted by 3-4 weeks. The fruiting process ends quickly. Usually, in July-August, all the berries are already picked and by the time of frost there is nothing left on the bushes.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

Blackberries Lokhtei, a description of the variety and photo of which can be studied in the article, are not afraid of either drought or frost. The crop can withstand a long absence of watering (however, this situation will still affect the harvest - it will be smaller and not so sweet), as well as high temperatures. Even if the temperature in the region reaches 40 degrees, blackberries feel very comfortable.

The same applies to frost. The variety under discussion survives frost normally. If temperatures in the region are very low, then it is advisable to cover the bushes. It is also important to properly prepare them for wintering.

Reproduction methods

The crop is propagated by digging in the tops or deliberately damaging the root system with a shovel so that the bush produces basal shoots. In the first case, in early July, several one-year-old branches are selected, bent to the soil, the tops are pinned and sprinkled with 10 cm of soil. Throughout the season, standard care is provided as for an adult plant.

In the spring of next year, the resulting seedling is disconnected from the parent plant, dug up and transplanted into a previously prepared place. In the second case, well-developed root shoots are selected, dug up and rooted in the right place.

Find out in more detail what blackberries on your site get along with and what they don’t.

Reproduction

There are many ways to propagate Loch Tay blackberries. Each gardener chooses his own method, the most convenient for him:

Root cuttings are a fairly popular method. In the fall, they dig up a large root and cut it into cuttings 10-15 cm long. At least one developed bud should be visible on each cutting. The cuttings are stored in the cellar and planted in a greenhouse in the spring.
Dividing the mother bush into several parts. The method is applicable in the spring.
Propagation by green cuttings. Green shoots are first grown in pots. As soon as they have a good root system, they are moved to a permanent location.
Using the apical bud. The tops of the shoots bend towards the ground, are covered with earth and remain in this position until roots form. Then the rooted part is separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place.
Seeds. Blackberries are grown extremely rarely in this way. This is a rather lengthy and complex process that requires special selection of seeds and their preparation for planting. Young shoots are transferred to open ground after the appearance of the fourth leaf. This serves as a signal about the development of their root system.

Diseases and pests

If not properly cared for, the crop in question may become infected:

botrytis - when the first signs of the disease appear, all affected parts of the vegetation should be removed, sprayed with a solution of potassium nitrate on the leaves and soil (25 g of substance per 10 liters of water), consumption - 1 l/m²; [img hint=Botrytis on blackberries id: 102624 [/img]
anthracnose — dust the leaves and soil with wood ash, loosen the soil between the rows and next to the bushes, mulch with a mixture of peat, manure and dry soil (3:1:1);
verticillium - remove infected parts, fumigate plants with tobacco or sulfur.

Among the pests that can settle on blackberry bushes are raspberry beetles and aphids. If these parasites appear, you can use the drug “Iskra” - it must be diluted according to the instructions. The working fluid consumption per m² is 1.5 liters.

The basis of prevention will be the correct agricultural technology for cultivating vegetation. In addition, in the period before leaving for the winter and before the buds swell, it is necessary to spray the shoots and soil with a 3% concentrate of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. This approach will not only help protect plantings from infection by diseases and pests, but will also play the role of additional foliar fertilizer.

If humidity is high throughout the season, be sure to periodically dust the plants themselves and the soil around them with wood ash.

Loch Tay is an industrial large-fruited blackberry hybrid that is quite popular. It adapts perfectly to a wide variety of climate conditions and is undemanding in terms of soil composition. Even beginners in gardening can easily cope with its cultivation.

a brief description of

Loch Tay blackberries are endowed with many advantages that significantly distinguish them from other varieties.

Advantages of the variety

early fruit ripening (1-2 weeks earlier than the Thornfree variety, 2-3 weeks earlier than the Loch Ness blackberry);
a bountiful harvest;
absence of thorns on the stems;
frost resistance;
drought resistance, resistance to high temperatures up to +40 degrees;
high content of vitamins C, PP and group B;
excellent taste (one of the sweetest);
industrial breeding and mechanized harvesting are possible;
high resistance to most diseases and pests;
well stored;
suitable for transportation to other regions.

Disadvantages of the variety

spreads very quickly throughout the area if timely pruning is not done;
fruiting ends by the end of July;
average resistance to rust (preventive treatment with copper-containing preparations is required).

Technology and features of landing

Although blackberries are considered an unpretentious plant, in order for them to delight you with berries, you need to follow agricultural practices, find a suitable plot for the garden bed, and place the plants on it correctly.

Choosing a healthy and strong seedling

For blackberries, it is better to go to a special nursery to purchase Loch Tay and not another variety. You need to buy an annual bush no higher than 40 cm; its shoots should have light brown skin without cracks.

Choosing a landing site

Blackberries take root well and bear fruit on neutral soils and soils with low acidity, where chamomile, field chamomile, and bindweed grow. The site for the Loch Tay hybrid should be allocated on the sunny side.

Preparing the soil and holes

Having chosen a place for blackberries, 2 weeks before planting you need to dig holes no more than 40 cm deep every 2 meters. Pour half a bucket of humus into them, mix it with ash, and water the holes with water.

Scheme and technique of planting plants

After 10-14 days, the blackberry roots are straightened and placed in the ground. The growth bud of the bush is deepened into the ground by 30 mm, the soil is compacted and mulched with peat. There should be at least 2.5 meters between the beds.

Varieties

According to some estimates, more than 200 varieties of blackberries have now been created; according to others, there are half as many. The selection of this berry crop has been going on for at least 150 years. The first hybrids were obtained by American gardeners back in the 19th century. The most famous Soviet biologist I.V. also contributed to the diversity of blackberry varieties. Michurin.

At first, blackberry selection was aimed at creating large-fruited, productive plants that were adapted to frosty winters. In recent years, breeders have become interested in breeding thornless varieties and are experimenting with the timing of berry ripening. Now gardeners can choose blackberries that fully meet their conditions and bear fruit twice per season. The classification of varieties is very arbitrary. The same variety has the right to enter 2-3 groups.

For example, the time-tested Agavam variety is an early, winter-hardy, and shade-tolerant blackberry.

Early blackberry

Early blackberries begin to ripen at the beginning of summer: in the southern regions - at the end of June, in July in the north. The berries do not turn black all at once, but sequentially; harvesting usually lasts up to 6 weeks. Among the early varieties there are prickly and thornless, erect and creeping blackberries. Their common drawback is low frost resistance.

Natchez

The Natchez variety was developed 10 years ago in Arkansas. This is a large-fruited blackberry (the average weight of berries is up to 10 g), devoid of thorns. The shoots are semi-erect, 2–3 m high. The first berries ripen in June. They have a sweet, slightly astringent taste. The crop matures completely in 30–40 days. From one bush it is possible to collect about 18 kg of fruit. The frost resistance of the plant is low (withstands down to -15°C), and in winter it needs shelter.

Natchez blackberries produce a high yield of large berries

Ouachita

This is a very generous variety of American selection. The bushes are powerful, vertical (height no more than 3 m), without thorns. The fruits are medium-sized (6–7 g), ripen in June-July. The yield, according to the authors of the variety, is up to 30 kg per bush. Disadvantage - it can hardly withstand low temperatures (maximum up to -17°C). It is difficult to cover the bushes; they bend down poorly.

Blackberries of the Ouachita variety are very productive, but the berries are not very large

Giant (Bedford Giant)

Blackberries of the Gigant variety are grown on a production scale. This is a subshrub with climbing stems densely studded with thorns. Dense and very tasty berries of medium or large size (7–12 g) begin to ripen by July. This variety is characterized by average frost resistance and winters well under light cover.

Giant blackberries are often grown for sale.

Columbia Star

This is one of the newest American varieties that has not yet gained popularity. Columbia Star is an early, thornless blackberry with long (about 5 m) shoots, which make caring for the plant somewhat difficult. The creators of the hybrid promise high yields and very large fruits (up to 15 g). This blackberry tolerates heat and drought, but is afraid of severe frosts (below -15°C). Experts note the refined taste of the berries.

Columbia Star - a new promising variety

Chačanska Bestrna

A variety of Polish selection that produces up to 15 kg of yield per bush. It is convenient to pick berries from semi-creeping shoots; they have no thorns. The juicy fruits are large and sweet and sour in taste. Their disadvantage is their short shelf life. Blackberry Chachanska Bestrna is unpretentious, tolerates heat, drought and cold down to -26°C without problems, and rarely gets sick.

Chachanska Bestrna - a variety with juicy berries that are difficult to store

Osage

Gardeners celebrate the Osage variety as the blackberry with the most exquisite taste. However, its yield is not too high; 3–4 kg of berries are harvested from one plant. The bushes grow vertically, their height is up to 2 m, the shoots are thornless. The berries are oval-round, medium in size. Resistance to frost is weak (cannot withstand temperatures below -15°C), so you can’t do without shelter even in the south.

Even in the southern regions, Osage blackberries need to be covered for the winter.

Karaka Black

This is a new variety of early climbing blackberry, bred by New Zealand biologists. The elongated fruits (their weight is 8–10 g) look original and have a characteristic sweet and sour taste. Karaka Black bears fruit for a long time, up to 2 months, each bush produces a harvest of up to 15 kg. The disadvantages of this blackberry are thorny shoots and low resistance to frost.

Read more about the variety in our article: Blackberry Karaka black is a champion in large fruit.

Karaka Black blackberries are elongated and resemble a cob.

Video: Karaka Black blackberry fruiting

Medium ripening varieties

These berry bushes produce a harvest in mid to late summer. The taste of fruits often depends on the weather. In rainy summers they will be more acidic; in hot weather they can lose moisture and dry out.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness is considered one of the best in taste among low-maintenance varieties. This semi-creeping blackberry is thornless and the bushes are compact. Loch Ness is harvested from the end of July. It is consistently high; with good care, one plant produces about 30 kg of delicious berries with a slight sour taste.

Loch Ness - a non-capricious and productive blackberry variety

Loch Tay

This non-thorny hybrid is distinguished by sweet large (up to 15 g) berries with dense skin, which are almost not damaged during transportation. But the yield of the variety is not the highest, about 12 kg per plant. The flexible shoots of Loch Tay blackberries are long, about 5m, so they will need support. And before winter, the lashes will have to be removed to cover them. Frosts below -20°C are destructive for this variety.

Loch Tay is distinguished by its dense and shelf-stable berries.

Waldo

This blackberry variety has been time-tested and has received the best recommendations from gardeners. Shrub without thorns, creeping, compact, very convenient for small areas. Medium-sized (up to 8 g) berries ripen in July. Each bush yields a harvest of about 17 kg. Frost resistance is average; in cold climates shelter will be required.

Waldo is a compact blackberry variety that produces high yields

Kiova

The variety is distinguished by its huge berries. The weight of individual ones reaches 25 g, and the harvest, ripening in July-August, reaches 30 kg per bush. But the straight shoots of this blackberry are covered with sharp thorns. This plant can withstand frost down to -25°C, but in northern climates it needs shelter on the eve of winter.

Kiova - the largest-fruited blackberry variety

Video: large-fruited blackberry variety Kiova

Late varieties

Blackberry varieties whose berries ripen late are, as a rule, unpretentious and will not require significant effort from the gardener. They are good because the harvest ripens by the end of summer, and sometimes at the beginning of autumn, when other berry crops are already resting. But in the northern regions this is not always convenient. Sometimes blackberries do not have time to reach ripeness before the first snowfall.

Texas

The author of the variety is the Soviet naturalist I.V. Michurin. He himself called his creation “blackberry-shaped raspberry.” The crops are similar in the structure of the leaves, the ripening period of the berries and their taste.

The variety Texas is named after the American, but it is a blackberry of Russian selection

This is a strong, creeping bush. The shoots are flexible, like those of melons, covered with large thorns, the leaves and stalks are also prickly. It is more convenient to grow the variety on a trellis. When ripe, the berries are dark crimson with a faint bluish tinge. The taste is something between raspberries and blackberries. The maximum yield in Texas is 13 kg per plant; the bush bears fruit for up to 15 years. The disadvantage of this variety is its low resistance to frost. Without protection, this blackberry will not survive the winter.

Oregon Thornless

American variety. It has thornless, creeping stems growing up to 4 m, and beautiful leaves. This blackberry is grown on a support, and sometimes used to decorate garden buildings. Medium-sized berries (7–9 g) ripen at the end of summer. Approximately 10 kg of crop is harvested from one bush. Oregon Thornless can withstand temperatures down to -20°C, but it would be safer to cover it on the eve of winter.

Oregon Thornless - a very decorative blackberry

Navajo

Another variety from American breeders. Straight shoots (average height - 1.5 m) grow without support and are devoid of thorns. The sweet-sour berries are small (5–7 g) and ripen in August-September. Up to 15 kg of fruits are collected from each bush. The plant does not require care, but its winter hardiness is low.

Navajo - a variety with vertical shoots without thorns

Triple Crown Thornless

The variety was created by gardeners from Oregon. This is a semi-cresting blackberry, its flexible shoots stretch up to 3 m. There are no thorns. The berries are of medium size, the yield is approximately 10 kg per bush. Triple Crown blackberries tolerate heat and drought well, but need protection from frost.

Read more about the variety in our article - Blackberry variety Triple Crown: Triple Crown of Abundance.

Triple Crown variety native to Oregon

Chester Thornless

This variety has semi-clinging, compact and thornless bushes. The berries are relatively small (5–8 g), but the yield is above average. One plant produces up to 20 kg of fruit. Chester can be classified as a frost-resistant variety; it can withstand temperatures down to -25°C. But it still doesn’t hurt to cover these blackberries. In addition, the plant does not develop well in the shade and on low, marshy soils.

Chester in good conditions produces 20 kg of berries per bush

Thornfree

One of the most productive varieties of blackberries without thorns. According to gardeners, it is possible to collect about 35 kg of berries from an adult plant. They ripen in August-September. The sour-sweet fruits are elongated, medium in size (up to 7 g). The Thornfrey blackberry bush is semi-climbing, the shoots are strong, approximately 5 m in length. The plant resists diseases, but does not tolerate cold well. Winters under cover.

Thornfree - a high-yielding and thornless blackberry variety

Blackberry Black Satin

Black Satin is a variety well known to many gardeners. This blackberry has drooping, stiff shoots free of thorns. Sweet, round berries of medium size, their weight is about 8 g. In a good summer and with careful care, it is possible to collect 20–25 kg of fruit from the plant; ripening lasts from August to October. The variety cannot withstand frosts below -20°C without protection. It also does not like stagnant moisture.

Doyle

This blackberry is still little known among our gardeners. This is a new thornless variety that produces high yields late in the season. From each plant you can remove 25 kg of large (weighing approximately 9 g) berries. The shoots are semi-creeping and long, so they will need supports for growing. Doyle is tolerant of drought and hot weather; the plant must be protected from frost.

Doyle is a variety that our gardeners are just getting acquainted with

Shade-tolerant varieties

Most blackberries are not capricious in their choice of soil and adapt to any conditions. But the taste of many varieties depends on the location of the plant. Lack of light and rainy summers make the berries sour. Although there are varieties that ripen equally well in the sun and in the shade. True, such blackberries will not please you with the size of the berries.

Thornless Evergreen

This ancient variety, bred more than 100 years ago, at first glance, is inferior to the newest ones. Small, 3–5 g, aromatic berries ripen on the semi-creeping shoots of Thornless Evergreen blackberries. But there are up to 70 of them in each brush . Therefore, productivity does not suffer. In addition, Thornless Evergreen is one of the first thornless varieties and can retain foliage even under snow, and the plant begins to grow quickly in the spring.

Thornless Evergreen is one of the oldest blackberry varieties.

Agawam

This blackberry variety has proven itself to be shade-tolerant and frost-resistant. Its spiky straight stems grow up to 3 m. The berries are small, up to 5 g, ripe in July-August. Experienced gardeners collect about 10 kg of fruit from each bush. Agavam blackberries do without shelter in winter and even in severe frosts (down to -40°C) do not freeze. The disadvantage of this variety is its abundant basal growth, which causes a lot of trouble for gardeners.

Blackberries of the Agavam variety are universal, but their disadvantage is a lot of basal shoots

Frost-resistant blackberry

Erect and transitional varieties of blackberries tolerate low temperatures better than creeping ones. Among the frost-resistant varieties there are thorny and thornless, early and late.

Abundant

This blackberry is the result of the work of the legendary breeder I.V. Michurina. A variety with strong compact bushes, without root shoots. The shoots are semi-creeping, covered with curved thorns. The berries are oblong, medium in size (6–7 g), taste sweet and sour. Blackberry Izobilnaya is one of the most frost-resistant varieties of domestic selection. But in the northwestern regions of Russia it is better to cover the bushes with snow.

Blackberry Izobilnaya is adapted to the Russian climate

Ufa

Derived from the Agavam variety. It adopted the main characteristics from its ancestor, but is distinguished by higher winter hardiness. Ufa blackberries are successfully cultivated in central Russia. The berries of this variety are small (weight 3 g), but tasty. The yield is decent, up to 12 kg per plant.

Ufa blackberry is one of the most winter-hardy varieties

Polar

The variety, created by Polish breeders, produces tall and strong stems without thorns. Large berries (10–12 g) ripen early. Polar can spend the winter without protection in temperatures as low as -30°C. In this case, the yield will be up to 6 kg per plant. Gardeners have noticed that more significant harvests are harvested from bushes that have overwintered under cover.

Blackberries Polar are highly resistant to low temperatures and produce large fruits

Arapaho

This American variety, which appeared in the 90s of the last century, has already captivated gardeners around the world. Arapahoe is a thornless blackberry with an early ripening period. Very juicy berries of medium size (7–8 g) have the shape of a wide cone. The yield of the variety is above average. Arapahoe blackberries resist diseases well and can withstand temperatures as low as -25°C without protection.

The Arapahoe variety ripens early and rarely gets sick

Apache

Another variety from the USA entered the market in 1999. This blackberry combines the characteristics of the best representatives of different species. Powerful vertical shoots are devoid of thorns. The elongated cylindrical berries are large, 10 g each, sweet, and store well. The yield is so high that the variety is often grown commercially. Apaches are excellent at resisting disease and overwinter without problems.

Apache is a variety that takes all the best from the original species

Darrow

This variety from America can withstand frosts down to -35°C. The length of the prickly shoots is about 2.5 m. The berries are small, weighing up to 4 g. Their taste is initially sweet and sour. Overripe fruits acquire greater sweetness. The yield of the Darrow variety is average; an adult plant produces up to 10 kg of berries.

Darrow is the most winter-hardy blackberry variety today.

Remontant varieties

This blackberry produces two harvests per season. The first ripens on overwintered shoots in June-July, the second - at the end of summer on young shoots. However, in regions with harsh climates, growing remontant varieties is unprofitable. Early berries may die from frost, and later ones will not have time to ripen before the cold weather arrives.

Prime Arc Freedom

A new, vertically growing, thornless blackberry variety. The berries are high in sugar and very large, from 15 to 20 g. The harvest, as the creators of the variety promise, should be plentiful. The disadvantages of the variety include low frost resistance. Without protection, this blackberry does not overwinter.

Prime Arc Freedom - a variety that provides a double harvest

Video: fruiting of the remontant blackberry Prime-Ark Freedom

Black Magic (Black Magic)

Low (up to 1.5 m) remontant blackberries ripen in two waves: at the end of June and August. The berries are medium and large in size, very sweet. Productivity is low, from 5 kg per bush. The disadvantages of the Black Magic variety are the presence of thorns and poor winter hardiness.

Black Magic produces low but stable yields twice a season

Reuben

This upright hybrid with powerful thorny bushes can be grown without support. The first harvest is harvested in July, the second may be delayed until October. The berries are large, from 10 to 16 g, the yield is high. But Ruben blackberries do not tolerate heat above 30°C and frost stronger than -16°C.

Blackberry Ruben prefers to rest in extreme heat

Reviews

In general, the variety does not require any special agrotechnical concerns; the set of activities is usual for blackberries. If you follow standard rules, it is possible to obtain abundant harvests of healthy berries. As you know, blackberries are rich in vitamins, microelements and biologically active substances. This makes it a valuable plant for both farms and private households.

Loch Tay is one of the best modern varieties, definitely recommended for testing on the personal plot of any gardener.

— We recommend reading about the classic semi-creeping blackberry variety Thornfree.

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Reviews from gardeners

The berry is amazingly delicious. The ripening period is superb. Loves watering. In the sun at our +39 it does not burn in the shade. Transportability is excellent. I'm very pleased with the variety.

olechka070

https://forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3799&page=2

In my conditions, in the first year of growing season, the shoots of Loch Tay (main and side shoots) easily crossed the border of another seedling in August (2 meters). The variety is vigorous. Much depends on care and planting location. Multi-berry fruits. Harvest from care.

alex63j

https://forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3799&page=7

When fully ripe, the variety is very tasty, the berries are tender and sweet, the main thing is to wait for ripeness. It is very powerful in terms of growth force, it has driven out several three-meter-long replacement shoots, and today almost a meter of lateral shoots have sprung from them. A dozen bushes of this variety are clearly not enough; when you look at it, you want to plant more!

Love7

https://forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3799&page=12

In terms of the sum of indicators, in my opinion, this is the best variety so far. At least in the south. It ripens early, the berries burn less than others, they were taken to Crimea in a plastic box. Taxi, then train, bus luggage, car - for 4 days we ate quite decent berries, the taste of which only became better. Speaking of taste, it ripened almost at the same time as Natchez, so we thought it was even tastier.

arsenal

https://forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3799&page=13

The first harvest of Loch Tay blackberries is absolutely beautiful. The main branch is very thin in comparison with the three young ones, which have already reached 2–2.5 m; the side branches have grown to 25–30 cm. The taste of the berries and the appearance are beautiful, the bush is literally covered with berries, I will definitely propagate it.

Voloshun Ivan

https://forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3799&page=14

A high-yielding and drought-resistant variety of thornless blackberries, Loch Tay has gained popularity in many countries. Amateur gardeners appreciated such valuable qualities of the hybrid as large and sweet berries, suitability for transportation, resistance to diseases and pests.

Author: Vita Gornaya
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