Blackberry "Chester Thornless": description, features and cultivation

Blackberry is a wild berry, rightly popular among the population. Despite this, it is quite possible to grow it in the garden plot.Breeders brought special varieties, which are cultivated at home is quite simple. One of them was Chester Thornless, which became very popular in America, and later in Russia.

As for the description of this variety, it should be noted that it has shoots up to 3 meters long, which, despite the thickness, bend well. They are semi-detached. The branches are low.

With proper care, a shrub can become massive and spreading. It will look very aesthetically pleasing, however, in such cases, inconveniences during harvesting are not uncommon. However, the branches are very flexible and are not protected by spikes, so this problem is completely solvable. The fruits grow with brushes and are not too high, and there are quite a lot of them. Blackberries have powerful roots and trifoliate leaves of rich green color, placed in series.

Plant varieties "Chester Thornless" has large pink flowers. In this case, the berries are not too large, their average weight is about 5-6 grams. However, the variety is considered to be large-fruited.

At the ends of the branches of fruit brushes located less than at the beginning. Their greatest concentration is located near the ground. Berries give those shoots that appeared in the previous year.

The fruits themselves are oval in shape, approximately the same size and rich black color. Gardeners note a special sweetness of this variety, but a slight sourness is still present. Aroma unobtrusive.

In general, the blackberry "Chester Thornless" has positive reviews. It is well stored and transported without problems over long distances, due to its high density. In addition, the berries of this variety are useful for diet. They will not harm consumers with metabolic disorders and gastrointestinal function. These indicators have led to the fact that for the cultivation of plants are often taken on an industrial scale.

The main advantage is that the plant is able to take root well. In addition, it is well tolerated wintering, especially in the absence of extremely low temperatures. The variety has a high yield. Since the root system is very powerful, the blackberry can survive drought for a long time. Also among the advantages noted the ability to transport, dietary value, visual appeal.

Next, let's talk about the cons. Too low temperatures can kill the plant, it requires special insulation. The variety is light-requiring and does not tolerate shade.Therefore, the choice of landing site should be made with this reservation. Also, the blackberry "Chester Thornless" is unable to fully grow and develop in the lowlands and ravines.

To achieve a bountiful harvest, you need to properly approach the planting. You also need to know the main nuances of agricultural technology.

The first step is to choose the right landing site. It should be borne in mind that the site should be located on the sunny territory, but at the same time a constant hit of direct sunlight can damage the plant. The lack of light also threatens the fruits to become smaller and less tasty. The ideal option would be loose soil, so the roots will be provided with oxygen and moisture.

Too wet land will also have a negative impact on the development of the plant. The best option is loamy soil.To the bushes were not in the shade, plant them better away from the fences or in the center of the site. In addition, if the harvest can be collected, coming to the plant from different sides, the process will go much faster. This option is more convenient for processing plants and other agrotechnical measures.

Seedlings should have a minimum of 2 stems, healthy and strong in appearance. Attention should be paid to the root system with the kidney. Before planting, the roots are cleaned, dry and damaged elements are removed, after which they are dipped into a clay talker.

Next, the plant is placed in the hole, its roots are carefully laid out over the entire surface. The kidney is located a couple of centimeters below ground level. After this, the pit is filled with soil, in which fertilizers are found. Blackberries after planting need to be watered properly, so it will soon take root in a new place.

Since the plant takes root quite well in various territories, it cannot be called unnecessarily demanding. The complex of agrotechnical measures is small, the main thing is to comply with the basic requirements. And, of course, do not leave the blackberry unattended. A little attention needs to be given to watering the plant. Since the variety is drought resistant, it develops quite dynamically even in hot and dry weather. Abundant watering is not required, but to produce them periodically still worth it.

As for loosening, this action is also infrequent. It is enough to loosen the ground 1 time in 3 years. If you plant vegetables between rows, they will have a beneficial effect on the soil. Fertilizers should be applied at approximately the same frequency. Phosphorus-potassium substances that should be used in the spring or autumn periods have an excellent effect on the plant.

If there are extra shoots on the blackberry, they should be cut no earlier than 2 years after planting. Starting from the same period, it is possible to remove damaged, old, non-bearing, and dried branches. In general, the plant should not be more than 7 shoots, strong and flexible. The procedure is repeated annually.

For bushes of this sort, the best option will be to grow on the trellis. Here you need to take into account certain nuances. The pillars should have a height of one and a half to 2 meters and be at a distance of 7 meters from each other. The wire is stretched in several rows, 3 or 4 is optimal, the width between them is 1.5 meters or slightly less. Shoots are fastened with string.

Despite the fact that the Chester Thornless Blackberry is capable of sustainably tolerating lower temperatures, in some cases it may be necessary to take additional measures to make the plant calmly winters. It should be borne in mind that if the winter temperatures in the region do not fall below 30 degrees, the shelter of the bushes is not required, they will cope with similar weather conditions. If there is a chance that the winter will be really cold, it is better to be safe.

To start, the stems are required to untie from the trellis and put on the ground. After they need to cover with corn sheets and plastic wrap. Since this crop does not disappear, it can be covered with various materials, for example, hay or sawdust. The only limitation is leaves from fruit trees, as they can become carriers of diseases and pests. The leaves of the very same bush in the fall are collected and burned.

In central Russia, the blackberry Chester Thornless blooms in June. Fruiting begins by August. In most of the territory, gardeners have time to harvest before the first frost begins. On average, cleaning takes about a month.

When harvesting it is necessary to consider that Blue-black color of berries is not a guarantee of their ripeness. The fruits will truly ripen when they become soft and appear on their surface as a gray raid. When the berries are picked, they should be placed in a cool place, away from the sun. They are not intended for long-term storage, as they lose their taste.

This variety is resistant to diseases and bacteria. Insect pests affect bushes in very rare cases. However, this does not mean that you should completely abandon preventive measures. As a preventive measure, every year in spring and autumn you need to spray the plant with compounds that contain copper. Pruning is also important and helps to avoid problems in the future.

There are cultures that can transmit their diseases to the blackberry Chester Thornless. These are nightshade, raspberries and strawberries. In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, these plants should be planted at least 50 meters from the blackberry bushes. If the territory does not allow for such placement, cultures should be located as far from each other as possible.

In the next video, you will find the first harvest of the large, besshipnaya blackberry varieties "Chester Thornless".