Review of the best varieties of blackberry

Blackberry is a perennial plant that was first propagated in Mexico and Canada.This berry came to the Eurasian continent much later and now in our country you can find forms that are a hybrid of American and European varieties.

We started growing blackberries in America in the 19th century, and it was from there that many varieties of this shrub came to us. Now there are about 300 varieties of blackberry. The plant is easy to cross, breeders continue to present all new species. Blackberries are a thorny shrub, but there are varieties both with small spikes and completely without them. And also there are differences in the growth of stems - erect (cumanica) and creeping (rosyanika). In creeping varieties more juicy and large fruits. Flowers are adapted to self-pollination, are collected in brushes, and the fruits are a multi-acanthous drupe.

Berries have beneficial properties due to the rich vitamin and mineral composition. They contain fiber, organic acids, amino acids, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, vitamins C, PP, K. Berries are extremely healthy, they relieve inflammation, remove excess fluid from the body, have an antimicrobial, antipyretic effect. In addition, the BlackBerry is able to normalize pressure, remove harmful substances, improve metabolism, and calm the nervous system. But the berries are strong allergens, so they are not recommended to use allergies, as well as kidney disease and high acidity.

Blackberry varieties were bred from several species, and each variety is different in structure and type of fruiting. Many species have a creeping form. In the process of cultivation was obtained spineless blackberries, which in the title can have the prefix Thornless ("without thorns"). The period of growth and development of shrubs is long, which provides protection from frosts in spring, but at the same time it affects the period of ripening. In cold regions, often the ovaries can go unripe under the snow, here a blackberry remontant may help, bearing fruit until autumn.

It is worth considering in more detail the best varieties of blackberry.

• Karak Black. This variety was the result of hybridization of different raspberry and blackberry varieties. The shrub gives a big crop, satisfactorily tolerates frosts, drought, pests and diseases, it is recommended to protect the shrub during frosts. Long shoots need support, which will protect the branches from damage and facilitate harvest. Berries are large - up to 10 g, a pleasant sweet-sour taste and with a delicate aroma. They are suitable for freezing, well tolerated transportation due to the high density of berries. A characteristic property of the variety is yellowing of leaves, which is not associated with the disease.

• Loch Ness. This is a large-fruited variety - berries have a weight of up to 12 g, sweet with moderate acidity, black with blue. Up to 15 kg of berries can be harvested from the bush, but intensive care can double the amount of the crop. Berries can remain fresh for several days, and the presentation is not lost during transport. Shrub without thorns, falling shoots, long - up to 4 meters in length, therefore the installation of trellis is required. "Loch Ness" gives a high yield, endures the winter satisfactorily.

• "Ruben". This garden blackberry for our country is considered a novelty. The bush is compact, the number of thorns is average, it grows vertically like raspberries and does not require additional supports. It tolerates temperatures up to -150 ° C, in regions with a temperate climate, it is necessary to cover shrubs in winter.You can collect up to 5 kg of crop from one bush. Large berries - up to 16 g, the first crop ripens in late July or early August, bears fruit until October. Berries withstand transportation over medium distances and are resistant to harmful garden insects. Shrub starts to give fruits from the first year.

• Navajo. This is a late variety, the berries are medium - up to 5 g, but one bush gives a good harvest. The first fruits appear in August - early September. Fruits are sweet, black and purple in color, suitable for juices and preservation, as well as withstand transportation. The bush is vertical, without thorns, does not require support, shoots grow up to 1.5 meters. The variety is resistant to infections and frost, yields a crop, even with the least care.

• Thornless Evergreen. This is a pinless variety with medium berries and high yield. The berries have a weight of up to 4 g, black, sweet with characteristic sourness, dense, withstand transportation. Among the disadvantages are large seeds, otherwise this variety has advantages. "Evergreen" is considered an evergreen, as the leaves of the bush do not turn yellow under the snow, and it blooms quickly in spring. Often this variety is used as a "living" hedge. Fruits can be collected in several receptions from August to September. A well-groomed shrub can produce up to 10 kg of berries, but in the first years the harvest will be much less. Creeping shoots, with time they acquire a red-brown color, grow by the type of dews. Despite the high frost resistance, the bush should be covered during the cold season.

• "Kiov". This variety with very large berries - up to 20 g. A special feature is that even at the end of the season the fruits do not become shallow. The crop ripens gradually, the berries withstand carriage, sweet with a slight sourness and pronounced aroma. Shrub grows to 1.6 meters, shoots are directed upwards, have a large number of thorns. By the type of shoots do not need support, but under the weight of the berries, they can slope down, which threatens with minor injuries and as a consequence of bacterial infections. “Kiova” tolerates temperatures up to -23 ° C, but in our conditions it is recommended to cover the shrubs for the time of winter. For the most part this is due to the fact that in some regions the temperature may fall below the permissible limit.

• Darrow. It is a grade with high frost resistance, well tolerates temperatures down to -34 ° C. The berries are small - up to 4 g, black, sweet and sour. The "Darrow" is not the best taste, but the bush gives up to 10 kg of crop and fruiting increases every year. Bushes are strong, shoots must be tied up.

• "Lough Mary". This variety does not stand out with large fruits or a long shelf life, but the fruits are sweet with a slight sourness, and the ornamental shrub will decorate the garden with pink flowers in spring, in addition, a plant without thorns, which facilitates harvesting. In care, it is unpretentious, it is necessary to mulch, support and shelter will be required in the winter months. Semi-resistant shoots, good fruiting begins with the third year of the plant. Lough Mary is susceptible to fungal diseases, especially gray rot, the risk of infection of which increases during rainy summer. The variety is medium early - the fruits ripen in late June or early July. The berries are almost round, black, with small bones, reaching weight up to 10 g.

• Black Magic. This variety will delight and harvest the entire season. With one shrub you can take up to 5 kg of berries, the first harvest in late June, the second - in August. There are few thorns on the bush, strong shoots, up to 1.5 meters in height. "Black Magic" can withstand a dry period and heat, despite the low frost resistance (can withstand up to -12 ° C) best suited to our climate.

• "Chachansk Bestrna". This is one of the best varieties of Serbian origin, suitable for both commercial and for its own cultivation.The fruits begin to ripen in late July or early August. One 5-year-old bush can produce up to 15 kg of berries. Well-ripened berries are sweet, with a sour aftertaste. The shoots are thornless, long (up to 3.5 meters), the bush is quite strong, withstands up to -26 ° C, is not susceptible to fungal infections.

• "Himalayas". This is an early variety, the crop can be harvested several times per season. The berries are large, black or red-tinted, have an exquisite sweet-sour taste and a delicate berry flavor. One shrub can produce up to 8 kg of crop with proper care. Shrub gives a good harvest on fertile soil with drainage. “The Himalayas” are unpretentious, in the summer period it does not require special care, it is resistant to diseases, gives a big crop, the berries ripen early and bear fruit until the end of summer.

• "Prime Arc Freedom". This is an early large-fruited variety resistant to many diseases. The shoots are strong, vertical, up to 2 meters long, without thorns. Fruits may appear in the first year, but in the northern regions they will not have time to fully mature. For the winter, the shrub needs to be covered, since it does not tolerate frost badly, when cutting branches for the winter period, the shrub will give a late harvest. The berries are oval, moderately juicy, sweet with a slight sourness, weight reaches 17 g. The first harvest of the season is distinguished by especially large fruits, the next ones are a bit smaller. Fruits tolerate long-distance transportation.

• "Helen". This is an early variety of blackberry. Stems creeping, shoots without thorns, strong, up to 2 m in height. Berries oval, weighing up to 10 g, as they ripen, change color from ruby ​​to black. The taste is unusual - with a cherry note, the fruits are juicy and cannot preserve their qualities for a long time after harvesting or during transportation, but are well suited for preservation. The first ripe fruits appear at the beginning of July, the bush produces up to 3.5 kg of berries. Helen freezes at -30 ° C, susceptible to the development of chlorosis due to surface roots. The variety does not tolerate disease and insect attacks.

• Red Diamond. This is an early variety of blackberry with small spines and shoots up to 4 meters. Shrub poorly tolerates frost, so you need to cover it in the winter. To facilitate harvesting and prevent the development of fungus need support for the shoots. The berries are of an unusual bright red color, the fruits are sweet with the smack of cherries, dense, withstand transportation well.

• "Giant". This is a brisk and high-yielding variety with good taste. One shrub can produce up to 30 kg of berries, which can weigh up to 20 g. Fully ripened berries of deep black color, taste sweet and sour. The first harvest appears in early July and bears fruit until late autumn. "Giant" is able to withstand up to -30 ° C. This variety does not tolerate drought. The shoots are flexible, can grow up to 2.5 meters, support is needed.

• "Orkan". This variety of Polish origin, originally intended for regions with a temperate continental climate, but adapted to any conditions. The variety has a high disease resistance. "Orkan" quietly transfers southern winters, in colder regions it is necessary to shelter it in winter. The shoots are strong, without thorns, have a length of up to 3 m. In a warm climate, the fruits ripen in late June, in a cold climate - in the middle of July. The berries are black, sweet and sour with a pronounced berry aroma, the weight can reach 8 g. Up to 5 kg of berries can be obtained from one adult shrub.

• Jumbo. This variety has strong, but short shoots. Bushes grow to the sides, shoots grow up, reach a height of 1.5 m and can bend to the ground, so support is needed. For the year, the shrub gives 2-3 new shoots.In appearance, the berries resemble at the same time mulberry and raspberry; on the shrub brushes are polygamous with record-breaking fruits - up to 30 g. The bones are small but firm. "Jumbo" well maintains transportation and can be stored for several days in a cool place without loss of external properties and taste.

• Columbia Star. This variety with “bare” and long shoots (up to 5 m), while the bush itself remains compact. It refers to creeping species, need support. The berries are large - up to 13 g, sweet with a slight sourness, pronounced aroma. Berries can withstand transportation over long distances and can be stored for several days without losing taste. The fruits begin to ripen in early June. The variety tolerates drought, heat, and is resistant to many diseases, but in winter it is necessary to cover shrubs.

• Osage. The main advantage of the variety is its sweet taste without a characteristic sour aftertaste. The variety is high-yielding, the fruits are suitable for long-term storage and can well withstand transportation. Rounded berries reach up to 7 g in weight, one bush can produce up to 3 kg of fruits. The bush is upright, the first harvest appears in early July. It can withstand the hot months and direct sunlight, shoots without thorns up to 1.5 m. The variety is resistant to orange rust and anthracnose, it must be covered for the winter period.

• "Black Prince". This variety is undemanding to care, refers to the late varieties, can grow in the shade, one bush can give up to 25 kg. Shrub compact, found with spikes, and with a small amount. The berries have a conical shape, weight - up to 10 g. They taste sweet, with a pronounced aroma, and withstand transportation well.

For the breeding of high-yielding varieties wild species of blackberry were used, among which are leaved, split, gray, bushy. Virtually all varieties of non-bold blackberries were bred from the leafy, which by nature are not barren. Many creeping varieties originate from the cutting blackberries. From the gray came erect varieties. Bushy contributed to the appearance of remontant varieties that delight the crop until late autumn.

There are three groups of blackberries.

• Creeping bushes (dewberry) need support, they do not have root shoots. The berries are sweeter and more juicy than those of upright species, but there are not so many berries in the hands that affect the amount of the crop. Ripens early - July or August. Propagated by pulps, apical kidney layering, green grafting.

• Erect (cumanica) breed by petioles, root suckers. They are better tolerated by frosts, have a multi-tiered fruit brush, thereby increasing the amount of harvest. Some species, despite the bush planting, you need to tie up, there are also features in trimming the bush.

• Hybrid semi-subsistence species combines the best qualities - multi-layered fruit clusters, great harvest, large berries, some species withstand severe frosts. Initially, shoots grow straight, but then lean, so as they grow, they must be attached to a support to prevent possible breaks and damage. Reproduced tops, in the winter it is recommended to cover.

For Moscow region and for central Russia, it is necessary to choose varieties that tolerate dry periods, frosts and undemanding care.

• "Agaveam" - This is a common variety recommended for the Russian climate by the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Shoots are thorny, strong, grow up. One bush can produce up to 5 kg of crop, fruits appear in July and August.The minus of this variety is considered to be barbed shoots that can “capture” the entire garden area, but the variety is just perfect for the Moscow region and the middle lane. It withstands up to -40 ° C, it does not need to be covered, bears fruit in the shade, grows on any soil. It is worth remembering that in the Northern regions the fruits will ripen later, therefore it is better to plant on the sunny side.
• "Apache" - it is an erect shrub, can withstand up to -20 ° C, but it is recommended to cover for the winter. This variety does not tolerate heat, so it is better to plant it in a shaded place and monitor the soil moisture.
• "Black Satin" - It is a hybrid semi-temperate variety, which bears fruit from July to September. In winter, it is recommended to cover it. One shrub can produce up to 20 kg of fruit.
• "Thornfrey" - This is a variety with medium size and sweet berries. In Moscow it is recommended to cover it in winter, shoots without thorns.
• Natchez - this is a semi-nesting variety. Its fruits ripen early. This variety freezes at temperatures below -14 ° C, so you need to cover for the winter.

For the Leningrad region you need to choose frost-resistant varieties, for example, "Agave". The following varieties are also suitable for this region:

• Brzezina - early ripening, thornless shoots, harvest in early July;
• "Doyle" - small shoots, berries are sown at the end of July, gives a big crop, withstands dry periods, diseases, shelter is necessary for the winter;
• "Arapaho" - thornless shoots, withstands up to -24 ° C, but it is better to cover for the winter, resistant to diseases and pests, the fruits have a refined taste;
• Triple Crown - semi-stemming form of blackberry with thornless shoots, the first ripe fruits appear in mid-August, the crop is harvested until late autumn.

The following varieties resistant to spring frosts are suitable for the Urals and Siberia:

• Polar - upright with bloody shoots, the first berries ripen at the end of June, one shrub gives up to 5 kg of fruits, freezes at temperatures below -30 ° C, does not like excessive moisture;
• Wilson Earley - semi-stemming early variety, the first fruits can be collected in July, loves the sun, but grows well in cold climates;
• "El Dorado"- early variety, large berries, high yield, recommended shelter for the winter period;
• "Darrow" - with small spikes, transfers up to -34 ° С, each new season gives more yield;
• Gazda - tolerates a cold climate, if it gets enough sunlight, a small number of spines, the berries can withstand transportation, retain their qualities after harvest;
• "Snyder" - frost-resistant, upright variety, resistant to diseases, small-sized fruits, ripen early.

For the south of the country, creeping shrubs with a small number of spines that "like" black soil are recommended. The Black ones are considered to be “Black Bat”, “Natchez”, “Tornfrey”, “Apache”, “Karak Black”, “Lawton”, “Loch Tey”. For dry regions are suitable varieties such as:

• "Ouachita" - a fairly new hybrid, without thorns, the bush can produce up to 30 kg, withstands up to -17 ° C, as well as a dry period;
• "Kalambiya Star" - ripens early, without thorns, the crop can be harvested up to 7 times per season;
• "Jumbo" - semi-stemming, without thorns, high sugar content in fruits, withstands dry periods and does not need shelter for the winter;
• "Chief Joseph" - an early harvest, without thorns, berries are large, sweet, the bush gives up to 35 kg of a crop.

Gardeners celebrate the good taste of the berries and their benefits. There is a joke among summer residents that it is easy to plant a blackberry, but it is difficult to remove it. Some varieties grow very quickly and fill the entire plot. But the benefits of these berries surpass any shortcomings. To date, there are many varieties, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Among this variety, it is important to choose a variety that is suitable for your site and region.The most common variety among gardeners is Agave, which is unpretentious and most adapted to our climate.

Review the best varieties of blackberry, see the following video.