Planting blackberries and caring for her in the fall

Blackberries are a very attractive culture. It can be grown in most parts of our country. But to succeed, it should be done according to strict rules.

First of all, we should understand why it is in the fall that blackberry bushes should be planted. In the gardening community there is no consensus on this. Therefore, it is necessary to be guided not by other people's recommendations, but by practical considerations. An essential requirement for growing blackberries is a substantial warming of the ground. You also need to prepare it properly.

In addition to acid-base balance, it is necessary to pay attention to the mechanical structure of the earth. It is desirable to plant blackberries in heavy, clayey soil, which retains water for a long time. Despite the blackberry's resistance to partial and even full shading, berries grown in sunny areas are always bigger and sweeter.

Processing - cleaning weeds and adding fertilizers - is preferable in the fall. In addition, in September - October the land is naturally warmer than in March and even in May. It is often objected that the autumn planting of blackberries threatens to freeze seedlings. And they add that during the summer the culture will take root, get stronger. But we must take into account the fact that survivors of the cold time of planting will harden, their immunity will become stronger.

In the middle zone of our country, blackberries can produce a good harvest. However, its resistance to frost is insufficient. Therefore, it is important to choose areas where cold winds do not blow, where the earth is quickly heated by the sun. Spring planting is recommended in these regions. An additional requirement is enhanced winterization.

In the suburbs, spring planting is also advisable. Connoisseurs are advised to choose for the blackberry southern and western slopes of hills, elevations. Will have to prepare more from the end of the previous season. Regardless of the method of landing, you need to finish it before May 25. Only in this case, the plants will take root and physically strengthen before the onset of frost.

Blackberry planting is done carefully, additionally taking into account that this culture loves moisture. On a dry day, the bushes will have to be constantly watered, sometimes once in two days. Therefore it is necessary to choose a place for beds near the well, water supply. Additionally, you should take care of quality drainage. Blackberry feels good in areas with high levels of acidity.

Required to test the land in a special way. If the acidity is low, you will have to use special additives. Among them, potassium sulphate is best suited. A good natural substitute for it is fresh manure. When manure breaks down, the soil becomes not only more acidic: the concentration of nitrogen in it grows.

As the blackberry grows very rapidly, a gap of at least 2 m is left between the bushes. This requirement is also related to the fact that it is more convenient to pick berries. The fact is that most varieties are replete with sharp thorns. When growing remontantnyh varieties such a requirement is not too important. But the principles of dealing with them are special, not the same as with ordinary cultures.

The size of the planting pit is determined by how large the seedlings are. Blackberry roots should be placed freely, the root neck should be inserted into the ground at least 0.05 m. In most cases, the volume of the pit is 40 cubic meters. see Outer fertile layer lay on the side. Before returning it to the site add:

• 0.1 kg of superphosphate;
• 0.03 kg potassium sulphate;
• humus;
• loam.

The bottom of the holes is laid out with fresh manure. It can be replaced by compost not rotten yet. In the very middle of the pits fall asleep earth in the form of a mound. The center of the seedling root is placed in this mound, then:

• straighten the roots;
• fill the ground;
• ram the soft mass, achieving a tight pressing of the soil to the roots.

Carefully check that the blackberry is located completely vertically. If planting is done in the fall, the bush is shed with mullein or liquid compost. Top pour 0.01 m mulch. On top of her blackberry intensively spilled again.In winter, plantings harbor so that they do not erode and are protected from frost.

But it does not always make sense to plant blackberries with container saplings. If a variety or hybrid does not produce young offsprings, it is necessary to use the division of the bushes. This procedure should be carried out earlier than the autumn pruning. Otherwise, the plant will not be able to firmly establish itself until the early cold weather. The first step (24-48 hours before work) is thoroughly watered the necessary places.

Planting split bushes in dry soil is dangerous. Chances are that the roots will be broken. Along the perimeter of the site (within a radius of 0.3-0.4 m) a groove is prepared from the root neck. This is done with a shovel. All roots that are outside the groove are immediately chopped off.

Further, the shrub is carefully dug, lifting alternately from all sides. When the blackberry is almost free, it shakes a little, freeing the rhizome from the soil. You can divide the root into fragments with a garden knife. All parts to be cut must have at least one fresh shoot ending in roots. But the old stems on delenki should not be.

For removal of the broken and decayed roots use a secateur. Then the shoots are shortened to 0.3 m. Each cut-off area must have 2 or 3 processes. At the same time, all roots must have at least 1 kidney growing under the ground. Prepared seedlings are planted immediately on a permanent site, in the pre-formed pits.

Since blackberry shoots reach a length of 5-7 m, saving space when planting split bushes is undesirable. It is recommended to leave the intervals of at least 3 m. The aisles at the same time are approximately 2 m. The division of the bush allows you to get 5 seedlings from each bush. Important: it is possible to plant shoots even without roots - if there are at least particles of roots.

An alternative technique is the use of horizontal layers. Do this:

• From August 1 to August 8, shoots grown during the current year will bend to the soil;
• not separating from the bushes, shoots an escape on 1 bayonet;
• the top of the shoot is left on the surface;
• trim the rest by 0.1 m to block further growth;
• compacting the soil, fix shoots with stones or pins;
• Mulch the landing site.

Later, the place where the blackberry shoot is buried is systematically shed. From about 1 to 5 October, with the help of a fork, they dig up a part of a bush together with rooted seedlings. It is much safer and safer than using a shovel. Now the seedlings are cut and transplanted in the selected location. Another option is the reproduction of blackberry root cuttings: this method allows you to get 70% of seedlings, if you comply with all the principles of farming.

Work will need in November. Then the blackberry bush undermines and cut cuttings, and then again they are buried. Suitable for planting cuttings, the length of which ranges from 0.06 to 0.09 m, then they are transferred to the package; This package is placed in the basement or refrigerator. Heating of air during storage should not exceed 5 degrees Celsius; every 5 or 7 days planting material is ventilated and evaluated externally. Around February 24-28, cuttings are laid out in a container, sprinkled with soil a little and germinated on a windowsill; transplantation is carried out in April.

Autumn care for garden blackberries includes:

• pruning;
• top dressing;
• cover from the cold.

Cut unnecessary and interfering shoots required systematically. Only under this condition is it possible to ensure the full development of the bushes. But the first time to trim the blackberry is required only in the second season. Later, the shrub will have to be cut every 2 years. In an adult plant, in the fall, all branches that no longer bear fruit must be removed.

The garbage left after trimming is immediately taken out of the site and immediately burned there. This technique ensures planting safety from any infections. When growing blackberries in the fall, it is imperative to properly feed the plantations in September or in October. During this period, phosphorus and potassium compounds that do not contain even a small amount of chlorine are introduced.

Additionally, all plants must be fed with compost and superphosphate. After their calculations, the land is supposed to be dug up. Whatever fertilizer is applied, the garden area is pre-watered. From natural fertilizers use wood ash. It needs exactly 1 kg per 1 square. m

Blackberries can survive at -20 degrees. However, preparation for winter is still required. The fact is that a sharp cooling can destroy the landing. In addition, the Russian climate is extremely harsh and unpredictable. Even relatively warm regions often suffer from severe frosts.

In coastal areas, the situation is better, but there have to fear the winter winds, especially at high humidity. These factors need to be taken into account. Upright varieties can tolerate cooling down to -30 degrees. But blackberry varieties creeping along the surface will not survive even a moderately cold winter without shelter.

It is better to do shelter not focusing on the average annual temperature, and when establishing a stable frost -5 degrees. Yet in the first month of autumn shelter is not done. It is recommended to cook it in the last days of October or at the beginning of November. Hurrying with shelter, you can greatly harm the bushes. If there is a positive temperature under the covering material, the growth will continue and decay will begin.

Roots will suffer from lack of oxygen, and rot will soon begin. As a result, instead of protecting a shelter, it kills a blackberry. The plant can suffer not only from a lack of snow, but also from thaws. Covering material should be selected and laid so as to exclude icing of the root system and kidneys, as well as vypryvanie. If, however, the underground part has burnt down, it will invariably die, and new saplings will have to be found.

The recommended cover pattern is the same as that of grapes:

• whips removed from the supports;
• laid out on the ground;
• fasten with pins.

Important: Adult shoots can simply be tied without bending down. To prevent wetting of sheltered bushes, sprinkle them with dry leaves, used corn cobs or spruce fur twigs. Stretch the agrofiber from above.

A prerequisite for success is the shelter of both the blackberry itself and the soil on which it grows. The fact is that it warms the earth. The gaps between the rows are also covered with improvised means. In any household for this purpose there is a sacking or plastic film. A more professional approach is to use agrofibre.

Peyonka is categorically not suitable in the southern regions, where the winter temperature often rises above zero degrees. Sudden temperature fluctuations, the appearance of moisture due to thaws can destroy the blackberry, as already mentioned. Film protection is needed where there is a severe cold in winter, which is not interrupted by a thaw. Auxiliary means of protection in this case is a steady snow cover. Another requirement is the use of mulch, which fill the gap from the film to the shoots.

In the absence of such a filler, it is possible to fear the freezing of the branches. From more modern decisions it is possible to use spunbond. It prevents the shrub from fading even during thaws. But he has a weakness - the likelihood of getting wet. To keep the water through, a mulch is put under the spunbond.

The lighter the agrofibre, the better. Such material copes well with protection from frost, but less warm in the spring. In the northern regions of Russia, a synthetic winterizer is placed over dry leaves. However, this option is unsuitable in conditions of a mild snowy winter. Regardless of the region, common mistakes should be taken into account.

It is prohibited to use sawdust for mulching blackberries. They easily absorb moisture from the air, and when the frost comes, pieces of ice appear. When heat returns, the shelter warms up slowly, starts to scream. As a result, the bush dies. In the "favorable" case, it will develop incorrectly.

Inexperienced farmers use straw as mulch. However, rodents quickly appear in the straw. And if they do not appear, the cleaning of rotted straw is very difficult. Any covering material is required to be removed before the kidneys swell. Watering, charging the blackberry with moisture, should be carried out before the start of frost.

In addition to shelter and watering, it is required to deal with attacks of pests and microscopic fungi. The shrub is sprayed with blue vitriol. But you can use branded fungicides. Choosing agrofibre density of 50 g per 1 square. see, you have to lay out a couple of layers. And if the density is twice as high, you need to use 1 layer; A more economical option is harvesting spruce and pine spruce branches, which is used by itself or with agrofibre.

How to plant a blackberry in the fall and care for it, you will learn from the video below.