Blackberry garden - planting and care

Gardeners lovers and professionals have long been interested in breeding blackberries. It appeared in America in the thirties of the 19th century, by breeding breeders of cultivars from wild species. Gradually, the blackberry garden has conquered the world, because its berries contain more vitamins than in raspberries. The healing properties are also impressive. Blackberry helps to remove inflammation of the joints, it is included in the diet for diabetes, stomach and bowel diseases. In addition, it has antipyretic effect and normalizes metabolism.

Sorts and planting of blackberries

The blackberry reminds a raspberry, but white, black or dark-violet color. It is fragrant and shiny. There are varieties with rounded or elongated berries. It can be frozen for the winter, and, unlike the raspberry, the blackberry garden does not lose its qualities. Usually the berry bushes have a creeping appearance, with shoots covered with spines, which can reach from two to four meters. But there are also erect varieties, and devoid of thorns.

There are two types of blackberries: creeping sparrows and erect monsters. Varieties belonging to the first group, may not have spines, high-yielding. Varieties of the second group of average yield, but due to the compactness of the bushes, they can be planted thicker.

For the winter, the blackberry needs to be sheltered, since it does not tolerate frost. Growing berries does not present special difficulties. However, sometimes gardener lacks information about ways to care for her. As the main care for the plant, we use plucking of shoots and watering, especially during fruiting. Very rarely, the blackberry garden is affected by pests. But the danger may be a raspberry beetle. As a means of controlling pests, you can use Bordeaux water or infusion of garlic. In autumn, cut lignified and fruitful shoots. Young shoots, as they grow, are tied to trellis, if necessary, thinned out. In the spring, cut out the side shoots. Blackberry bushes need to be mulched, which uses pine needles, sawdust and other materials.

Blackberries of non-polluting varieties are multiplied in four ways. The first involves dividing the bush, which is an unproductive option. The second, the most successful - the tips of shoots. To this option was successful, it is necessary that during the growth of shoots the soil was sufficiently moistened. Only by the end of August, shoots can be bent down and topped. They must be in time to take root while the warm days of autumn are standing. Already rooted tops are cut off from the main shoot, sheltered for the winter, in the spring of the blackberry, the garden is transplanted to a new location. The third way of berry bush breeding is by etiolated young shoots, the fourth is by cuttings.

For blackberry planting, a hole is pulled from a depth of forty to sixty centimeters, potash fertilizers, compost and superphosphate are injected into it. After planting, the plant is well watered. However, one should not allow water to stagnate at the roots. In the event that blackberry saplings, newly planted, give shoots, they prune, leaving no more than five pieces. It is necessary to shorten the young shoots, which reached ninety centimeters in length. This increases the number of new branches and increases the yield. Fruiting in early varieties begins in June, late berries yield in October. Harvest from one bush of climbing varieties can range from fifty to seventy kilograms.

To ensure that the garden berries yield a good harvest, blackberry farming practices must be observed. It should be borne in mind that plants begin to bear fruit two years after planting. When shortening the shoots, one should adhere to the advice of specialists. Very important is watering during the flowering and ripening of berries, fertilization and mulching. If all the conditions are met, the blackberry will enjoy the harvest.