Blackberries in Russian gardeners are still an exotic culture. But gradually it is gaining popularity, because the berries are not only tasty, but also very useful. And about ten years ago, in addition to the usual varieties, repair hybrids appeared, allowing you to take two crops per season. There are quite frost-resistant varieties that are quite capable of surviving the climate of central Russia and stably bearing fruit in such conditions.
How is a repair blackberry different from ordinary
Repair blackberry is one of the recent achievements of breeders. Therefore, it is still little known, even at home. The first varieties appeared only in the middle of the first decade of the XXI century. They are quickly gaining popularity, including among gardeners from the former Soviet Union.
At first glance, the repair blackberry is no different from ordinary varieties
The main difference between the repairing varieties from the usual ones is the genetically based ability to bring two crops per season in suitable climatic and weather conditions (the middle zone and the south of Russia, as well as the whole Ukraine). The first wave of fruiting begins in mid-June, the second - in the last days of September. If you adhere to the annual growth cycle of the repairing blackberry, fruiting will occur in August-October. First, the berries ripen on last year's shoots (if they were left), then on annuals.
The shoots of a repairing blackberry are literally strewn with berries.
It is worth taking a closer look at the repairing blackberry in central Russia. Such varieties are also valued for the fact that preparing them for winter is very simple. Most often, absolutely all shoots are trimmed to a state of short "stumps". Thus, the risk of freezing of the aerial part of the bush is minimized. But it’s the shoots of an ordinary blackberry that are the most vulnerable place, which suffers not only from cold weather, but also from mice, hares and other rodents (even with thorns).
The climate in Russia is unpredictable, and low temperatures in spring are by no means unusual. Repairing blackberries are not guaranteed to be affected by spring return frosts in the central zone of Russia.
These varieties also have other advantages:
- The first berries are tried already in the year of planting a seedling in the ground, in August. At the same time, no time is lost for growing new shoots. The shoots grown during the summer can be cut for the winter and cover the roots with non-woven material or with a thick, 10-15 cm, layer of mulch. In this case, next year the crop will be only on annual shoots. Berries will be from the beginning of August until the frost.
- With some care, you can get two crops per year. So if you want to get the maximum possible yield from the bushes, then in late autumn, shoots that have grown over the summer need to be bent to the ground and covered for the winter with two or three layers of covering white material, for example, lutrasil or spandex. With this method of cultivation in June, last year's fruiting, overwintered shoots will begin to bear fruit, and from the second half of summer, shoots of the current year.
- Minimization of efforts spent on the fight against diseases and pests. Many insects, their eggs and larvae, fungal spores winter under the bark or in the wood. If the shoots are cut short for the winter, pests lose their usual shelter, which allows them to abandon preventive treatments with chemicals - insecticides and drugs of biological origin can significantly affect the usefulness of the crop. But everyone wants to eat environmentally friendly berries.
- Outward appeal. Any sort of repairing blackberry almost throughout the season blooms with large snow-white flowers with an amazing aroma, reaching 6-9 mm in diameter. Often, flowering stops only with the first frost. Such a bush adorns the garden throughout the summer and attracts pollinating insects, which is useful for other plants.
- Compact bush. Repairing blackberries do not "creep" in the garden. The shoots are directed vertically upwards. Their height is average - no more than 2 m, which greatly facilitates the care of the bush and harvesting. In addition, the compactness of the bush allows you to plant a repair blackberry in large tubs, buckets and other containers that are suitable in volume. With the onset of cold weather, they can be moved to a heated greenhouse, to a glazed loggia or veranda, thereby prolonging the fruiting period.
Repair blackberry gives a big harvest as early as the year of planting
Of course, the repair blackberry has some disadvantages:
- The need to regularly water the plantings. A repairing blackberry reacts very negatively even to short drying of the substrate, although its root system goes deeper into the soil than raspberries. You can get a plentiful crop only if you constantly maintain it in a slightly wet state. Rushing to the other extreme, turning the garden into a swamp, is also strongly not recommended.
- The need for the construction of trellis for support. Since the repairing blackberry is characterized by productivity, and the annual shoots are quite thin, under the weight of the fruit they often lie on the ground, and the berries get dirty. Tapestry will avoid this.
- The presence of many sharp spikes. But, in the end, gloves can be used when collecting. In addition, the selection does not stand still, and the first varieties of non-bearing repair blackberries have already appeared.
- Inability to separate the berries from the receptacle. However, this is a characteristic feature of any blackberry. But the fruits are firmly held on the bush, even fully ripe.
Those who do not live permanently in the garden can use mulch (straw, freshly cut grass, sawdust, humus, peat crumb). It helps not only retain moisture in the soil, but also save time on weeding.
Bushes of a repairing blackberry necessarily need support, for it you need to provide a place in advance
The practice of growing repair blackberries in Russian gardeners is still very limited, but the first conclusions have already appeared. The main one is that one of the two waves of fruiting can be sacrificed in favor of higher yields. All the same, the climate in almost the entire territory of Russia (with the exception of the southern regions located in the subtropics) is such that in autumn the berries do not ripen due to lack of heat and sunlight. In this case, you won’t be able to enjoy blackberries, but the second wave will move towards the end of summer because of this.
In Russia, only the southern regions allow to collect two crops from a repairing blackberry. In other climatic conditions, to get such a result, it is best to plant a bush in a greenhouse.
Therefore, in preparation for the winter, all blackberry shoots should be cut so that next year it is guaranteed to receive a plentiful harvest on young shoots. The taste of autumn berries is not worse at all, but there is a real risk that they can fall under the first autumn frosts.
How to land a repair blackberry
Like most garden crops, a repair blackberry appreciates warmth. Its deficiency negatively affects the quantity and quality of berries. But even in direct sunlight, culture does not feel very well. Look for her area located in the light partial shade.
Repairing blackberry is thermophilic, but in direct sunlight feels bad
With the simultaneous planting of several bushes, 0.7-0.8 m should be left between them, and approximately twice as much between the rows. Such a great distance is necessary to accommodate the trellis. Supports are driven in between the bushes, on which a thin wire or twine is pulled in several rows parallel to the ground at a height of about 40 cm, 80 cm and 120 cm. Shoots are tied to it. Such a bush is more evenly lit by the sun, and the berries get enough heat and ripen faster. You must take care of the trellis in advance. If you then drive the supports between the bushes, it is very easy to damage the roots.
Most varieties of repairing blackberries are self-fertile and do not need pollinators for abundant fruiting, but practice shows that cross-pollination positively affects the yield and taste of berries. Therefore, it is advisable to start immediately 2-3 different shrubs.
A gentle slope oriented so that the bushes are protected from gusts of cold north and west winds is ideal for planting. The best time for landing is the end of April or the first decade of May. A landing pit is prepared about a month before the proposed procedure. There is no deep need to do it, 55-60 cm will be enough. In diameter it should be about the same. The ideal soil for a repairing blackberry is light, not too nutritious (loamy or sandy loam).
The root system in blackberries is more developed than in raspberries, so the landing hole for it should be deeper
This culture does not like alkaline soil. Bushes often suffer from leaf chlorosis. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the acid-base balance in advance and, if necessary, “acidify” the substrate with the help of colloidal sulfur, moss-sphagnum, pine needles, fresh sawdust of conifers or acetic acid. The optimal pH is 6.0-6.6.
Pine needles - a natural remedy that allows you to bring the acid-base balance of the soil to normal
Of fertilizers, a repairing blackberry prefers natural organics, so the fertile turf extracted from the planting pit is mixed with 25-40 liters of humus or rotted compost and a liter can of sifted wood ash. All this is poured back to the bottom, covering the pit with something waterproof.
Wood ash - a natural source of potassium and phosphorus for future plantings
Seedlings should be purchased only at trustworthy nurseries or specialized stores. When buying at the fair or with your own hands there is no guarantee that you will get exactly the variety that you need, and that it is generally a repair blackberry. It is desirable that the seedlings have a closed root system - plants planted in the ground along with a lump of old earth can better tolerate this "stress". You need to choose one or two year old seedling. It consists of one or several branches with a height of about 0.5 m and a thickness of 4-6 mm. The presence of a formed growth kidney and a developed fibrous root system (if it can be seen) is mandatory.
The main attention when choosing a seedling of a repairing blackberry should be paid to the root system and the state of the bark
The procedure for planting a seedling itself looks like this:
- If they are open, soak the roots of the seedlings for 20-24 hours in water at room temperature or in a solution of a biostimulant (Epin, Heteroauxin, potassium humate). It is also useful to add a little potassium permanganate (for disinfection).
- Moderately water the soil in the planting pit. Let the water soak.
- Place the seedling on a mound of earth at the bottom of the pit. Straighten the roots so that they are directed down and to the sides.
- In small portions, fill the pit with soil, periodically gently tamping it from the edges of the pit to its middle. The root buds should be 3-4 cm deep in the ground. In the end, the pit will turn into a shallow (2-3 cm) hollow. This configuration helps save water during irrigation.
- Wait for moisture to absorb. Mulch a trunk circle with a diameter of 30-40 cm with freshly cut grass, peat crumb or humus. Shorten all available shoots by about half, to a length of 25-30 cm.
- For 7-10 days, light covering material can be pulled over the bushes to provide them with a slight shadow while they adapt to the new habitat.
After planting a repair blackberry, the main thing is not to overdo it with watering. The soil should be slightly moist
Good predecessors for blackberries are cabbage, carrots, beets, radishes, spicy herbs and cereals. It is undesirable to plant it where Solanaceae (tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, bell pepper) and any berry bushes grew.
Important nuances of maintaining a maintenance blackberry
Blackberry is deservedly considered a fairly demanding culture. But repair varieties have their own advantages that make it easier to care for them. This primarily concerns pruning and preparation for winter.
Since one of the advantages of a repairing blackberry is its consistently high yield, it quickly “draws” nutrients from the soil. Therefore, the culture needs regular feeding. In spring, as soon as the soil has thawed enough, the soil is well loosened, introducing humus, rotted manure (10-15 liters per plant) and nitrogen-containing fertilizers in dry form (15-20 g). This macro element helps to build green mass, but you should not get involved in it. Its excess reduces the immunity of the plant. In this case, the blackberry may become infected with gray rot. In addition, if all the forces of the bush go to the leaves, their fruits simply will not remain.
Carbamide, like other nitrogen-containing fertilizers, is applied under blackberry bushes only in spring.
Potassium is very important for fruit to set. The appropriate fertilizer is applied after flowering in dry form or in the form of a solution (per 10 l of water), spending 30-35 g per plant. But it is worth remembering that any blackberry does not like chlorine, therefore potassium chloride as a top dressing is categorically excluded.
If dry manure is used as mulch, then the repairing blackberry does not need additional sources of phosphorus. Otherwise, once every three years, at the same time as potassium-containing fertilizer, simple superphosphate (40-50 g per bush) is applied to the soil. Or it can be replaced with wood ash (a glass annually at the same time).
Dry manure is a natural source of phosphorus
Also, repairing blackberries are susceptible to deficiency of magnesium and iron. Do not forget about the appropriate top dressing. During the summer, 2-3 times you can spray the bushes with a solution of Kalimagnesia, and the soil under them with a solution of iron sulfate.
Watering for a repair blackberry is a very important procedure. It is important to find a middle ground here. With an excess of moisture, the berries become watery and tasteless, the roots rot, and with its lack, the growth and growth of the bush is inhibited, the fruits are unsweetened and not juicy.
So that the soil does not dry out too quickly, it must be mulched after each watering, waiting until the moisture is absorbed, creating a layer with a thickness of at least 5-6 cm. Experienced gardeners recommend planting several times during the season at a distance of 80-100 cm from the bush in a circle or between rows, any siderat plants, mowing them as necessary and using as mulch. By the way, it is also a very effective, completely natural fertilizer.
Water the plant abundantly, the soil should be soaked with water 50-60 cm deep. The best way is sprinkling, simulating natural rainfall, or drip irrigation, which saves water. If the summer is not too warm, once a week is enough, in the heat, the intervals between procedures are reduced to 3-4 days.
Repair blackberry is very sensitive to soil moisture deficiency
Preparing for winter for a repair blackberry is a very simple procedure. All available shoots are cut as close to the ground as possible. The trunk circle is cleaned of weeds and other plant debris and filled with a thick (10-12 cm) layer of mulch.
Cutting a repair blackberry is a very simple procedure, the most important thing is to use a sharpened and sanitized tool
If, nevertheless, it was decided to keep the shoots of this season for next year, they are unhooked from the trellis, tied in a few pieces and bent as close to the ground as possible. All those on which the slightest symptoms are noticeable, similar to the traces of the activity of harmful insects and microorganisms, are cut to the point of growth and burned. Then the bush is covered with any material that lets air through in several layers.As soon as enough snow falls, they dig a snowdrift about half a meter high. During the winter, he will certainly settle, so 2-3 times the structure will have to be updated, breaking up the surface layer of the hard infusion. Practice shows that blackberry is spoiled quite rarely.
In autumn, blackberry shoots need to be bent as low as possible to the ground, but only carefully so as not to break them
Unfortunately, any blackberry has a short shelf life. At room temperature, it will lie a maximum of 3-4 days. Under optimal conditions (temperature 0-2 ºС and air humidity 85-90%) - no more than three weeks. Therefore, it is best to eat fresh berries, as well as use for home canning or as a filling for baking.
Unfortunately, any blackberry is stored for a very short time, only 3-4 days without a refrigerator. But this period is enough to make jam from berries or bake delicious cakes
Video: tips for growing and caring for a blackberry
How the plant propagates
It is easier to propagate a blackberry, including a repair one, than most other berry bushes found in garden plots. New bushes take root quite easily. Interestingly, "offspring" even when propagated by seeds inherit varietal characters of the "parent" bush.
Rooting layering
Reproduction by layering - a method that takes away from the gardener a minimum of time and effort. The layering of a repair blackberry is either part of any shoot or it is the whole. With this reproduction, the branch is fixed by attaching it to the ground with a hairpin or piece of wire, and this place is covered with fertile soil. If it is regularly and abundantly watered, roots and new shoots will appear quickly enough. By autumn, a young bush can be completely separated from the mother plant and transplanted to the chosen place.
When propagated by top layers, you get only one bush, but it is very powerful and developed
Reproduction of repair blackberries with horizontal layering is also practiced. In this case, the entire shoot is placed in a specially dug shallow (5-6 cm) groove and is covered with earth. He gives several bushes, but these plants are not as strong and developed as in the first case.
The method allows you to get several seedlings at once, suitable for those who grow berries for sale
Video: growing new blackberry bushes from layering
Cuttings
In order to get planting material, an adult bush needs to be carefully dug up with roots. They are carefully cleaned from the ground and those that are about half a meter long and have a thickness of at least 0.5 cm are selected. Each root is cut into pieces 10-15 cm long. This is the stalk.
Cuttings should be 10-15 cm long and at least 0.5 cm thick
The best time for landing is the end of August or the first half of September (this depends on the climate). But if there is a risk that the frost in the region will come unexpectedly, you can transfer the procedure to the spring.
The landing procedure itself is as follows:
- They dig trenches 10-12 cm deep in the bed and fill them with humus about half.
- Cuttings are soaked for several hours in a solution of any biostimulator prepared according to the instructions. Place them in the tank flat.
- Planting material is placed in the grooves, laying horizontally. Then the cuttings are covered with fertile soil. The soil is moderately watered and gently compacted.
- The first harvest can be expected in the second season after planting cuttings in the ground.
Also, parts of shoots can be used as cuttings. They are planted in individual containers filled with perlite or vermiculite, and covered with glass jars, cut with plastic bottles or plastic film, creating a humidity of at least 90-95%. About a month later, roots form, and the stalk can be planted in a permanent place.
Parts of blackberry shoots quickly take root in the water
Video: blackberry cuttings
Seed germination
Repair blackberry has a unique feature. For most garden crops, seed propagation is a kind of "lottery". It is not clear what will turn out in the end, and the likelihood of maintaining varietal traits of the mother plant is very small. This does not apply to repair blackberries, however, amateur gardeners are rarely used in this way.
Propagation of blackberries with seeds is a rather time-consuming procedure, and success is not guaranteed (they cannot boast of germination)
The fact is that seeds do not differ in germination. In order to increase it, experienced gardeners advise you to slightly scratch the shell with a scalpel or razor blade before planting (the so-called scarification). Stratification is also practiced - keeping the seeds for 7-10 days in the refrigerator.
Sowing a repairing blackberry with seeds is as follows:
- Seeds of a repairing blackberry are planted in late winter or early spring. Small boxes are filled with peat chips, coarse river sand, or a mixture of them in approximately equal proportions.
- The substrate is moistened from the spray gun and leveled, the seeds are buried in it no more than 6-7 cm.
- As soon as the second true leaf appears on the seedlings (after about 2-2.5 months), they are dived, transplanted into universal soil for seedlings in individual containers. If the climate allows, you can plant plants immediately in the garden. Otherwise, in early June, the blackberry will have to be transplanted again.
The first harvest from the repairing blackberry bushes obtained from seeds will have to wait 3-4 years
Harvest will have to wait at least 3-4 years. This is another objective reason for the unpopularity of the method.
Root buds
Thus, old bushes in need of rejuvenation are most often propagated. In the spring they are dug up, the roots are cleaned of the ground and cut with a sharpened, clean knife into several parts so that each has at least one growth point. The cuts are sprinkled with wood ash, colloidal sulfur, crushed chalk and activated carbon. The rest of the rhizome can be discarded.
Blackberry propagation by dividing the bush is most suitable for old plants
Repairing blackberry varieties in Ukraine
The climate of Ukraine, especially its southern regions, is mild. It most closely resembles the conditions of Arkansas, the homeland of most of the blackberry repair varieties. Therefore, Ukrainian gardeners can be trusted with respect to the description of the culture and what results it shows when grown.
Prime Ark Freedom
The first grade of a repairing blackberry, completely devoid of thorns, with completely smooth shoots. He appeared in free sale in 2013, he reached the post-Soviet space after about a year and a half. Like the entire series of varieties Prime (he is the fourth in it), originally from the United States. In the southern states (primarily in Arkansas and California), it almost immediately began to be grown on an industrial scale, since dense berries were distinguished by good transportability, and the fruiting period lasted from April to October.
Prime Arc Freedom - the first non-ship grade blackberry
When growing berries on annual shoots, the crop ripens early enough, in late July or in the first ten days of August. The fruits are one-dimensional, regular shape, glossy black, reach a weight of 12-16 g and a length of 4-4.5 cm. If there are two waves of fruiting, the berries are reduced to 9-10 g. The taste of blackberry is very pleasant and balanced - sweet, with a slight sourness. Productivity is high - up to 50 berries in each flower brush (6-8 kg from the bush).
With proper care, Prime Arc Freedom rarely suffers from diseases, but some gardener's mistakes can provoke the development of anthracnose. Another disadvantage is the relatively low frost resistance (up to -15 ºС). In the middle zone of Russia, this variety will not survive (unless you grow it in a greenhouse), but it is quite suitable for the mild climate of southern Ukraine. Moreover, which is very unusual for a blackberry, the variety is relatively insensitive to drought.
Video: Blackberry Prime Arc Freedom appearance
Prime Ark Traveler
The fifth grade (and second non-studded) of the same series is another development of the University of Arkansas Agricultural Department. It is patented in 2016. It was bred specifically for cultivation on an industrial scale, but no one forbids to plant it in personal garden plots.
Blackberry Prime Arc Treveler is a very promising variety for growing on an industrial scale
It differs in average size (7-9 g) and a presentable appearance of elongated berries. There are practically no "twin" fruits. Ripens in the second decade of July. The taste is very sweet, the berries are dense, but juicy, spread an amazing aroma. Transport well, including over long distances, retain taste and shape after defrosting. Harvest - 3-4 kg from the bush.
The plant is very hardy, rarely suffers from anthracnose and rust. Flower buds are notable for good frost resistance, but this does not apply to shoots. The quality of berries in the first and second waves of fruiting does not change, but autumn fruits are more sensitive to heat and drought. If the temperature is 30 ºС and higher for a long time, the bushes do not bloom so actively, the berries grow smaller, their taste worsens.
Video: all about Blackberry Prime Arc Traveler
Thornfree
The blackberry is from the United States, specifically from Maryland. A sufficiently old, bred in 1966, springless variety is not remontant in the full sense of the word, but in optimal climatic conditions it can produce two crops a year.
Blackberry Thornfrey - an old variety that has still not lost popularity, in optimal conditions, can bear fruit twice a year
The variety is still the standard of taste. Berries weighing about 5 g, one-dimensional, oval in shape. As they ripen, they become almost black from violet, and the flesh loses much density. The characteristic taste and aroma of the fruit gets only fully ripe. Therefore, it is quite difficult for a novice gardener to understand when to take berries.
Unripe blackberries of the Tornfree variety are acidic and devoid of aroma, and overripe ones are unpleasantly soft, freshly sweet.
The main crop ripens in mid-August. It is very plentiful - 20-25 kg from the bush (about 100 berries from the shoot). Branches under the weight of the fruit hang almost to the ground. If the climate is suitable, the second fruiting is possible somewhere in the second decade of October. Winter hardiness at the level of -16-18 ºС.
Blackberry Thornfrey rarely suffers from diseases, but is sensitive to heat, even sunburns are possible. A significant drawback of this variety is overgrown (shoots reach a height of 3-3.5 m). A flowering bush is very beautiful - flowers are pale pink, with a diameter of 3-4 cm.
Amara
Unlike the vast majority of varieties of repairing blackberries that are bred in the United States, Amara is home to Chile. It has a large (up to 15 g) size and a wonderful taste of berries, without the bitter aftertaste typical of many blackberry varieties. Another undoubted advantage is the absence of spikes. A sufficiently dense pulp makes the berries suitable for transportation.
Amar's new blackberry variety was not bred in the US, but in Chile
The berries ripen long enough. 2.5 months pass from flowering to harvest. The blackberry ripens around the beginning of September. As the bush ages, the quality of the berries and the yield practically do not deteriorate.
Black Magic (aka Black Magic), aka Black Magic
One of the best varieties of repair blackberries. Bred in 2001 at the University of Oregon. Spikes are present, but in small quantities and only at the base of the shoots. Heat and drought in no way affect the formation of fruit ovaries. Shoots reach a height of 2.5 m or more, therefore, support is required for this variety. The ovaries are very powerful, so those that are left for the winter are difficult to bend to the ground. It blooms before most varieties - already at the end of April. Resistant to rust, but often affected by anthracnose. Frost resistance - at the level of -12-15 ºС.
The taste of the black magic Black Magic is highly rated even by professionals
The first crop is harvested in mid-June, the second - closer to the end of August. The berries are large (11-12 g), ink-purple in color. The taste is sweet, but without sugary, very balanced, the pulp is dense, aromatic. By professional tasters, the taste qualities of Black Magic are rated very highly - by 4.6 points out of five. The shape is correct, it resembles an elongated cone. Blackberry tolerates transportation well.
The fruiting period when growing berries only on annual shoots stretches for 45-50 days. When it gets colder outside, the berries acquire a slight sourness (approximately like blackcurrant), but this does not make them any less tasty. The average yield is 5-6 kg per bush.
Video: Blackberry Black Magic
Repairing varieties of blackberries in the suburbs
The climate in the Moscow region, as well as in most of the European territory of Russia, is unpredictable. Winters can be both abnormally warm and quite cold. Therefore, when choosing a variety of repairing blackberries for this region, it is necessary to pay attention to frost resistance.
Ruben (Reuben)
Got a name in honor of its creator, a professor from the University of Arkansas, John Ruben Clark. It is this breeder who owns most of the achievements in the field of breeding repair blackberry varieties. Ruben is one of the most popular blackberry varieties in the world, although it was patented only in 2012. Early ripening of berries allows you to get a crop not only in the homeland, but also in areas with a temperate climate.
Ruben is one of the most popular varieties of repair blackberries, not only at home (in the USA), but also beyond its borders.
The average weight of the berry is about 10 g, individual specimens reach a mass of 15-16 g. One bush brings 5-6 kg of fruit. The first blackberry ripens in mid-August, fruiting lasts almost until the first frost. The fruits are highly valued for their taste and aroma; their flesh is dense but juicy.
Read more about the variety in our article: Ruben is the world's first repair blackberry.
Shoots near the bush are medium-sized, upright, can be grown even without support. There are spikes, but they are small and not too often located. The plant can not be called compact, but it is quite neat.
The bush of a blackberry Ruben is easy to identify by its characteristic feature - after all the berries have been removed from it, the thorns fall off.
Grade Ruben and flaws are not without. First of all, these are pollination problems arising in hot, dry weather. The second crop, which may simply not have time to ripen before the first frost, is particularly affected. For some reason, aphids have shown particular attention to this blackberry, although it practically does not suffer from diseases.
Prime Jim
One of the very first varieties of repair blackberries, was launched in 2004. Named after Dr. James Moore, founder of the University of Arkansas breeding program.
Blackberry Prime Jim appreciated for its large size and balanced taste
It has a large size (12-15 g) and a balanced sour-sweet taste of berries (an interesting aftertaste with a mulberry aroma is characteristic). Professional tasters, he is rated at 4.5 points out of five. Erect shoots. In the spring, the bush, covered with soft pink buds and large snow-white flowers, is very similar to a bouquet.
The fruits ripen at the end of the first decade of August. Their collection is greatly complicated by numerous sharp spikes. The shape of the berries is slightly elongated, the pulp is quite dense.
Prime Jan
The earliest of the varieties of repair blackberries. It was named after the wife of Dr. Moore, Janita. Shoots reach a height of 2 m or more, so they need support. One of the main advantages of the variety is cold resistance. Prime Yang survives where other types of blackberries cannot exist.
Prime Yan is the most cold-resistant of the varieties of repair blackberries, which means it is well suited for the climatic conditions of Russia
Berries have an interesting aftertaste: to some they resemble cherries, and to others - an apple. The average weight of the fruit is 7–9 g. The first wave of the crop falls in mid-June, the second at the end of summer.
Prime Ark 45
The variety was patented in the USA in 2009. It is characterized by drought and frost resistance, has a high immunity to diseases. Strong shoots, covered with single spikes below. They hardly interfere with harvesting. During flowering, the bush is very beautiful, the flowers are as if "fluffy".
Blackberry Prime Arc 45 practically does not suffer from diseases, the only exception is Anthracnose
The first fruits ripen in late June, the second crop in early September. If you grow berries only on annual shoots, fruiting begins in August and stretches almost to frost.
The berries are glossy black, elongated, with dense pulp. The aroma is pronounced, somewhat like a cherry. The average weight is 8-10 g. Blackberry tolerates transportation well.
Gardeners reviews
Blackberries are better remanufacturing. Less hassle (no disease, no pests). I have a Ruben variety. Transplanted him into the greenhouse. Otherwise, most of the crop does not have time to ripen. The bush is powerful. The berry is large. Productivity - as with ten raspberry bushes. I took the last berries in the 20th of October. He does not give shoots. There are problems with reproduction. The stalk is thick, bends badly. I want to hang pots of earth this year and stick side shoots into them. Let it take root.
Manzovka//www.plodpitomnik.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=212
The berries of the Black Yang Prime Yang taste good, with notes of cherry. The shoots overwintered well. Prime Arc 45 seemed a little more interesting in the first harvest. This year it will be more accurate. But the wintering of his shoots is worse.
Elvir//club.wcb.ru/index.php?showtopic=1863
Judging by what they write, Prime Ark 45 is the best: a more stable yield than the Prime Jim and Prime Yan varieties. The sugar content is higher, but at a temperature of more than 29 ºС the fruit does not set well.
Andrii//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3776
We planted bushes of blackberry Prime Arc 45 with a closed root in early June 2013. In the fall of 2014, we had fruit-bearing developed bushes (numerous repairing shoots of substitution in 2014 reached a height of 1.8 m and were entirely in berries). On one shoot, the count of berries per hundred. The berries are approximately as large as those of the Natchez variety, sweet, but the bushes do not stretch the ripening autumn. In the fall, heat is no longer enough, and aging is delayed. About 10% of the crop has ripened. The variety is very interesting, but in order to achieve full return, we need to accumulate heat (either create a film tunnel in the autumn period, or the tunnel should be during the entire growing season - depending on how long the berry is needed). The disadvantage of the variety is the pricklyness. In general, repairing varieties are not quite a dumb topic. Rumorlessly, the springless Prime Arc Freedom has an earlier maturity. We now have its developed bush (due to bear fruit next year). If the expectations are met, then this will be a revolution in the technology of growing blackberries.
Yakimov//club.wcb.ru/index.php?showtopic=5043
I could not resist, I tried the first incompletely ripe Black Magic berry: more sweet than sour, small, barely noticeable bitterness, the berry is hard, dense, elongated. In general, I liked it, I need to breed. Moreover, pollination is 100%, the branch is kept slightly inclined, does not lie on the ground, the shoot height is somewhere around 1.5 m.
Valentine 55//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=8779
I am very glad that in the spring of 2014 I planted several bushes of Black Magic variety blackberries. In the fall I will expand the landing. I like everything in it: almost 100% ovary of berries in extreme heat, growth power, average bush surroundings, so to speak. And there are practically no thorns in the fruiting zone. And most importantly, the berries are large, dense and very tasty. I have an average weight of 10-11 g.
Landberry//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=8779
I can recommend the most excellent replacement for Ruben - the repairing blackberry Black Magic (Black Magic) productivity many times higher than Ruben.
Sergey1//forum.tvoysad.ru/viewtopic.php?t=1352&start=330
Repair blackberry - a new culture in Russia, but confidently gaining popularity. It is valued mainly for its high productivity, the duration of fruiting, the absence of the need to mess around with preparation for winter and the extreme simplicity of the pruning procedure. The practice of growing it in Russian gardeners is not yet too extensive. However, most varieties are very promising, including for cultivation in Russia.
