Blackberries: American varieties

American varieties of blackberries make up the largest number of all varieties of this berry crop. This is not surprising, since the birthplace of blackberries is North America. It was from there that this healthy berry came to us, loved by gardeners for its taste and beneficial properties.

Wild blackberries are also found in the European part of Russia, where they began to be actively grown since the end of the 19th century. Despite the difficulty of harvesting due to the presence of thorns, the shrub has taken root well and is an excellent alternative to raspberries. Subsequently, new varieties emerged through crossing, including thornless ones.

Blackberries have a perennial root system and stems about two meters high. In July, the bush begins to bloom, accompanied by small white flowers. In August-September the fruits ripen - elongated black berries with many small seeds.

The most popular American blackberry varieties:

• Arapaho. Medium-sized shrub with early fruiting period. The berries ripen in June. The variety was developed in the 90s, but has not yet lost its popularity. The fruits are large, black, elongated. The taste of the berries is sweet, without sourness. Among the advantages of the variety are good yield, frost resistance, immunity to diseases and the absence of thorns.
• Blackberry. Large-fruited variety of medium ripening period. The shrub has creeping shoots that need to be secured to a trellis. The fruits are elongated, sweet and sour. The variety has thorns, which can make caring for the plant difficult. It has good disease resistance, but average frost resistance. Can be grown in central Russia, but often requires shelter for the winter.
• Doyle. A new variety of American selection. Creeping shrub with shoots up to 4 meters. The berries are large, elongated, black in color. Fruit ripening begins in July and gradually ends in mid-September. The variety has good yield and resistance to frost and disease.
• Cumberland. The variety was bred in the 80s and has a second name - Black raspberry. In all characteristics, the plant is really more similar to raspberries, with a slight difference - the berries of the bush are black. The variety is productive, but the berries are small. The taste characteristics are good - the berries are sweet, without sourness. The variety has good frost resistance.
• Agavam. An early ripening shrub, tall - up to 3 m. The shoots are vertical, thorny. The berries are large, elongated, black. They have a pleasant aroma and a good sweet taste with almost no sourness.

Drainage when planting blackberries

Drainage when planting blackberries is necessary so that moisture does not stagnate in the roots of the plant. Blackberries are quite moisture-loving, but cannot tolerate waterlogging of the soil. The root system of the plant goes to a depth of 60 cm, and individual roots go even deeper. This allows the bush to receive moisture not only from irrigation, but also from groundwater passing nearby.

Blackberries tolerate dry seasons well and do not require frequent watering. Therefore, it can be planted on the south side, which will serve as additional protection from the cold wind. However, stagnant moisture can have a detrimental effect on the root system and the plant as a whole. This provokes the occurrence of many dangerous diseases.

When planting, a planting hole up to 50 cm deep is prepared. It is better to take seedlings with a closed root system and plant them in the spring. Planting material from the nursery is well suited for this. Such seedlings are of higher quality and have good survival rate. The yield of such plants is much higher and they are better able to resist frost and disease.

Loam or sandy soils with an acidity of 6 pH are suitable for planting blackberries. The soil must be drained. To achieve this, the bottom of the pit is covered with a layer of expanded clay or pebbles. This will facilitate the rapid disposal of excess water, which is especially important for regions with frequent precipitation.

Next, the plant is placed in a planting hole, which is filled with a mixture of humus, superphosphate and potassium fertilizers. The plant is watered and mulched.

Agavam blackberry, description

Let's look at the description of the Agavam blackberry in more detail. The variety was bred in North America. Tall shrub with erect shoots. The height of the bush can reach up to 3 meters. The shoots have thorns. Fruiting is uneven - from August to September. The berries are large, elongated, black. The fruits have a sweet taste and pronounced aroma. The pulp of the fruit is separated along with the fruit. The berries are suitable for eating and making homemade preparations. The yield of one bush is about 5 kg. The variety has good frost resistance and resistance to many diseases.

Important: When planting in cold regions, the variety requires additional shelter for the winter, otherwise frozen shoots will have to be cut off. The bush is usually not bent to the ground - thick branches can simply break off. It is best to tie the shoots together and cover them with special material.

During flowering, Agavam blackberries produce very large flowers and are a good honey plant. The variety can be used to create a hedge.

Blackberries in cosmetology - beneficial properties

The beneficial properties of blackberries in cosmetology are due to the presence of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other substances in them. All parts of the plant have healing properties. Blackberries have an anti-inflammatory effect, nourishing, moisturizing, regenerating and toning.

For regeneration purposes, blackberry leaves and roots are used, which also contain a high content of vitamins, tannins and minerals. For toning, lotions are made based on blackberry juice or berry decoction. The berry is good for problematic and oily skin. Blackberry extract fights acne well and tightens pores. The acid contained in the berries cleanses the skin surface of dead particles. After using masks and other cosmetics with the addition of blackberry extract, the skin looks fresh, the complexion is evened out and redness is eliminated.

Blackberries are also indicated for mature skin. Blackberry oil activates rejuvenation processes, fights age-related skin changes, reduces wrinkles and restores skin after environmental exposure. Blackberry extract treats skin diseases such as dermatitis, eczema, inflammation and others.

Blackberries in September, care

Caring for blackberries in September consists of processing the plant and preparing it for the winter. After harvesting, the bushes should be sprayed with copper sulfate and special insecticides for preventive purposes. Next, the plant is pruned. All old, fruit-bearing branches, as well as damaged and diseased ones, are removed with pruning shears. Young shrubs must be pruned - this will give them the opportunity to better survive the winter and accelerate growth in the spring.

Important: if formative pruning is carried out, the technique should be adjusted depending on the type of shrub: upright or creeping.

After pruning, the blackberries are mulched and covered for the winter. Frost-resistant varieties do not need to be covered; the rest are laid on the ground and covered with plastic film or other material.