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Recently, many summer residents are interested in new raspberry varieties. The unusual color of raspberries is always of interest. Cumberland black raspberries are a well-known hybrid of raspberries and blackberries.
These berries have a beautiful dark purple color, which gives freshly squeezed raspberry juice an unusual zest. The taste of the variety is slightly more sour than usual, but Cumberland raspberries are far superior to the others in their beneficial properties. Indeed, in addition to the nutrients contained in raspberries, it also contains blackberry vitamins. What a luxurious black raspberry bush looks like can be clearly seen in the photo.
Ripe purple and unripe red berries give a unique color to raspberry plantings. The benefits of black raspberries are hard to overestimate:
- The decorativeness of the berries decorates not only the site, but also the dishes.
- The berries are easily removed from the stalk, but do not crumble from the bush.
- Blooms long and profusely.
- The yield of bushes is high and stable.
- Tolerates drought.
- Excellent frost resistance – the bushes calmly winter without shelter.
- It has almost no pests, even birds do not peck berries.
- The list of requirements for caring for Cumberland raspberries is minimal.
- Early fruiting compared to red raspberries.
In order not to give the impression that the Cumberland raspberry variety has no flaws, it should be noted:
- a large number of seeds in berries;
- tendency to dense bushes;
- abundance of thorns on stems
- the obligatory garter or the formation of a bush.
Cumberland raspberries are grown by tying them to trellises. It is recommended to leave no more than 10 shoots on one bush.
Description of the Cumberland black raspberry variety
In order for the description of the Cumberland variety to be complete, attention should be paid to all parts of the raspberry bush.
Black raspberries are perennial shrubs with arcuate stems. The length of the shoots is about 2,5 – 3 meters. Varietal feature – they are covered with thorns. Shoots require formation on trellises. If this is not possible, then gardeners shorten the shoots in early summer to get side branches. The Cumberland raspberry bush looks very compact.
Shoots of different ages differ in color. Annuals are green with a touch of a bluish or lilac hue, and biennials are brown in color.
A characteristic that many gardeners really like is that Cumberland raspberries do not give root shoots. Young shoots grow from buds of two-year-old stems at their base. Raspberry Cumberland propagates in a “blackberry” way – by rooting the tops, as well as with the help of layering. This is done by dropping shoots.
Cumberland raspberries start blooming in June. The flowers are small, white. Pollination occurs by bees or other insects. The berries are red at the initial stage of ripening, and then become black, dense and shiny.
A bluish coating is visible on the fruits, which is also preserved during the processing of raspberries, especially when cooking jam. It tolerates freezing, other types of blanks, is used in baking. Cumberland raspberries are valued for their unique blackberry flavor.
Planting black raspberries in the garden
First you need to know what kind of soil Cumberland raspberries prefer. Gardeners love this variety for its unpretentiousness to its composition. But still it is better to plant Cumberland on fertile loams and sandy loams.
For planting black raspberries, a well-lit area is allocated, protected from the cold wind. The groundwater level should not exceed 1,5 meters. Undesirable predecessors for Cumberland raspberries are nightshade (tomato, potato). These crops are prone to a dangerous disease – verticillium wilt, which is not good for raspberries. Black raspberries are resistant to diseases, but crop rotation rules should not be neglected. Also, do not plant black and red raspberry bushes in close proximity.
The best time to plant Cumberland raspberries is early spring.
The distance between seedlings for the Cumberland variety is maintained in the amount of 0,5 – 0,7 m in rows, the row spacing is made 2 meters wide. For each seedling, a planting pit is prepared with a diameter of 50 cm and a depth of 40 cm. If the soil on the site is not too fertile, then additional organic matter (5 kg), mineral fertilizers or wood ash (0,5 kg) are added to each pit. Mix the fertilizer with soil and cover the hole. After planting, the seedling is well watered, and the soil is mulched. Suitable for this purpose:
- peat;
- rotted manure;
- chopped straw;
- compost;
- cut dried grass.
Before planting, carefully inspect the roots of the seedling. If a specimen with a fibrous root is caught, it needs land saturated with moisture. If with a rod, it will take root well in dry areas.
In the first year, Cumberland raspberries do not require tying, but in the second year, install trellises. It is more profitable to tie the stems in a fan way, as in the photo.
According to gardeners, this simplifies harvesting. At the same time, with the help of arched stems, you can decorate the site.
Some gardeners prefer to plant the variety in summer or fall. But in this case, two dangers may lie in wait for Cumberland raspberries. In the summer, seedlings take root well, but with a lack of moisture, the roots dry out and the leaves burn in the sun. Planted in autumn, young plants do not always tolerate snowless frosty winters, therefore they freeze out. Therefore, if you managed to get good planting material in the fall, then it is better to dig it in and plant it in early spring. Properly planted plants still require care. Planting and care remain the main agrotechnical measures in the cultivation of Cumberland black raspberries.
Black raspberry care
Caring for Cumberland raspberries is a little different from activities for red-fruited varieties. This is due to the fact that it does not form side shoots and greatly simplifies self-care. But leaving the bushes unattended is still not worth it.
Minimal care will allow you to harvest a decent harvest every year. We list some of the nuances of agricultural technology:
- Pay attention to watering bushes in the phase of formation of ovaries and ripening of berries. Water black raspberries moderately, trying to prevent the soil from drying out or stagnant water.
- Avoid fertilizing. Raspberry Cumberland gives a lot of ovaries and requires additional nutrition.
- Top dressing should be done during certain vegetative periods – after shedding the color, during the period of fruit pouring, after the first harvest.
- Do not leave shoots on trellises in winter. They must be removed and bent to the ground.
- Carry out spring pruning and new tying of shoots to trellises.
Watering for gardeners is a familiar technique. But feeding each culture is different. For Cumberland raspberries, this is a very important action. She responds well to supplemental nutrition.
We determined the feeding time earlier, and we will list the species now.
For the first time (after shedding flowers), it is good to use organic matter. Bird droppings or rotted manure are melted in water (1: 1) within a week. And then the mullein is bred in a ratio of 1:6, and the litter – 1:16. Additionally, 10 grams of superphosphate and 50 liter of wood ash are added to 1 liters of solution. A bucket of feeding composition is spent on one black raspberry bush. Immediately carry out watering the bush, it is enough to pour half a bucket of clean water.
The second time the Cumberland black raspberries are fed when the berries ripen. The third after picking the first berries. For both dressings, the same composition is used and, be sure to then water the plants.
The main difference between chokeberry raspberries from the usual varieties is pruning, or rather, its necessity.
Pruning and shaping Cumberland raspberries
It will not work to neglect the formation and pruning of an aronia raspberry bush. This is a mandatory procedure when growing the Cumberland variety. If the shoots are allowed to grow as much as they like, then the plant will not have enough strength for a good harvest. You will have to be content with small and rare Cumberland raspberries. How to cut chokeberry raspberries so that the bush is neat and beautiful, and the yield is high?
It is recommended to carry out two procedures for the formation of Cumberland black raspberries. Advice! The first pruning is needed at the end of June, and the second – before the onset of frost, in late autumn.
For the first time, shoots 2 meters long are processed. They pinch the apical part, reducing the length to 1,7 meters. This technique stimulates the development of new 6-7 side shoots. Pinch as early as possible in the spring so that branches form faster.
For the second time (in autumn), two-year-old shoots are removed, but only those that bear fruit. Annuals are cut at a distance of 50 cm from the ground. Autumn pruning also involves the removal of excess shoots on each bush. Only the 10 most powerful and healthy are left, the rest are completely cut out.
After autumn pruning, the bushes are prepared for winter. The main thing is to protect the plants from damage by snow or wind. The shoots are bent to the ground and fixed. Many use metal staples for this purpose, which secure the bushes. Planting shelters are not required; snow cover is enough for black raspberries. In winters with little snow, it is raked into the bushes to protect Cumberland from frost. In the spring, raspberries are freed from staples and mounted on supports or trellises. They clean the bushes from broken and dry shoots.
How to propagate black raspberries
Gardeners propagate black raspberries in several ways:
Apical layering
At the end of summer, the tops of the bush are bent to the ground and spud. Water regularly to form adventitious roots from the kidneys. Leave for the winter, covered with humus or peat. You can just add extra. In early spring, young plants are separated and transplanted. For transplanting, choose a permanent place or plot for growing seedlings.
Layering horizontal
Choose a healthy powerful bush for reproduction. In early spring, all shoots are cut to a height of 15 cm from the ground. During the summer, well-developed shoots are formed. Grooves are made on the ground and stems are placed in them. As soon as the roots appear, the shoots are sprinkled with earth, without falling asleep the leaves and apical buds. Water regularly, shelter for the winter. From the mother bush, new plants are separated a year later in the fall. With this method of reproduction, a large amount of planting material is obtained, but the mother bush dies after 2-3 years.
Green cuttings
This method requires protected ground, a fogger, and is not as simple as the previous ones. Therefore, gardeners use it very rarely.
There is another variety of the Cumberland variety – yellow raspberries.
It differs from chokeberry in a later flowering period. This characteristic allows you to grow yellow Cumberland in the regions of the middle lane. Like black, it does not give root shoots. Pictured are Cumberland yellow raspberries.
Reviews
Many gardeners are happy to grow varieties of black and yellow Cumberland raspberries.
