Blackberry Columbia Star

Despite the fact that Ivan Michurin drew attention to blackberries, and even brought out two varieties – Izobilnaya and Texas, the culture in Our Country and neighboring countries was not widely spread. But across the ocean, whole plantations of tasty and healthy berries are laid. It is not surprising that almost all new items that appear on the market are created by the efforts of North American, and not domestic breeders. One of the best is the Columbia Star blackberry variety (Columbia Star).

History of breeding

The Columbia Star blackberry variety is one of the newest and most promising. It was created by Chad Finn of the University of Oregon under the auspices of the USDA. The first blackberry sample of this variety was obtained in 2008, from 2009 to 2012 it was tested. Columbia Star was registered in 2014, and in 2015 a patent was issued for it.

The Columbia Star blackberry is a hybrid obtained by crossing a non-proprietary variety from New Zealand NZ 9629-1 and the form Orus 1350-2.

In fact, the genes of a large number of blackberry cultivars and raspberry hybrids are mixed into Columbia Star. The well-known variety Lincoln Logan was used as a donor of thornless and flexible lashes.

The Columbia Star blackberry was originally created as a crop with perfect taste and a beautiful berry that would be easy to grow commercially.

Description of berry culture

Before describing the variety, it is necessary to give some explanations. Blackberry Columbia Star is a novelty. It has been tested in the United States. But even there, the oldest bush is not yet 10 years old. For testing a variety, this is very small.

conditions are very different from North American ones. Even if we assume that the first Columbia Star blackberry bush came to us in 2014 and was not “taken apart” for cuttings, but left as an experimental plant, 4 years is a short time. We cannot know exactly how the cultivar will behave in 3-5 years, what will be its productive age, yield, resistance to diseases during epizootic years. Even the size of blackberries is highly dependent on local conditions.

So we have to rely on the little experience of overseas producers and trust the statements of the US Department of Agriculture. But judging by the advertising campaign launched there and the areas of blackberry plantations already planted, the Columbia Star variety is really worthy of attention. Moreover, it promises to be a real sensation.

General idea of ​​the variety

The Columbia Star blackberry needs support. Its shoots even in the first year after planting give an increase of 3-4 m, later they reach 4-5 m. The whips are flexible, without thorns, strong. They are easy to form, tie to a support and remove from it for the winter. If the shoots are not touched, they will spread like dewdrops.

Lateral branches are strong. The average length of internodes is a little more than 5 cm. Mature leaves are large, green, young ones are light, almost salad-colored. The root system is well developed.

Fruiting occurs on the shoots of the previous year.

Berries

Large, more than 3 cm in diameter, white flowers are collected in clusters of 3-4 pcs. The cone-shaped berries of the Columbia Star blackberry are one-dimensional, large. They have a dark brown color with a burgundy tint, more characteristic of raspberry-blackberry hybrids. The flesh is reddish when cut.

The average weight of a Columbia Star blackberry berry declared by the manufacturer is 7,8 g. Some sellers of seedlings call the figure 10-12 or even 16-18 g. Whether this corresponds to reality in our conditions, only time will tell. Most likely, such a declared size of berries is just a publicity stunt. In fact, a blackberry weighing 8 g is already considered large.

In the technical characteristics of the Columbia Star variety, the fruit diameter is 1,88 cm, length – 3,62-3,83 cm. The fragrant pulp is tender, juicy, elastic, the drupes are small and almost imperceptible when used fresh. The taste is balanced, with raspberry and cherry notes, sweet and sour. The tasting evaluation of Columbia Star blackberries is 4,7 points.

Characterization

The characteristics of Columbia Star blackberries as varieties with exceptional consumer qualities have not stood the test of time. We can only hope that he will show himself well and take root in our conditions.

Main advantages

Like all dewberries, the Columbia Star variety has an average winter hardiness and needs shelter. This blackberry, under favorable conditions, easily tolerates 25 degrees of frost. At temperatures below -14⁰ C without shelter in a snowless winter, with periodic thaws followed by a sharp cold snap, the plant may die.

The drought tolerance of the Columbia Star blackberry is high. It needs regular watering only in the first year after planting. Do not just forget that the blackberry is a shrub, not a fruit tree, and it needs more moisture, especially in the south.

Best of all, blackberries grow on loose loams well seasoned with organic matter. The soil should be slightly acidic.

Growing Columbia Star blackberries is not troublesome if you cut and tie up the bush in time. If you neglect these procedures, you will quickly get impenetrable thickets that are difficult to deal with. And although Columbia Star blackberry shoots are completely devoid of thorns, it will be difficult to put the bush in order. And the harvest, firstly, will fall, and secondly, it will be difficult to harvest it.

Columbia Star blackberries stay in shape for a long time and are easy to transport.

Flowering period and ripening period

The thornless blackberry variety Columbia Star has not yet managed to show the real terms of fruiting and flowering in our conditions. It is grown only for 2-3 years, and this is the time of adaptation of the culture. Having collected the necessary information, it will be possible to talk about the exact indicators of flowering and fruiting in 2-3 years. In addition, Columbia Star blackberries are planted everywhere – in central Our Country, Belarus, in the south.

Today, we can say with confidence that in the south the variety blooms in mid-late June. In the middle lane, of course, later. Fruiting is more difficult. The manufacturer claims that it is stretched and should take place in the middle early.

Yield indicators

When creating a new variety, we always pay attention to its yield. In America, they believe that high productivity is the lot of industrial cultivars. For dessert varieties, such as the Columbia Star blackberry, the main thing is a tasty, beautiful berry. And the yield can be average.

Despite this, our seedling vendors describe productivity as “phenomenal”, “record-breaking”, and Columbia Star blackberries are touted as having the highest yields. In fact, under the conditions of the United States, the variety yields 7,5 kg per bush, or 16,75 t/ha. This is the average yield.

How the variety will show itself in our conditions is generally unknown. There is no such data. And sooner than in 3-4 years will not be.

Scope of berries

Columbia Star blackberries are delicious, with a rich cherry and raspberry flavor. They are eaten fresh, especially since the transportability of the fruit is good, and they can be stored in a cool room without losing commercial qualities for a long time. Processed products – jams, wine, jelly, jams are tasty and healthy.

Disease and pest resistance

Variety Columbia Star is resistant to typical diseases and pests of the crop. Of course, it can be affected during epizootic years or in close proximity to infected raspberry or blackberry bushes.

Advantages and disadvantages

Variety Columbia Star is considered promising. If he shows himself the way the breeders plan, he will become one of the best. Its advantages include:

1. The absolute absence of spikes.
2. Delicious berries (4,7 points).
3. Resistance to diseases and pests.
4. The yield of the Columbia Star blackberry variety is average, but for a dessert berry this is good.
5. Prolongation of fruiting – more than 2 months.
6. Good transportability and keeping quality of berries.
7. Possibility of mechanical cleaning.
8. High drought tolerance.
9. Self-pollination.
10. The shoots of this blackberry bend well – they can be easily attached to a support or removed from it.

The disadvantages include:

1. The high cost of planting material.
2. Lack of information on Columbia Star blackberry. This is due to the fact that the variety is new. Over time, this defect will correct itself.
3. The need to cover the culture for the winter. Unfortunately, today this applies not only to the Columbia Star variety.

Methods of reproduction

Blackberries are easy to propagate. There are several ways:

1. Seeds. If you have only one variety growing, up to 40% of seedlings inherit maternal traits.
2. Layers. The easiest way – in August, the leaves of the shoot of the current year are cut off. It is dug in, secured with metal staples, watered, and the next year it is separated from the mother bush and planted in a permanent place.
3. Apical shoots (pulping). When the young whip reaches 60 cm, cut off 10-12 cm of the top. Several thin shoots grow from the kidney, they are bent to the ground, deepened by 5 cm, fixed, watered abundantly.
4. Root cuttings – to obtain a large number of young plants.
5. The division of an adult bush.
6. Green cuttings.

Rules of landing

Planting blackberries is not difficult even for beginner gardeners. The Columbia Star variety is thornless, so you don’t even have to worry about the shoots scratching your hands.

Recommended dates

In the south, blackberries are recommended to be planted in autumn – spring can be short. The rapid onset of heat will not allow the plant to take root normally. In temperate climates, blackberries are planted in spring, when the soil warms up to a depth of 40-50 cm.

Choosing the right place

Blackberries love well-lit, wind-sheltered places. In cool climates, they should warm up well. Standing groundwater – no closer than 1-1,5 m. The culture loves moist soils, but does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots.

Soil Preparation

Blackberry is unpretentious to soils. But most of all she loves light loams containing a large amount of organic matter. The soil should be slightly acidic.

Planting holes should be prepared at least 10 days before planting. They are dug in the size of 50x50x50 cm. The soil for planting is mixed from the top fertile layer of the earth, a bucket of humus, 150 g of superphosphate, 40 g of potash fertilizer. A little lime is added to too acidic soil, and acidic peat is added to neutral or alkaline soil. If the earth is heavy, it is improved with sand.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

A blackberry seedling should have 1-2 well-developed shoots and a root with 2-3 thick shoots and a large number of thin fibrous roots. If the bark of the plant is wrinkled or cracked, you should not buy it. The wood should be green, not brown.

A container plant is simply watered and planted along with a clod of earth. Blackberries with an open root are soaked for about 12 hours.

Algorithm and landing scheme

If you are going to plant several bushes of Columbia Star blackberries, think over the layout of the plants in advance. In a private garden, for each specific case, it should be individual.

Compact planting is possible – 80 cm between plants, 3 m between rows. But this is only if you carefully form the bushes and feed them 3 times a year. Most often, Columbia Star blackberries are planted at a distance of 1-1,5 m from each other, the aisles are left the same as in the previous case or 50 cm larger.

Planting pits are filled 2/3 with a fertile mixture, poured with water. Well, if there is time for them to settle for 10-14 days. If blackberry seedlings have already been purchased, you can start planting immediately after the water is absorbed:

1. Cut off the shoots, leaving 15-20 cm. Treat the wound surface with garden pitch.
2. Form a mound in the center, place a seedling on it, straighten the roots.
3. Fill the hole with a fertile mixture so as to deepen the root neck by 1,5-2 cm.
4. Firm the soil gently and water the plant generously.
5. Mulch the soil.

Culture aftercare

The first time after planting, blackberries should be watered 2 times a week. Under each bush, at least ½ bucket of water is consumed.

Growing principles

The Columbia Star blackberry variety needs a mandatory garter. You can use standard tapestries about 2 m high with three rows of wire. The first – at a distance of 40-50 from the soil surface. If convenient, consider other options: a T-shaped trellis or multi-row, in which 20-25 cm are left between the wire lines.

The yield of blackberries is affected by top dressing, timely pruning and garter bush.

Necessary activities

Blackberry is a moisture-loving crop, albeit resistant to drought. With insufficient watering, the shoots of the Columbia Star variety will grow shorter, and the berries will be smaller. If there has been no rain for a long time, the soil should be moistened at least once every 2 weeks in the south, less often in a temperate climate.

In the spring, after pruning and garter, fertilize the blackberries with nitrogen, following the instructions on the package. After flowering, the plant is given a complete mineral complex. When harvested, blackberries are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Some gardeners are limited to the spring application of nitrogen, and the rest of the substances are given every 3 years, but in large quantities. This simplifies care, but reduces productivity.

The soil under the blackberry is better not to loosen, but to mulch. Moreover, on excessively acidic soils, humus is used, on alkaline and neutral soils, acidic peat is used.

Shrub pruning and preparation for winter

Blackberry pruning is the most important stage of care. In the Columbia Star variety, 2-3 strong shoots are left in the first year, which are tied to the trellis with a fan. Young growth is directed in the center, fixing it on the top wire.

For the winter, the shoots of the current year are removed, laid on the ground and covered with spruce branches, earth or other material. The severity of the shelter depends on your climatic conditions. For the south, agrofibre is enough with a 5-10 cm layer of soil poured on top. In a cold climate, spruce branches and agrofibre are combined, and the earth layer should be about 20 cm.

Remove cover before bud break. It must be remembered that aging is much more dangerous than freezing.

Then they cut out the old branches, remove some of last year’s ones, leaving 5-7 of the strongest. If necessary, frozen or dried tops are removed from the shoots and tied to one side of the trellis. Young branches will be attached to the other.

In subsequent years, the procedure is repeated, cutting out old shoots on a ring near the ground in early spring.

Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention

The Columbia Star blackberry variety is resistant to pests and diseases. He needs only preventive spraying. They are made before sheltering the bush for the winter and in the spring, after pruning and tying to the trellis, with a copper-containing preparation. During epizootic years, other treatments may be required.

The Columbia Star blackberry variety can suffer from chlorosis, a lack of iron. This is manifested in the yellowing of the leaves, while the veins remain green. It is necessary to spray the bush with chelates.

Conclusion

Blackberry Columbia Star is a new promising variety. How it will behave in our conditions is still unknown. But the variety should be paid attention to all, without exception, lovers of this culture, even if it has at least part of the qualities declared by the originator.

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