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Most modern blackberry varieties are created abroad. Our nurseries buy propagating material there to grow seedlings for the domestic market. Gardeners, having read the excellent characteristics of overseas blackberries, are chasing new products, and then they cannot understand whether they were let down with a variety or something was confused in the description.
And the casket opens simply – the culture has been tested in other conditions. It takes time to find out how one or another new, named promising variety will behave in our country or neighboring countries. The blackberry should take root in Our Country, enter full fruiting, survive several harsh winters, and suffer from extreme continental climate changes. And only then you can draw some conclusions.
The “star” of recent seasons is the remontant black thornless variety of large blackberry Reuben. It would seem that in one phrase the main characteristics of culture are collected, except for taste. And all of them are very attractive to any gardener. But not everything is so simple. Let’s figure it out together.
History of breeding
The development of Ruben’s remontant blackberry is an example of a fruitful collaboration between the University of Arkansas and the largest European nursery Hargreaves (Hargreaves Plants Ltd) located in the UK. First, an American breeder, Professor John Reuben Clark crossed in 2005 high-yielding blackberry lines (crosses) APF-44 and 2292T2. Work on the hybrid continued in the English nursery, where in 2006 a HPB3 seedling was selected for further work.
As a result of selection, a high-yielding blackberry variety Reuben was obtained, named after Professor Clark. He passed the tests and in 2009 entered the market. In Our Country and the countries of the former Soviet Union, the Reuben blackberry variety appeared in 2011-2012.
Description of berry culture
Blackberry Ruben is a promising large-fruited variety. It can be grown not only as a berry crop, but also to decorate the garden.
General idea of the variety
Blackberry Ruben belongs to upright varieties, the so-called kumaniki. Its shoots in length can reach from 1,6 to 2,5 m. The shape of the bush depends on the area of u1,3buXNUMXbnutrition and molding. With dense plantings and a vertical garter of lashes, the plant will be compact, it will take up little space. If the distance between the bushes is left greater than XNUMX m, you can grow a powerful, beautiful blackberry.
The shoots of the Ruben variety are straight, not weaving. The young growth is green, the annual lashes with matured wood are light brown in color. The shoots along the entire length are covered with thorns, which, after the ripening of the berries, begin to crumble. This simplifies shelter for the winter and harvesting.
Lateral shoots grow in sufficient numbers and are easy to shape. The root system is powerful.
Berries
Blackberry Ruben forms very large flowers – their diameter exceeds 6 cm. The berries are round-cone-shaped, beautiful, about 4,5 cm in diameter, collected in brushes of 8-10 pieces. The weight of the fruit is impressive – up to 14,5 g, the color is black, with a glossy sheen.
The taste of the berries is sweet, with an appropriate slight sourness and a delicate aroma. The fruits are firm but juicy. Tasting score – 4,5 points. But there is no unity in the reviews of gardeners about the Ruben blackberry variety. They consider the taste to be excellent, others argue that berries cannot be given more than 3,6 points.
This variety is remontant and, under certain conditions, allows you to harvest two crops per season.
Characterization
The characteristics of the Ruben blackberry grown in the post-Soviet space will be adjusted, because the variety is one of the newest. But some conclusions can already be drawn today. Immediately, we note that there is no consensus on the variety. Some praise him, others scold Reuben and advise to urgently replace it with another blackberry.
Perhaps the negative reviews are due to the fact that the Ruben variety has only its inherent features. If they are not taken into account, the cultivation of this blackberry will not be successful.
Main advantages
Variety Ruben is quite whimsical in care. Its winter hardiness is low, bushes require mandatory shelter even in most of the territory of Ukraine, if the crop is grown as a remontant. In Central Our Country, it is better to cut out all the shoots for the winter and be content with one harvest.
The drought resistance of the Reuben variety is also average. This blackberry needs to be watered regularly, especially when there is no rain. Heat resistance is generally low – the flowers stop pollinating, which we will discuss below. In addition, the manufacturer advises planting Ruben in partial shade. What this means in our conditions – time and experiments of enthusiasts will show. Perhaps the Reuben blackberry just needs to be in the shade for part of the day, like a hydrangea. Or maybe you need to plant it under the canopy of large trees with an openwork crown or artificial structures, so that the growing place looks like undergrowth.
Blackberry Ruben makes the same demands on the composition of the soil as other varieties. Its shoots are covered with thorns, which begin to crumble after the berries ripen. The fruits are dense, do not lose their commercial qualities for a long time and are well transported.
Flowering period or what to do with the Ruben variety
Problems with the Ruben blackberry variety begin from the moment the buds open. Let’s understand it step by step.
temperature and humidity
I would like to say separately about the heat resistance of the Reuben variety. To begin with, at a temperature of 27-30 degrees, the pollen of this blackberry becomes sterile. In the southern regions of Our Country and Ukraine, such heat can come as early as May, and end in September.
It turns out that where it is hot in summer, ovaries may not appear at all on a young growth. When growing the Ruben variety, as a fruit-bearing crop once, mass flowering begins in June. If you save last year’s shoots for two crops, the buds on young lashes will open even later.
In addition, at the time of pollination, high humidity is needed. Of course, it can be created artificially, including fogging installations or stretching special nets that stabilize ultraviolet radiation. But does everyone have them? And does it make sense to buy and install additional expensive equipment if there are enough varieties of blackberries that do not have problems with pollination?
Variety Ruben remontant?
In the northern regions, the second crop simply does not have time to ripen. So the cultivation of blackberry Ruben in the Moscow region, for example, as a remontant crop does not make sense. The greatest harvest can be harvested only by cutting the shoots under the root for the winter, and harvesting the harvest from the growth of the current year.
The conclusions are disappointing. It is impossible to grow blackberry Reuben as a remontant crop in open ground. In the north, due to the fact that the second crop will leave before winter. In the south, it is guaranteed that you can get berries only from the shoots of the last season. On a yearly increase, pollination may not occur at all. This means that if you grow Reuben blackberries as a remontant, you will get half the crop. If you cut off all the lashes for the winter, you risk being completely without berries.
Conclusions
So what’s the deal? Is it possible that the breeders of the two countries – the USA and the UK, have jointly bred a variety that is no good? After all, if you grow Ruben blackberries only in a temperate and cold climate as a fruit-bearing crop once, what to do with its low resistance to frost? And why does she need refurbishment?
And everything is extremely simple. The variety is intended for closed ground – only there the Reuben blackberry will fully reveal its potential. In the greenhouse, the lighting can also be adjusted, and the temperature can be made as needed, and the humidity can be increased.
The rest of the gardeners can experiment with the Ruben blackberry variety on their site. By trial and error, and it can, if desired, create acceptable conditions. It is a pity that so far there is little experience in adapting this variety.
Yield indicators, fruiting terms
Variety Ruben refers to remontant. This means that the first harvest from last year’s shoots begins to be harvested in mid-June, and ends by the end of July. The second ripens by the beginning of autumn on a young growth. In the northern regions, most of it will not have time to keep up. In greenhouses, Ruben blackberries can begin to bear fruit (depending on agricultural technology) from mid-April to May inclusive.
You can also grow a variety in a culture that yields a crop once a season. At the same time, Reuben blackberries are cut at the root in the fall, which avoids the laborious shelter of shoots for the winter. The crop ripens in mid-summer on the growth of the current year. In the southern regions, flowers may not be fertilized due to high temperature and low humidity – indispensable conditions for successful pollination.
The authors of the Ruben variety claim that this blackberry is very prolific. But in most domestic sources it is indicated that in open ground one bush gives up to 3,5 kg of berries, in closed ground – about 5,5 kg. And is it a high yield? But what about 20-25 kg from a bush? True, 30 tons of berries can be harvested per hectare.
In fact, everything is simple – 3,5-5,5 kg from a Reuben blackberry bush is able to give in the first year of fruiting. Further more. By the way, in the first year after planting, it is recommended to cut off all the flowers in order for the root system to develop well – the key to future abundant harvests.
Scope of berries
Ruben blackberries can be eaten fresh, frozen, made into wine and supplies for the winter. Fruits are well stored and maintain transportation.
Disease and pest resistance
Like any blackberry, the Reuben hybrid variety is highly resistant to pests and diseases. This does not cancel preventive treatments, especially in closed ground conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reviews of domestic gardeners about the Ruben variety are contradictory – from admiring to abusive. Who is right, time will judge – this blackberry has not yet had time to show all its advantages and disadvantages. However, the positives include:
- Good taste of berries.
- Repairability of the variety.
- The ability to grow a crop without shelter for the winter – cutting out shoots at the root.
- High transportability of berries.
- Reuben blackberry fruits are beautiful and large – up to 14,5 g each.
Unfortunately, the list of disadvantages will take up more space:
- Low frost resistance.
- Blackberry Ruben is pollinated only at temperatures below 27-30⁰ C and high humidity.
- The inability to grow a variety in regions with a cold and temperate climate as a remontant due to the late second fruiting.
- Upright blackberries (kumanika) are inconvenient to cover for the winter.
- The shoots have thorns, although they fall off when the berries ripen.
- The need to shade the bushes.
- Propagation of this variety is difficult.
All these shortcomings, except for the existence of thorns and problems with reproduction, do not matter when growing Ruben blackberries in closed ground conditions.
Methods of reproduction
Unlike other varieties, the propagation of remontant blackberry Ruben is difficult. Amateurs can plant a few shoots or divide an overgrown bush. Cuttings in the open field do not lead to success, and indoors you need to use greenhouses, growth hormones and phytolamps. It is problematic to propagate the kumaniku by layering and pulping because of the upright, powerful shoots.
Rules of landing
The Reuben variety reveals its full potential indoors. But few gardeners grow this crop in greenhouses. We will describe the planting and care of Ruben blackberries in summer cottages and household plots.
Recommended dates
In the southern regions, Reuben blackberries are planted in the fall, when the temperature drops to moderate, but no later than a month before the onset of frost. This is how the culture takes root. During spring planting, the sudden onset of heat can destroy the seedling.
In temperate climates and in the north, blackberries are planted when the soil warms up. A long spring and a moderate summer contribute to a good survival of the bush.
Choosing the right place
Unlike other varieties, Ruben blackberry prefers partial shade, especially in the south. But the lack of sunlight does not allow the berries to ripen. So the place must be chosen carefully.
Groundwater should not come closer to the surface than 1 m. Soil requirements for the Reuben variety are the same as for other blackberries: slightly acid reaction, light loam, a large amount of organic matter.
Soil Preparation
It is advisable to dig planting pits in advance, 50x50x50 cm in size. The nutrient mixture is prepared from the top fertile layer of the earth, a bucket of humus and starting fertilizers (potassium – 50 g, phosphorus – 120-15 g). Acid (red) peat is added to alkaline or neutral soil. Too dense clay soils are improved with sand, carbonate soils are improved with additional doses of organic matter. Lime is added to excessively acidic soil.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
The Ruben variety is a novelty, you need to buy it directly in the nursery or in trusted retail chains. With your hands, you will most likely get some other blackberry. A varietal feature is a light gray bark on adult shoots.
The root system should be well developed, smell like fresh soil. Even, flexible and smooth shoots are a sign of blackberry health.
Preplant preparation consists of watering the container plant or soaking the exposed root for 12 hours.
Algorithm and landing scheme
For blackberry Ruben, both sparse (1-1,3 m between plants) and compacted (0,8 m) planting are possible. Rows should be 2 meters apart.
The dug planting hole is covered by 2/3 with a fertile mixture and filled with water. After 10-14 days, you can start planting:
- In the middle of the hole, fill in an earthen mound, around which spread the roots of the blackberry.
- Pour and compact the fertile mixture so as to deepen the neck by 1,5-2 cm.
- Water the blackberries, spending at least 10 liters per bush.
- Mulch the soil.
Culture aftercare
Reuben blackberries need to be carefully cared for, especially outdoors. This is a new variety that has a number of features that need to be considered when growing.
Growing principles
Despite the fact that the Ruben blackberry belongs to the kumaniks – upright varieties with powerful shoots, an adult bush needs a garter. In the first year after planting, the plant can do without a trellis.
In the third year, the Ruben variety comes into full force, its shoots grow to 2-2,5 m and bend under the weight of flowers and berries. It is not good if part of the crop ends up on the ground. For a garter, you can use any trellis: multi-row, T, E or V-shaped.
Yields are influenced by many factors – from agricultural technology to weather conditions. Good fruiting can be achieved only if all recommendations are followed, which is most easily achieved in closed ground conditions.
In order to speed up fruiting in the open field by 10-14 days, arcs are installed over the blackberries in early spring or simply cover the bush with white agrofibre until the shoots reach half a meter in height.
Necessary activities
The first time after planting, the bush should be watered twice a week, spending at least 5 liters of water on each plant. Blackberry is generally a moisture-loving crop, and the Reuben variety does not differ in high drought resistance.
In the spring, immediately after removing the shelter, the culture is fed with nitrogen. At the beginning of flowering they give a full mineral complex. During the formation of berries, blackberries are fertilized with a solution of mullein infusions (1:10) or grass (1:4). In autumn, potassium monophosphate gives a good result. Foliar top dressings with the addition of chelates are useful for blackberries. In hot weather, the Ruben variety is recommended to be sprayed every 10-14 days alternately with epin and zircon.
To increase humidity and retain water in the soil, it is recommended to mulch the soil under the bushes with acidic peat. You need to loosen the ground in spring and autumn. A layer of mulch in summer will not only increase humidity, but also prevent weeds from sprouting.
shrub pruning
If the Reuben variety is grown as a crop that bears fruit once, all shoots are cut out before wintering. In the spring, new lashes will appear, on which the crop will ripen.
An adult blackberry bush Ruben is formed, leaving 6-7 shoots. You can not pinch them – with sufficient top dressing, lateral branches are already formed in sufficient quantities. Sanitary pruning is carried out throughout the season – broken, weak or dried sections of the lashes are removed.
Preparation for winter
If the Reuben blackberry variety is grown as a once fruiting crop and all shoots are cut off before winter, it will be enough to pour an earthen mound over the root. This is how roses cover in southern and temperate climates.
In order for the variety to show repairability, before the onset of frost, the shoots are removed from the trellis, last year’s ones are cut out, and the growth of the current season is tied, tilted to the ground, and fixed. You can arrange a tunnel shelter or use spruce branches, straw, agrofiber and dry soil for insulation.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
The Ruben variety is rarely affected by diseases or pests. Preventive treatments should be carried out in spring and autumn with preparations containing copper. Greenhouses have their own treatment system, different from open ground, you need to stick to it. But there is no danger that the neighborhood with other crops (raspberries, strawberries, solanaceous) will transmit unwanted diseases to blackberries.
The culture often suffers from chlorosis, and it lacks iron. It is best to replenish the lack of this element by spraying the bush with chelates.
Conclusion
Blackberry Ruben is the newest variety, causing a lot of controversy. Whether to plant it on the site, or wait for more balanced reviews on growing in our conditions, everyone decides for himself. A video about Ruben blackberry will help you get to know the variety better, just do not forget that this is another opinion that has not been tested by time:
