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Blackberry Thornless is not as popular with our gardeners as raspberries or currants, but it also deserves to occupy not the last place in gardens and home gardens. In terms of the content of nutrients, it does not lag behind other popular berries, and somewhere even ahead of them. The absence of thorns on the new Thornless blackberry varieties makes this plant more attractive to grow, eliminating the inconvenience of caring for the crop and harvesting the fruit.
History of breeding
Blackberries were first brought from Europe to America at the beginning of the 1926th century. Under the influence of new natural conditions, it began to mutate. As a result of a natural mutation, some types of shrubs began to sprout without thorns. This phenomenon did not go unnoticed by American farmers-breeders, and in XNUMX the culture was officially registered under the name Thornless Evergreen blackberry. Thanks to successful imports, thornless blackberries have become popular in Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Peru), Europe (Great Britain), and Eurasia (Our Country, Ukraine).
Description of berry culture
Wild blackberries were previously cultivated in many countries as a garden berry crop. But because of the inconvenience caused by sharp and strong thorns, many gardeners refused to grow it. Thornless clonal varieties have given the evergreen shrub its well-deserved reputation.
General characteristics of the group
Blackberry Thornless is a varietal series that includes about a hundred varieties that differ in appearance, size and taste of berries, yield and growing conditions. But they are united by one important feature – they are all without thorns. There are several other identical indicators that unite all varieties of the group. Briefly, the characteristics of the Thornless blackberry series are as follows:
- Thornless blackberry roots are a powerful root system that penetrates the soil to a depth of 1,5 to 2 meters, but does not give root offspring for reproduction;
- shoots – at the beginning are five-sided, erect, as they grow, they tend to the ground in the form of an arc and are able to take root at the top when in contact with the soil, have a two-year life cycle, the length varies from 2 to 4 meters, the fruit-bearing branches dry out and are subject to cutting from the bush;
- blackberry Thornless leaves – trifoliate, with openwork carved edges, dark green, do not fall and hibernate on the branches;
- fruits – medium or large juicy polynuts (4-14 g), articulated like a thimble, green at the initial stage of vegetation, then turn red, turn black when fully ripe, the taste of berries is sweet or sweet and sour.
In general, the entire series of Thornless varieties is worthy of the attention of gardeners, since it has much more advantages than disadvantages.
Brief description of varieties
The Thornless thornless blackberry series includes more than 90 varieties. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
- Blackberry Thornless Merton. Self-fertile variety without thorns, large berries (8-14 g) with a sweet-sour taste. Flowering begins in June, it is considered a wonderful honey plant. Berry ripening lasts from August to mid-September. The shoots are not as elastic as in other varieties, the bushes require pinching the tops. The resistance of the Thornless Merton variety against cold weather is average; when grown in regions with a cold climate, additional shelter is required for the winter.
- Blackberry Oregon Thornless. The evergreen Oregon Thornless blackberry does not need global pruning, nor does it produce root offspring. The bush is formed from powerful stems, the leaves have a plate in the form of stylized stars or snowflakes. The berries are medium-sized, from 3 to 5 g, they have multi-nutlet grains, significantly enlarged compared to other blackberry varieties of the Thornless series. Sites for planting Thornless Evergreen blackberries should be well lit and protected from through winds.
- Blackberry Hoole Thornless. Blackberry Thornless Hul early ripening. The growth of the shrub reaches 2 meters, the volume around the circumference is about 1,5 m. The beginning of flowering is June, the ripening of berries is from July to the end of August. The variety is resistant to almost all common diseases. Berries are fragrant, sweet and juicy.
- Hull Thornless. Judging by the description of the variety, Hull Thornless blackberry can withstand frosts down to -30 ° C and below, is resistant to diseases and pests. The timing of the ripening of berries is not precisely established. Depending on the region of growth, the berry can acquire commercial ripeness from July to September. The taste of fruits in the variety is sweet and sour, the size of the berries is medium, from 3 to 6 g.
- Bushy blackberry Thornless Evergreen. Late maturing variety. Berries have a sugary-sweet taste, not enough acidity. Fruiting is friendly, lasts 2-3 weeks. High transportability. Foliage openwork, decorative. In case of damage to the root system, it releases offspring with thorns, which must be removed.
A prominent representative of the Thornless group is the thornless blackberry Thornless Evergreen, a description of the variety of which we will present in more detail. On his example, the main qualities of a series of varieties are characterized, and the basic principles of growing thornless blackberries in individual gardens and summer cottages are presented.
Characterization
We have combined important information about Thornless Evergreen blackberries in the table:
| Main characteristics of the variety | Ed. amend. | The values |
| Shoot length | m | 1,5 – 2,5 |
| Terms of flowering | month | June July |
| Full maturation time | month | Aug. Sept |
| Weight of one berry (average) | gram | 3,5 – 5,5 |
| Harvest from one bush per season | kg | 8 – 10 |
| Transportability | High | |
| Winter hardiness | High (up to -30°C) | |
| Beginning of full fruiting | 3-4 years after planting |
Basic requirements for growing
The root system of blackberry Thornless Evergreen is located at a depth of up to 2 meters, so the bush does not require frequent watering. But when groundwater occurs above this mark, blackberry roots are affected by root rot, as they are constantly in cold water. This nuance should be taken into account when choosing a place for planting a shrub.
The composition of the soil must also be taken into account when growing a crop, the earth should be loose, neutral in acidity, well aerated.
Thornless Evergreen blackberry care after planting is carried out according to an identical garden raspberry care scheme: top dressing (mandatory), trellis garter, weed control, pest control.
Use of berries
The main purpose of Evergreen blackberry fruits is the use of fresh berries, the preparation of desserts and drinks from them. Less commonly, berries are used for winter harvesting. This is due to the presence of more solid drupes than those of raspberries.
Disease and pest resistance
All types and varieties of blackberries in this series of varieties are surprisingly resistant to pathogens of the main diseases of garden plants. Apparently, their prickly ancestor gave them his natural immunity to fungi and viruses, which he developed in the struggle for life in the wild.
Harmful insects also rarely choose blackberry planting habitat, but one or two prophylactic treatments against pests will not harm the bushes. Spraying blackberries with fungicides can be combined with the treatment of other horticultural crops.
In general, we can say that the cultivation of Thornless blackberries is not a troublesome and rather exciting process.
Clear pluses and minor minuses
Advantages of the blackberry variety Thornless Evergreen:
- large-fruited;
- excellent taste of fruits;
- ornamental shrub;
- high yield of the variety;
- good transportability.
Disadvantages:
- extra labor costs for garter to trellises;
- annual pruning in spring;
- short shelf life fresh.
Methods of reproduction
The thornless blackberry variety Evergreen of the Thornless series propagates in two ways:
- apical layering: the upper part of the shoot is cut off by 15-30 cm, placed in a container with water, added dropwise on a new bed. Or like this: the top is bent and covered with soil, waiting for rooting;
- green cuttings: cuttings are cut up to 20 cm long, immediately buried in holes in a new place. All summer, future seedlings are watered, not allowing the soil to dry out. By next spring, the plant will already have its own root system.
The author of the video will share his secrets of growing blackberries with you
If the root system is damaged during digging or loosening the soil under the bushes, young growth begins to actively grow, which does not have the characteristics that distinguish the Thornless series of varieties. The shoots are densely covered with thorns, the berries on them are much smaller, and the taste inherent in the Thornless blackberry is lost. Therefore, hilling should be carried out carefully, to a depth of no more than 10 cm.
If such offspring are found, they must be removed immediately, preventing them from growing, otherwise the blackberry plantings may turn into thorny thickets.
Rules of landing
Thornless Evergreen blackberry seedlings are recommended to be planted only in spring with the onset of warm days, at a temperature not lower than +15°C.
The optimal landing time is the end of April or the beginning of May.
Acidic soil before planting must be deacidified by adding lime or dolomite flour. The area intended for growing blackberries of this variety must be dug up in advance, fertilizers recommended for fruit bushes must be applied.
Preparation of planting material
Seedlings with a closed root system purchased from nurseries do not require special preparation, as they are sold in special containers with a substrate. With self-propagation of a culture or when acquiring seedlings with open roots, planting material requires special preparation.
To disinfect from possible diseases, the root system must be lowered into a pink solution of potassium permanganate. If desired, you can treat the roots with Kornevin, or another stimulant for the formation and growth of the root system.
Algorithm and landing scheme
Young plants are planted in one row at a distance of about 3 meters from each other in the following order:
- dig a planting hole with a depth along the height of the container (or, focusing on the size of the root system – the roots should be located quite freely in the hole);
- take out the seedling along with the ground (or set the seedling in the hole, gently straightening the roots);
- place it vertically or with a slight inclination in the hole, cover it with soil;
- lightly compact the soil, make a trunk circle, and water it abundantly to shrink the earth;
- from above, the soil is covered with mulch: peat, slips, straw.
The author of the video will tell and show you more about how to plant a blackberry correctly.
Culture aftercare
Thornless series blackberries are taken care of in the same way as any berry bushes: they are fed at least 3-4 times per season, watered 1-2 times a week, mulched.
Peculiarities of growing
When caring for the thornless blackberry Thornless Evergreen, the main criteria are the correct spring pruning and tying the shoots to the trellis, this is necessary to maintain the integrity of the shoots and increase the yield of the bushes.
About how, why and when to cut blackberries, the author of the video will show and tell you
Preparation for winter
In autumn, blackberry branches are untied from the trellises, carefully bent down and laid on the ground. It is important to ensure that the elastic branches do not break. Pinned shoots are sprinkled with an insulating coating (peat, sawdust, straw) and covered with any material that allows air to pass through.
Conclusion
Blackberry Thornless revived the interest of gardeners in growing this tasty and healthy berry on their land. Indeed, in addition to a plentiful harvest, this unpretentious culture also plays a decorative role, decorating the landscape of adjacent territories with its greenery and fruits.