Blackberry variety Black Gem (Black Gem): description, characteristics, photo

Blackberry Black Jam is a new American selection that appeared in 2017. Differs in large berries with the expressed sweet taste and pleasant aroma. The culture is winter-hardy, adapts well even to harsh climatic conditions. Therefore, such blackberries can be grown in different regions of Our Country.

History of breeding

Garden blackberry Black Gem (Black Gem) – a variety obtained in 2017 in the USA. The name literally translates as “Black Pearl”. It was successfully tested in the state of Arkansas, after which it spread to other regions of the United States and several countries. Recently, the variety began to appear in Our Country.

It is not yet included in the register of selection achievements. However, many summer residents have already begun to grow crops on their plots. The winter hardiness of the variety is quite high, which makes it possible to cultivate it even in regions with frosty winters.

External description of blackberry variety Black Jam

The blackberry bush Black Jam is compact, shoots are straight, vertically growing, do not take up much space. Young shoots are green, then become grayish. The bush reaches a height of 1,5 m. The surface of the branches is thornless, which makes it easier to care for and harvest.

Berries of blackberry Black Jam are large, by weight they reach 20-25 g. The shape is conical, elongated, the color is saturated black. The surface is glossy, shines in the sun.

The fruits have an attractive presentation

Taste with a pronounced sweetness, sourness is almost imperceptible, which distinguishes Black Jam from many other varieties. The pulp is juicy, the mass fraction of dry matter is not more than 12%, the remaining 88% is water (cell sap).

Low shelf life – at room temperature for no more than four days. Although if put in the refrigerator, the period increases to three weeks.

Characteristics of Blackberry Black Jam

The grade differs in good productivity, resistance to diseases and winter hardiness. Berries can be harvested not only in July, but also in August and even in September, if there are no frosts.

Flowering period, ripening period and yield

Blackberry Black Jam belongs to remontant varieties. It bears fruit twice a season. The main wave falls on July, the second – at the end of August and September. Accordingly, flowering takes place in June and July. Fruiting can continue throughout September, until the onset of the first frost.

The yield of the Black Jam variety is quite high – from one adult plant you can collect 5-6,5 kg of delicious berries, sometimes a little more.

Frost and drought resistance

Blackberry variety Black Jam is winter-hardy (can withstand temperatures down to -28 degrees). There is evidence that in the climatic conditions of the Rostov region (Taganrog), young bushes winter well even without shelter. In central Our Country, in the Urals, in Siberia, plants need shelter.

The culture is responsive to watering, needs a regular supply of water. Shrubs can survive drought and recover. But a prolonged lack of moisture will adversely affect the taste of berries and yields.

Disease and pest resistance

The blackberry variety Black Jam has a fairly good immunity to common pests and diseases. With improper care, adverse weather, it can suffer from purple spotting, septoria, gray rot, shoot botrytis and other pathologies.

It is not excluded the invasion of bears, different types of aphids, beetles and other insects. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatments using folk remedies and chemicals.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Despite the fact that the Black Jam blackberry has appeared recently, many gardeners have already managed to appreciate its benefits. Most often, they write in reviews that blackberries are large and sweet, and have a pleasant aroma. Moreover, there is absolutely no sourness in the berries, and the pulp is very juicy.

The berries are quite large, sweet in taste.

Pros:

• attractive appearance;
• the nutritional value;
• high yield;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• compact crown that does not take up much space;
• there are no spikes on the surface;
• high winter hardiness;
• good transportability.

Cons:

• low keeping quality;
• in regions with severe winters, shelter is required;
• there is little information about the variety due to its low prevalence.

Features of landing

Planting blackberry Black Jam can be scheduled for both spring and autumn. If planted in April, it is realistic to harvest in the same year. Autumn planting has its advantages – the seedling manages to take root before the cold weather and immediately starts growing in the spring.

For landing, choose places that simultaneously meet several criteria:

• good illuminance;
• fertile, loose soil;
• medium neutral or slightly acidic (pH = 6,0-7,0);
• protection from through winds;
• lack of stagnant water (lowlands are excluded).

The site for planting Black Jam blackberries is pre-cleaned and dug up. Make compost, humus or complex mineral fertilizer. If the soil is heavy, contains a lot of clay, it is necessary to close up sawdust, vermiculite or sand.

Blackberry seedlings Black Jam are purchased only from trusted suppliers. If the root system is open, it can be soaked overnight in a growth stimulant solution (Kornevin, Zircon, Epin or other means).

When planting blackberries, Black Jam acts like this:

1. Prepare a pit 50 * 50 cm.
2. A small layer of small stones is placed at the bottom.
3. Put the seedling in the center, sprinkle with fertile soil.
4. They tamp so that the measles neck goes to a shallow depth (up to 2-3 cm).
5. Watered with a bucket of settled water.
6. Lay a layer of mulch – sawdust, hay, straw, needles or other natural materials.

Landing pits are best prepared 2-3 weeks in advance.

Care instructions

As for the cultivation of blackberry Black Jam, it is not complicated. Experienced gardeners recommend following these rules:

1. Watering should be regular and plentiful enough. If there is no rain, water is given weekly. Young seedlings need at least 5 liters, adults – 10-20 liters. Water must be pre-settled. It is necessary to monitor the surface layer of the soil – it must have time to dry out.
2. After watering or heavy rain, the soil is loosened, weeding is done at the same time. To keep the soil moist for as long as possible, the trunk circle is mulched with straw, sawdust, needles.
3. Since the Black Jam blackberry is a remontant variety with two fruiting waves, fertilizing should be done regularly at intervals of 3-4 weeks. In the spring give ammonium nitrate or urea. At the flowering stage, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added. The same composition is given in a month. In autumn, after harvesting, you can feed with wood ash (water infusion).
4. In early spring, preventive treatment against diseases and pests is carried out. To do this, use Bordeaux liquid, “HOM”, “Fundazol”, “Ridomil Gold” or other fungicides.
5. Also in the spring you need to make a sanitary pruning of Black Jam blackberries. In autumn, a haircut is also carried out, thinning the crown and getting rid of old shoots.
6. Despite the high winter hardiness of the Black Jam variety, shelter will be needed in most regions. The branches are removed from the support, bent to the soil and pinned. From above they are thrown with sawdust, straw and covered with burlap, agrovolkon or other fairly dense material.

Regular watering and top dressing guarantee good yields even in adverse weather conditions.

Methods of reproduction

Blackberry varieties Black Jam are propagated in all possible ways, including from seeds. But most often choose vegetative methods. They are much simpler, allow you to save all varietal characteristics and relatively quickly get the desired result.

Most often, Black Jam is propagated by the following methods:

• green cuttings;
• root suckers;
• division of the bush.

Cuttings are cut from adult Black Jam blackberry bushes at the end of May. Planted in fertile, moist soil, grown until autumn, mulched. The following spring, they are transplanted to a permanent place.

For reproduction, root suckers separate several formations that grow near the bush. They are cut out so that the length is at least 30 cm. Then they are planted in fertile soil, watered, fed.

The bush is divided only if it does not produce root offspring. In the spring, they dig it up and cut the rhizome into several parts. In addition, each delenka should have several healthy shoots.

Conclusion

Black Jam Blackberry is a rather interesting variety, which is primarily valued for its sweet taste and large berries. Fruits can be used fresh, for cooking various dishes and preparations for the winter. They do not lie for a long time, although the transportability is good. Therefore, the berry can be used both for personal consumption and for sale or processing.

Reviews of gardeners about Blackberry Black Jam