Blackberry variety Darrow (Darrow): description, characteristics, photos, reviews

Blackberry Darrow is a popular cultivar with many benefits. At the same time, the plant has weak points, so it is important to study all the features before planting.

History of breeding

Blackberry Darrow is a fairly old variety with a long history. Work on breeding a variety was started in New York in 1940, and in 1946 scientists managed to get the first copy.

The Darrow variety was bred by crossing Hedrick and Eldorado blackberries.

The name of the new blackberry was given in 1958 in honor of the American breeder J. Darrow, who worked for many years on the creation of fruit plants in Maryland. The originator of the variety is New York Cornell University, which was once an agricultural experimental station of the state.

External description of blackberry variety Darrow

Blackberry without thorns Darrow looks like an upright shrub up to 3 m tall with long climbing branches. The leaves of the plant are pinnate, with five lobes, green. At the beginning of the decorative period, the shrub brings white flowers, collected in panicles of 8-12 pieces.

The berries of the Darrow variety are conical, elongated, completely black when ripe. The length of the fruits is about 2,5 cm, and by weight they reach 4 g under favorable conditions and good agricultural practices. The berries taste sweet and sour, very juicy and refreshing.

Characteristics of the thornless blackberry Darrow

Although blackberries have a beautiful bloom, they are usually planted in the garden for a tasty harvest. Before buying a Darrow variety, it is necessary to study the key features of the plant.

Flowering period, ripening period and yield

Blackberry Darrow begins flowering at the end of June, a little later than currants and raspberries. It does not require pollination and forms ovaries without the presence of related varieties in the immediate vicinity. From the middle of summer, fruits appear on the branches, first red, and then gradually blackening. At the same time, the berries are located in the outer part of the bush, so you do not need to reach deep into the plant for them.

The fruits of the Darrow variety ripen in about 1,5 months. Gardeners note that the berries become black rather quickly, but they need to be plucked from the branches only when a characteristic glossiness appears. Ripe fruits should be soft, elastic, easily separated from the bush. Under good conditions, up to 10 kg of crop can be harvested from one plant.

Darrow can form a small number of fruits in autumn, but such berries usually do not have time to ripen

The keeping quality of Darrow blackberries is average – at room temperature, the berries remain fresh and neat for only 1-2 days. In the refrigerator, the fruits can be kept for up to two weeks, and with deep freezing – more than six months.

Frost resistance

In temperate climates, Darrow shows good frost resistance. The shrub calmly tolerates cold snaps down to -34 ° C, while there is no need to build a shelter for the plant. It is only recommended to mulch the near-stem circle with a dense layer of organic matter to provide insulation to the roots.

Disease and pest resistance

The degree of resistance to fungi and parasites in the Darrow blackberry is average. Under adverse external conditions, the shrub may suffer from the following ailments:

• rust – orange spots and growths appear on the shoots and leaves, the yield can be halved;
  
  

  Rust often affects blackberries when the soil is waterlogged and conifers are in close proximity.

• anthracnose – purple areas appear in the lower part of young shoots, which gradually turn into ulcers and cause the bush to wilt;
  
  

  Anthracnose is especially dangerous for thickened Darrow blackberry bushes.

• didimella – spots of a purple hue appear on the blackberry, the leaves begin to crumble, and the shoots and buds dry up.
  
  

  Didimella can spread to blackberries from raspberries and strawberries

For the treatment of ailments of the Darrow variety, Bordeaux liquid 1%, garlic infusion and sulfur preparations are used. As a preventive measure for fungi, it is recommended to monitor the condition of the soil at the roots of the shrub and remove plant debris in time.

Of the pests for blackberries, Darrow is the most dangerous:

• raspberry shoot aphid – the insect feeds on the juices of young shrub branches, and subsequently they freeze slightly, and the development of the plant stops;
  
  

  Aphids often attack blackberries when landing near raspberries

• bear – a dangerous pest gnaws the roots of a bush and can lead to its death;
  
  

  Medvedka poses a particular threat to young blackberries

• raspberry stem fly – parasite larvae gnaw long passages inside the shoots, as a result, the branches begin to wither from the tops.
  
  

  Raspberry fly gardeners often notice already in the later stages of shrub disease

Spraying with a 1% Nitrafen solution and other insecticidal agents helps well against garden pests. With a weak lesion, soap infusion also benefits. Treatments are carried out several times per season, but avoid spraying Darrow blackberries with commercial chemicals after fruit set.

Pros and cons of the variety

Blackberry Darrow has many advantages, but it also has some weaknesses. Before planting a variety, you need to compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Regarding the taste qualities of Darrow blackberries, the opinions of gardeners differ. Officially, the variety has an average rating due to pronounced sourness. But some summer residents note that when organic fertilizers are applied, the berries become much sweeter.

Features of planting blackberries Darrow

Planting and caring for Darrow blackberries generally do not deviate from standard algorithms. But along with this, the variety has some features.

Terms of planting

It is best to plant shrubs on the site in the spring – in this case, over the summer, the blackberry will have time to get stronger and easily endure the winter. In the southern regions, the procedure is allowed to be carried out in the fall.

Site Selection

Blackberry Darrow grows well in sunny and sheltered areas from strong winds. It does not impose special requirements on the soil, although it does not like carbonate soil. It reacts poorly to waterlogging and often suffers from fungi in damp places.

How to plant

The algorithm for planting Darrow blackberries is quite simple:

1. Dig a hole about 40 cm deep in the selected area.
2. 5 kg of humus, 40 g of potassium minerals and 100 g of superphosphate are poured onto the bottom of the pit.
3. Place a layer of garden soil on top.
4. Set the seedling on the resulting mound and straighten its roots.
5. Sprinkle blackberries with earth, deepening the neck by about 5 cm.

After planting, the shoots are recommended to be cut to 2-3 buds. The plant is watered abundantly and mulched around the trunk with peat or straw.

When planting Darrow blackberries in the spring, it is advisable to prepare the site for the plant in the fall.

Blackberry Darrow Care

Darrow blackberries are very easy to care for. You need to pay attention to several procedures:

1. Watering. The plant tolerates drought well, but bears fruit better with high-quality moisture. After planting, in the summer heat and during the ripening of berries, it is necessary to bring 3-6 liters of water under the trunk every week.
2. Top dressing. In the first year, Darrow blackberries are not fertilized. In subsequent seasons, it is necessary to apply manure in the spring, and in the fall, feed the bushes with compost in combination with superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
3. Loosening. From time to time, the soil in the trunk circle needs to be cleaned of weeds and rid of the earthen crust. Loosening is performed to a depth of 5-8 cm.
4. Pruning. After harvesting, the fruiting branches are cut off along with the dry and diseased parts of the shrub.

Climbing blackberry Darrow requires the installation of a trellis on the site. Usually, old and young shoots are laid out separately on a support to facilitate plant care.

How to prepare for winter

The Darrow variety has good frost resistance and does not require careful warming. With the onset of autumn, it is enough to perform a sanitary haircut of the shrub, as well as dig up the soil and mulch the near-stem circle with a layer of organic material.

Methods of reproduction

Blackberry cultivar Darrow can be propagated vegetatively on the site. The seed method for the hybrid is not used, since the unique characteristics in this case are not preserved.

Apical layering

Climbing blackberry readily propagates by apical layering. The procedure is performed like this:

1. At the end of August, a groove is dug in the ground and a one-year-old shoot of the plant is placed in it.
2. The top is cut by about 10 cm and added dropwise, securing with a hook or wire from straightening.
3. Water the cuttings properly and mulch thoroughly.

With regular moisture, the top of the shoot will give roots and its own young shoots in 1-2 months. After that, the new plant can be separated from the main bush and moved to another place.

In the process of propagation by apical layering, the productivity of the main bush does not suffer

Root offspring

For reproduction, you can use the offspring that the Darrow blackberry gives annually from the root. The algorithm looks like this:

1. Shoots about 15 cm tall are carefully separated from the main bush with a sharpened shovel.
2. Briefly immersed in Kornevin’s solution, and then planted in wells with a nutrient substrate.
3. Cover with soil to the end, water well and mulch in a circle.

Root offspring have very good vitality and take root almost 100%. But you need to take planting material only from healthy and high-yielding bushes.

Reproduction by offspring for Darrow blackberries is carried out in late May or early June

Conclusion

Blackberry Darrow is popular due to its high frost resistance and general hardiness. The berries of the shrub are quite tasty, although not dessert. The disadvantages of the variety include the need for a trellis and a low keeping quality of the crop.

Reviews of gardeners about blackberries Darrow