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You can get a good harvest only by observing the technology of growing crops. For example, a blackberry trellis is a necessary design. The support helps to properly form the plant, tie up the whips. Young shoots are woven along the trellis. There are even special swivel structures that allow you not to remove the whips during laying for shelter for the winter.
What is useful support for blackberries
Before proceeding with the review of the varieties of supports, it should be noted that growing blackberries on a trellis has many advantages:
- raised whips are not smeared on the ground during rain or watering;
- berries remain clean, are not eaten by pests crawling on the ground;
- good ventilation of plants in a large plantation reduces the risk of fungal attack;
- uniform penetration of sunlight contributes to the acceleration of ripening of berries on the whole plant.
Additionally, blackberry supports benefit the person himself:
- a tied plant is easier to care for;
- when pruning old lashes, young shoots are not injured, since they are not intertwined;
- plantings are easier to water, it is possible to mulch the soil;
- at a height it is easier to harvest;
- in autumn, the plant is easier to prepare for wintering.
If the question arises, is it necessary to tie up a blackberry, the answer is unequivocal – yes.
What is a blackberry trellis: photo, design description
If a do-it-yourself blackberry trellis is made, special drawings are not needed. The design of the supports is simple and is divided into two main types:
- The single-lane model is more often used on small plantations. Usually, such a trellis for blackberries is made by amateur gardeners and summer residents with their own hands.
- The two-lane model is in demand by large farmers who grow crops on large plantations.
Each type of support has its supporters and opponents.
Однополосная модель
The simplest design consists of dug-in poles, between which a wire is stretched. Usually the height of the blackberry trellis is made to the height of a person. In addition to the vertical state, the support is placed under a slope, equipped with a fan, free form and even horizontally. The choice of position depends on the place of growth, since the plant is still grown to decorate the site.
Two-lane model
The design consists of the same poles with wire, only the supports are arranged in two rows. The trellis simplifies the tying of the lashes, the formation of the plant, the bushes do not thicken. Two-lane models are in demand by farmers with large plantations. According to the design, the tapestries are of three types, made in the form of letters: “T”, “V”, “Y”.
The blackberry support looks like this in the photo:
- Tapestry in the shape of the letter “T” consists of vertical posts to which horizontal elements are fixed at an equal distance. A wire is fixed to their edges, forming two lines for tying the lashes near one row of supports. There are no secrets on how to tie a blackberry correctly on such a trellis. The whips are simply straightened along opposite lines of wire. The center of the row is empty.
- Tapestry in the shape of the letter “V” consists of paired supports installed under a slope. One element has two pillars joining at the ground and expanding at the top. Blackberries are tied on a trellis in the same way as on a support in the shape of the letter “T”.
- Similar to the previous version, trellises look like blackberries in “Y” shape. The difference is the expansion of the two pillars not at the very ground, but approximately from the center of the main support. Such tapestries are often made swivel on hinges. If the question is considered how to beautifully tie up a blackberry, then this design is ideal. From below, before the expansion begins, you will get a smooth wall of stems. From the center of the support, the lashes will begin to go to the side, forming a beautiful vase with berries.
Any do-it-yourself blackberry support is made from wooden poles, metal pipes or a profile.
Making a blackberry trellis with your own hands: photo, drawing
If you wish, you can buy a blackberry trellis, but why spend a lot of money if the structure is easy to assemble on your own. The photo shows a drawing of supports in the form of the letters “T”, “Y”, “V”. However, for a summer residence or a small home plot, you can simply limit yourself to a single-lane trellis.
This photo shows a do-it-yourself single-row blackberry stand, which the owner is able to build from improvised means. The pillars are the basis of the structure. You will need wooden poles or metal pipes 2,5 m long. It is better to use wire to stretch the lines. In extreme cases, twine will do.
A do-it-yourself blackberry stand is made as follows:
- In the row where blackberries will grow or have already been planted, they dig holes under the pillars 80 cm deep. The holes can simply be drilled with a drill. The distance between the holes can withstand up to 5 m.
- A layer of crushed stone or gravel 10–15 cm thick is poured into each hole. The pillow will prevent the supports from sinking.
- The bottom of each column is treated with bituminous mastic. The supports are installed in the hole, leveled, covered with earth. The height of the trellis will approximately be human height – 1,7 m. As the soil is backfilled, the soil is rammed with a shovel handle. It is undesirable to concrete the poles of the blackberry trellis. If the plant disappears or needs to be transplanted to another place over time, it will be difficult to dismantle the supports.
- The end of the blackberry trellis is the stretching of wire lines. Usually do 3-4 tiers. The first wire is pulled along the top of the pillars. The subsequent lines go down in 50 cm increments. It is easier to pull the wire into the through holes drilled on the poles. At the extreme supports, it is desirable to install a line tensioning mechanism, for example, from bolts.
The posts of a properly made trellis should not lean under the tension of the wire or under the weight of the growing brambles.
More on the video blackberry trellis with your own hands:
Planting blackberries when growing on a trellis
Before you figure out how to properly tie a prickly blackberry, you need to figure out the planting pattern. It takes into account the peculiarity of the variety, climatic conditions, nutritional value of the soil. The better the performance, the larger the bush grows.
The usual formation of blackberries on a trellis is performed in a fan way. This scheme is suitable for varieties with limited growth of lashes. Bushes are planted in one row with a step of 2–2,5 m. Row spacing is made of the same size. For bush varieties, the row spacing and the distance between plants are made less than 2 m.
Depending on the variety, blackberries are tied in spring in three ways:
- Weave. The lashes of the plant to the trellis are fixed on three tiers. The new branches that have grown are bent away from the trunk, bringing them to the fourth top line.
- Fan. Old blackberry lashes are straightened from the trunk in the shape of a fan. Fixation occurs to three lines, starting from the ground. It turns out the shape of a bush. Growing young whips are allowed to trail along the upper fourth line.
- Unilateral slope. Old blackberry branches are tilted to one side, fixing to three lines, starting from the ground. Young shoots are sent to trail along three lines of wire in the opposite direction.
In autumn, blackberries growing on a trellis are pruned. Damaged and weak shoots are removed from the plant, as well as whips that bear fruit in summer. By spring, only the young are left.
On the video how to tie a blackberry correctly:
The latest development – a rotary trellis
Новейшей разработкой американских ученых является поворотная шпалера для ежевики, позволяющая выращивать культуру в холодных регионах. Технология набирает популярность среди крупных производителей всего мира, поставляющих ягоды на продажу. Ученые доказали уникальность конструкции, для которой разработана своя система формирования кустов, позволяющая ежегодно получать большие урожаи.
The essence of the technology lies in the fact that already at -23оFruit buds freeze with blackberries. In cold regions, creeping varieties are laid on the ground without problems, covered with straw mats until spring. A semi-creeping blackberry variety cannot be bent to the ground. Lignified trunks and shoots break when removed from the trellis. It is very difficult to bend the whips. The swivel trellis allows you to lay the plant on the ground without removing the lashes from the wire. The design is simply transferred to the winter position by loosening the tension of the lines and turning the hinge. A simple laying process, even on a large plantation, can be carried out by two people.
Do-it-yourself swivel trellis for blackberries in the country is not in great demand. However, when growing a special favorite variety, you can try to build. The design of the support itself is made in the shape of the letter “Y”. The secret lies in fixing the top fork of the posts to the main post. In this place there is a hinge with a lock. The last in the row on both sides are single fixed poles. Stretch marks are stretched to them, holding the supports.
The use of rotary trellises has its advantages:
- productivity increases due to the free weaving of shoots on the sides of the support;
- it is possible to grow heat-loving varieties of blackberries in cold regions;
- the ventilation of the bush improves, the penetration of sunlight;
- снижается риск ожога ягод во время жары;
- simplifies harvesting, laying bushes for wintering.
It consists of a swivel structure of the main rack, short and long arms, as well as a hinge, which is often used as a metal plate fixed with bolts.
The support has three positions:
- Summer. This position is considered the main – basic. The support is installed vertically. Fruiting blackberry lashes are fixed on the long arm. All new growing branches are directed to a short shoulder. These whips will bear fruit next summer. The trellis is rotated so that all fruit-bearing branches are obtained from the side opposite to the sun to prevent berry burns. It is convenient to harvest the crop, since the fruits are located on one side at the height of human growth.
- Winter. In this position, the support is laid on the ground. Young shoots are obtained inside the shelter, due to which protection from the frosty wind is enhanced. Preparations begin in the fall. On the bushes, old branches are cut right at the base of the trunk and removed from the long shoulder. In their place, young branches are shifted, which in summer grew along a short shoulder. The support is rotated to the ground. The stacked blackberries are covered with mats of straw or agrofibre.
- Spring. During this period, the awakening of the kidneys begins. The support is raised so that the long arm with the lashes is horizontal to the ground. This position promotes the formation of berries on one outer side of the trellis fork.
After the growth of small shoots, the structure is transferred to the base summer position.
Conclusion
Growing blackberries and other trailing crops on a trellis is made easier. It is better to allocate a little money and time for the manufacture of supports than to regret the lost harvest later.