Thornless blackberry varieties
Thornless is a lifesaver for gardeners tired of healing wounds after harvesting garden blackberries. These varieties are characterized by the complete absence of needles.
Thornless varieties – blackberry without thorns
The main difference between these varieties is the absence of thorns, which is convenient for picking berries. They have rather large fruits up to 15 g, they are resistant to diseases, they are almost never eaten by pests. They also tolerate transportation well. They do not make serious demands on soil fertility. The yield is average, mostly self-fertile, that is, they do not require pollinating plants.
Thornless blackberries are large and produce a good harvest.
Quite a few varieties of such blackberries have been bred, each has its own characteristics and growing conditions:
- The branches of “Oregon” are about 4 m long, they spread along the ground. This variety has decorative carved leaves and quite tasty berries.
- “Merton” is a frost-resistant variety that can withstand winters down to –30 ° C. Gives high yields up to 10 kg per bush.
- “Chester” is a semi-upright spreading shrub. High winter hardiness up to -30 ° C, but it requires insulation. Sweet and sour berries reach 3 cm.
- Boysenberry has a special taste and aroma. It contains crimson shades. The yield is average.
- Black Satin is a semi-curing variety. It goes up to 1,5 m, later spreads along the ground up to 5 m. It ripens unevenly, the weight of the berries is 5-8 g. If the berries are overripe, they become soft and acquire a fresh-sweet taste. Winter-hardy variety, but shelter is needed.
This is not a complete list of bred hybrids. All of them form powerful shrubs with erect or creeping shoots. Blackberry flowers can be white or pink. They appear in lush inflorescences in June, and the harvest of glossy berries does not ripen until August.
To grow blackberries, you need lighted areas with fertile soil. You need to prepare it in the fall. To do this, you need to dig up the soil, adding compost or humus to it. In the spring you need:
- dig a hole 50 × 50;
- spill water at the rate of a bucket per well;
- lower the seedling into the hole;
- cover with soil and tamp.
From above, you need to water the plant again and mulch it. You need to plant a plant only in the spring so that it has time to take root. The sprout itself must be shortened to 25 cm, removing weak shoots.
Plant care consists of weeding, watering and feeding. Feed enough compost or rotted manure once a year. Long strands of blackberries must be fixed on supports so that they do not lie on the ground. In the fall, you need to prepare the plant for wintering. To do this, you need to remove the branches from the supports, remove old shoots, tilt the plant to the ground and protect it from frost.
Blackberries without thorns have adapted well in the middle lane. This is especially true for frost-resistant varieties. But she still needs shelter for the winter.