We get acquainted with the types and varieties of blackberries from the photo with descriptions
In recent years, blackberries have become more and more popular, and in many summer cottages they have been given no less space than long and well-known raspberries. And such attention is well deserved, because the garden blackberry, the photo of the varieties and the description of which amaze with the large size of the berries, is not only fruitful and tasty, but also quite easy to care for.
Americans have long been the legislators of the world "blackberry fashion" and the leaders in the cultivation of this berry. It is not surprising that most of the modern varieties are the creations of scientists and enthusiasts from the United States who use different types of blackberries in breeding work.
Types of blackberries: photo and description
For example, the giant blackberry from Armenia (Rubus armeniacus) shown in the photo, sometimes called the Himalayan, has been massively cultivated in the USA and Europe for a long time. The reason for the popularity of the shrub was simple - large, massively ripening berries with a sweet dessert taste. But the species also had a significant drawback. This culture seemed very prickly, and when the thornless blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) appeared, it was abandoned.
Today, on the plantations of the North American continent and around the world, varieties created on the basis of bush blackberries and blackberries with dove are grown, as well as cultivated forms without thorns, collectively called Thornless.
In all wild species of blackberries, the berries, as they ripen, change color from green to red or brown, and then to dark purple or almost black. At the same time, the skin of the berries, as can be seen in the photo of the blackberry with gray, is covered with a bloom that determined the name of the species and is absent in other varieties.
There is a difference between the species in the structure of the bush and the appearance of the leaves. It is especially noticeable when looking at the cut blackberry, which is unique in its own way. This species has leaves strongly dissected along the edge, consisting of 5–7 parts, multi-berry clusters and creeping flexible shoots.
Bushy and gray blackberries are common in Russia species that can be found on the edges, overgrown clearings, along ravines and on river banks. However, the plants got into the garden only thanks to breeders who created large-fruited and fruitful varieties of blackberries.
Varieties of garden blackberries
Since several varieties have been used to breed varietal berries, perennial shrubs have different structures and types of fruiting. Like their wild ancestors, many varieties have retained their creeping shape. Plants with long, up to several meters shoots are grown on trellises, which allows you to get the highest yield from one bush.
Blackberry bush varieties are more like raspberries. Such specimens bear fruit on two-year-old shoots that retain an erect or semi-lying shape. Plant height reaches 2–2.5 meters and needs pruning.
To simplify the care of plantings, it was possible to obtain varieties of thornless blackberries. Such varieties are easy to identify by the name, to which the prefix Thornless is added, that is, "without thorns."
Blackberries have a long growing season.On the one hand, this allows the plant to protect itself from spring frosts and return cold weather. But on the other hand, the harvest ripens late, and in the northern regions the ovaries, without filling, go under the snow. Repaired blackberries, which bear fruit throughout the season, solve the problem.
Today, gardeners have at their disposal many interesting varieties of blackberries, which give a large dessert berry. It remains only to study the photos and descriptions of blackberry varieties and, based on the climatic conditions of the region, choose the right one.
Blackberry Thornless Evergreen
Thornless Evergreen, a thornless variety of blackberries, was obtained thanks to a noted natural mutation of dissected blackberries. As a result, European and American farmers at the beginning of the last century received an evergreen plant with excellent yields, moreover, without thorns.
Although the 3-gram berries of the blackberry variety shown in the photo are inferior in size and weight to most of the new varieties, their number on the brush is unmatched. In one inflorescence there can be up to 70 ovaries, which after ripening acquire a bluish-black color, a delicate aroma and a pleasant sweet and sour taste.
The openwork, but rather dense foliage of this blackberry variety retains its vibrant color under the snow, so the plant quickly resumes growth in spring and blooms.
The plant has many advantages, among which are yield, lack of thorns, frost resistance and the ability to transport berries. The main disadvantage, in addition to the small mass of fruits, is the large blackberry seeds Evergreen Thornless.
BlackBerry Black Satin
The thornless shoots of this variety have a semi-creeping shape and form a powerful bush. Until the stems of Black Satin are 2 meters tall, the plant remains erect. As the shoots grow, they droop at the time of fruiting, reaching 4 - 5 meters in length. Medium-sized shiny berries have a weight of 5 to 8 grams. Ripening of rounded or rounded-oval fruits is gradual, so the harvest is harvested many times.
Ripe berries have a sweet and sour refreshing taste of universal use.
Blackberry Natchez
In 2007, American scientists from the state of Arkansas introduced a new variety of Natchez blackberries. The peculiarity of the culture is the early ripening of large berries weighing 8-10 grams. Harvesting begins in early July and lasts until September. Glossy black berries of this variety have an oblong shape, small seeds, juicy flesh of a dessert taste and a bright aroma characteristic of the species.
The harvested crop is stored for several days without loss of quality and can be transported.
Blackberry Agave
The oblong, shiny blackberries of the Agavam ripen in August. Powerful shoots growing up to 3 meters bear fruit in the second year of life and withstand abundant harvests. However, in winter without shelter, the bushes are damaged by frost and require shelter. The variety shown in the photo is characterized by a gradual, lasting about a month, the yield of the crop and excellent taste qualities of universal berries.
Blackberry Ruben (Reuben)
The hybrid blackberry Ruben bears fruit on the shoots of both the first and second year of life. The first harvest is in July, then very large berries weighing from 10 to 16 grams ripen at the end of summer and are harvested until October. Repaired blackberry differs not only in double harvesting of berries, but also in high yield.
Powerful bushes are erect, do without support and tolerate frost well.
Blackberry Navaho (Navaho)
The Navajo thornless blackberry forms a large, upright bush with a height of one and a half to two meters. The plant is unpretentious, requires minimal maintenance and does not need support. The harvest of large, oval or rounded berries ripens in August, and its harvest lasts about a month. The mass of a purple-black berry is 5–7 grams. The fruits are tasty, sweet with a slight sourness.
The advantages of this blackberry variety are high yield, excellent taste and type of berries.
Blackberry Triple Crown (Triple Crown Thornless)
Another American blackberry variety was created by breeders of the state of Oregon. A plant that gives stable yields forms a shrub with semi-creeping stems up to 3 meters in length. To get the most out of it, Triple Crown blackberry shoots are directed onto trellises or strong supports that can withstand brushes with large berries ripening in the second half of summer.
The peculiarity of the variety is the resistance of the berries to high temperatures and transportation, the bright taste of the fruits and their consistently large size throughout the entire ripening period. On average, the yield per bush is about 10 kg of dessert berries, which do not change the taste even when grown without shading.
Blackberry Triple Crown, like many American varieties, is not highly winter-hardy and needs to be insulated.
Blackberry Chester (Chester Thornless)
Garden blackberry compares favorably with wild-growing species in berry size and yield. Some varieties, such as the Chester blackberry, in addition, do not have thorns, which greatly simplifies cultivation and planting maintenance. The culture belongs to the varieties of late ripening. The first berries weighing from 5 to 8 grams are ready for harvest in mid-August, the last black fragrant fruits can be enjoyed closer to October. The fruits are well stored, retain their shape and sweetness. Bushes with a wide crown are easy to care for and easily hide for the winter.
Blackberry Karaka Black
Studying the descriptions and photos of blackberry varieties, you can not only appreciate the advantages and weaknesses of the culture, but also make amazing discoveries. For example, the new blackberry Karaka Black is a native of New Zealand, and in the genus the plant has not only its closest relatives, but also hybrids obtained from crossing blackberries with raspberries.
This technique allows scientists to achieve the largest possible berries, enhance their delicate aroma and make the fruits more suitable for transportation. The mass of the elongated, tasty berry of the blackberry variety shown in the photo is about 10 grams. The skin is dense, glossy black. The pulp is juicy and tasty.
Due to the gradual ripening, the collection of a consistently high yield is carried out for 1.5-2 months.
Description of the blackberry variety Loch Ness (Loch Ness)
A bright aroma, excellent taste with a tart shade and a beautiful, even shape of berries weighing from 5 to 10 grams in weight are the characteristic features of the Loch Ness thornless blackberry, thanks to which the variety was highly appreciated by the British Royal Society of Gardeners.
From each bush in a summer cottage, you can get about 15 kg of ripe berries, in conditions of intensive cultivation, the yield rises to 25-30 kg. At the same time, the fruits retain their appearance and taste for several days, which is important for the commercial use of plantings. According to the description, Loch Ness blackberries are ready for harvest in mid-August.
Blackberry Polar
Polish breeders bred the Polar blackberry, which is interesting to Russian gardeners due to its high frost resistance and the possibility of growing bushes without additional shelter. Vigorous plants provide stable yields of large oval-shaped berries with glossy black skin and excellent sweet taste. The fruit can be used for home canning and eaten fresh.
Blackberry Loch Tay
The Thornless Blackberry Loch Tei of a complex hybrid origin produces sweet large berries with firm pulp and smooth glossy black skin. The flattened dessert fruits begin to ripen in the last decade of July, then the collection does not stop for about a month. Semi-creeping bushes are formed from strong thornless shoots, forming a compact, easy-to-care crown.
Description of the blackberry variety Thornfree
One of the first thornless blackberry varieties, which is still deservedly popular among summer residents. According to the description of the variety, blackberry thornfree forms a large semi-erect bush, consisting of shoots up to 5 meters long.
The tough stems perfectly withstand the weight of the oval berries ripening in August-September, weighing from 5 to 8 grams.
The variety stands out for its disease resistance and high yield.
One brush can contain from 30 to 120 berries. The black lined fruits have juicy pulp and excellent sweet and sour taste, but when fully ripe, the berries quickly crumple and are not stored.
Description of the variety of blackberry Giant (Bedford Giant)
Planting Bedford Giant blackberries has proven itself equally well in industrial and private horticulture. According to the description of the variety, the Giant blackberry is a plant with creeping, thorny shoots, on which dense black berries weighing up to 7 grams begin to ripen in July. The fruits have excellent taste, the stems grow well and survive the winter.
Blackberry Arapaho
American blackberry varieties are among the most popular in the world. The Arapaho blackberry, obtained by Arkansas scientists in 1993, is part of an extensive line of plants named after the American Indian tribes. Among the studless varieties, this variety is considered the earliest.
Berries weighing up to 7 grams ripen in the second half of July. Sweet fruits with a black shiny skin have a wide-conical shape and a juicy pulp, the taste of which is practically not affected by small seeds.
Highly productive bushes are not afraid of diseases and can withstand temperatures down to –24 ° C.
Blackberry Kiowa
Another variety from Arkansas scientists will give gardeners incredibly large berries that can be called a record. Blackberry of Kiova variety bears fruits weighing up to 20 grams with medium-sized seeds, dense skin and excellent pulp taste. The berries ripen gradually, tolerate transportation well and do not shrink by the end of the season. The bushes themselves, formed by erect shoots up to 160 cm high, can withstand temperatures down to -23 ° C.
Blackberry Apache (Apache)
A hardy, frost-resistant Apache variety from the United States was first introduced to the horticultural community in 1999. Thornless blackberry with vigorous erect shoots gives large, up to 10 grams in weight, elongated berries of sweet taste. The fragrant fruits are equally suitable for fresh consumption and for freezing. The variety stands out for its excellent yield, comparable to the best commercial varieties, as well as high frost resistance.