Black raspberries: cultivation and care. Black raspberries: beneficial properties. Black raspberries: how to grow sweet berries the color of night

Every gardener knows firsthand about the excellent taste and unsurpassed aroma of the red fruits of raspberry bushes. Black raspberries, which are not so common in Europe, have an equally amazing taste.

The perennial plant annually pleases with a large yield of blackberry-like berries, which are distinguished by their dense texture and sweetness. Despite the rarity of these plants, they are quite easy to care for; you just need to follow basic growing rules.

Appearance of chokeberry raspberries

It’s hard to imagine a landscaped garden without a shrub like raspberry. IN Lately Blackberry-like varieties are becoming increasingly popular among plant growers. It's called black raspberry for a reason, because it is the fruit of breeders who tried to cross raspberry and blackberry bushes. The result is a unique crop with high fruitfulness, incredible taste and aroma.

The perennial plant belongs to the Rosaceae family. The homeland of the bush is considered North America. The fruits of this raspberry can easily be confused with blackberries. The main difference between this shrub and its chokeberry relative- this is an opportunity to easily remove the berry from the bush without damaging the receptacle. Blackberry-like raspberries differ from red raspberries not only in color. Other features of the species include:

These qualities made the black raspberry irreplaceable culture, which perfectly tolerates cold and heat.

Advantages and useful properties

Due to the fact that the bushes do not form root shoots, they can be planted between other garden plants(trees, flowers, garden beds). They do well in the shade and in the sun. This culture has gained great popularity thanks to delicious fruits(lack of sourness). From one bush the gardener manages to collect 2-4 kg of berries.

Black raspberries are often confused with blackberries, considering them to be the same crop. However, these are completely different plants, with significant differences and, accordingly, different agricultural techniques. Varieties of black raspberries are still rare in garden plots Russians, but unusual sweet and healthy berries dark color are gaining more and more fans among gardening enthusiasts.

History of growing black raspberries

Traditional raspberry varieties have red berries, but there are also plants with orange, purple, yellow and even black fruits. Unlike blackberries, with which chokeberries are often confused, its berries are very easily separated from the stalk, which is the main difference between the crops.

Aronia raspberries are red when unripe, but when ripe they turn black.

Black raspberry It grows not only in gardens, it can also be found in nature. The plant grows in the forests of eastern North America, in particular, it is widespread in the central and northern regions of Illinois, USA. Habitats: deciduous forests, borders along forest plantations, and large thickets of black raspberries in open areas.

Description of the appearance of the plant

Black raspberry is perennial shrub, which grows vertical shoots in the first year of life. Later they appear lateral processes, and the stems take on a cascading shape. Flowers and fruits appear only on shoots of the second year of life. Initially the stems have green color with a bluish tint, during the winter they become lignified and acquire a brown tint. Each shoot is covered with short curved thorns.

During the second year of life, short lateral shoots appear on the stems, which end in clusters of buds. The leaves consist of 5 lobes, which are ovoid in shape and have small teeth along the edges. The upper side of each leaf is heavily pubescent, and the lower surface is covered with short white hairs.

Black raspberry flowers are grouped in brushes

The flowers are tightly grouped in clusters. Each flower has 5 white petals, 5 green sepals and numerous stamens. The petals are elliptical or oblong in shape, and the sepals are triangular. They are approximately the same length. The flowering period occurs in late spring or early summer and lasts about 2–3 weeks.

The fruits are initially white, then turn red and finally turn black and purple when ripe. The fleshy seeds that make up the fruit are sweet and slightly tart in taste; they are easily detached from the stalk.

Table: fruit characteristics

The biochemical composition of black raspberries differs from red raspberries. A large amount of vitamin P and P-active compounds help protect cells from aging, improve the body's immune system, and improve the condition of anemia. But scientists consider the most important property of black raspberries to be its ability to increase the effectiveness of the fight against cancer.

Table: differences between black raspberries and blackberries

Photo gallery: differences between black raspberries and blackberries

Differences between black raspberries and traditional varieties with red berries

1. Black raspberries have a sweeter taste than red raspberries, and some varieties have a honey or blackberry aroma.
2. Black raspberries have a higher yield; about 4 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush.
3. The plant has increased resistance to drought.
4. Ripe black berries do not fall off for a long time.
5. The plant does not form root shoots.
6. Aronia raspberries have excellent resistance to common crop diseases and are practically not damaged by pests.
7. Frost resistance is lower than that of varieties with red berries.

Black raspberries look very exotic

Varieties of black raspberries

Breeders are constantly working to develop new varieties of black raspberries, which are considered a promising crop. Thanks to their efforts, new products often appear on the market.

• . One of the oldest varieties of black raspberries. It was obtained at the end of the 19th century and is still leading. Black Cumberland raspberries have a very beautiful bush shape with graceful curved stems. The variety does not form root suckers, so the bushes do not grow. The yield is not very high compared to modern hybrids and varieties; the plant produces only 200 to 500 g of berries per bush;
• Earley Cumberland. The berries of this variety are larger than those of the Cumberland variety, which became one of the parents of this variety of black raspberries. Their average weight is 2–2.2 g. The fruits of the Early Cumberland variety are round in shape, colored black and purple, have a very sweet taste and a fairly dense consistency;
• Ember. An early variety of domestic selection. The shoots are long, reaching 2.5 m and bend, forming an arch. The spines are small. The berries are quite small, but juicy, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste and blackberry aroma. The productivity of Coal is high, the variety is resistant to both drought and frost;
• Boysenberry. Shoots grow up to 3 m in length. Unlike other varieties of black raspberries, Boysenberries do not have thorns. The berries have an oblong shape, they are very large, and the surface is shiny. The variety is productive and tolerates frost quite well;
• Bristol. The variety is considered one of the best. The fruits have a sweet taste and are very juicy. The shape of the berries is round, the surface is covered with a bluish coating;
• New Logan. High yielding and early ripening variety with shiny and very tasty berries. The bush reaches a height of 2 m. It does not tolerate frost well, so the plant needs additional shelter for the winter;
• Litach. An early variety of black raspberry, bred by Polish breeders. The bush is vigorous, its rigid and curved shoots are strewn with numerous large thorns. The fruits are spherical in shape and covered with a grayish or bluish coating;
• Luck. The yield of this variety of black raspberry is high, up to 6 kg of selected medium-sized berries can be harvested from one bush, their average weight is 1.7–1.8 g;
• Gift of Siberia. Black raspberry bushes of this variety are tall and powerful. The berries have a dessert taste, but they are not very large, the weight of an individual fruit is on average 1.6 g. The advantage of the Gift of Siberia is considered to be its resistance to pests and common diseases;
• Turn. The fruits have dense pulp, so they tolerate transportation well. long distances. Productivity is approximately 5.4 kg per bush. The fruiting period is short;
• Black Jewel. The raspberry stems of this variety, unlike other varieties, are erect. Black Jewel is a winter-hardy and very productive variety. The berries are colored black and have a bluish coating. The shape is round, the weight reaches 2.5 g. The taste is sweet with a blackberry aroma.

Photo gallery: black raspberry varieties

The size of the planting hole must be at least 50 cm in depth and width

The peculiarity of black raspberries is that they do not reproduce by root suckers, that is, the crop will not spread. Thanks to this, black-fruited varieties can be safely planted in the middle of the plot, combined plantings with other berry and fruit crops, and even placed bushes in a flower garden.

Care

Black raspberries are considered an unpretentious crop. Caring for it comes down to pruning, several waterings and fertilizing per season. And lush, well-groomed bushes with gracefully curved shoots will decorate the area and attract attention.

Top dressing

The crop requires three feedings per season. The procedure begins when the plant has flowered. To do this, make an infusion of chicken droppings (1 part to 16 parts water) or manure (1:6). To 10 liters of prepared nutrient solution add 1 liter of wood ash and 50 g of superphosphate. One bucket of fertilizer is applied under the black raspberry bush, pouring it around the perimeter of the plantings. After applying the fertilizer, the soil is moistened abundantly. The second feeding with the same solution is carried out during the period of fruit ripening, and the third - after collecting the first berries.

Creating support and cutting features

Black raspberry shoots are very long; in the first year after planting they grow erect, and in the second they take the shape of an arch. In this case, the tops, touching the ground, can take root, as a result of which the plantings will be thickened. Because of this feature of the crop, it is very important to take care of the plant’s support in advance. To do this, make a wire trellis. At the beginning and end of the row, wooden posts approximately 2 m high are dug in, onto which strong wire is attached in three rows, placing it at a height of 0.5 m, 1.8 m and 2.1 m.

Another option for support for powerful shoots can be an arch. It is installed between two bushes, and the stems are attached to the arches. This design is not only functional, but also very decorative.

Black raspberry shoots will grow long and curved, so you need to take care of support in advance

Black raspberries are pruned twice a year: the first procedure - at the end of June, and the second - late autumn. When performing summer pruning, the apical part of the stems is cut off at a height of 1.7 m. This contributes to more intensive development of lateral branches, the number of which can reach 6–8 pieces, which will increase the yield of the bush. In the fall, it is necessary to cut out 2-year-old shoots that have already produced fruit. And 1-year-old stems are shortened to 30–50 cm above the ground.

Preparing for winter

Black raspberries do not tolerate frosts as well as their red-fruited relatives, so it is necessary to carefully prepare them for wintering. To do this you need:

1. Carefully bend the shoots to the ground.
2. Secure them with metal brackets.
3. You can put spruce branches on the plantings, which is the best natural insulation.

If the winter is not snowy, then snow is shoveled onto the bushes and sawdust is poured on it, which will help prevent melting.

Black raspberry shoots must be bent to the ground and secured with metal brackets

Black raspberry propagation

Black raspberries reproduce differently than red raspberries. The thing is that black-fruited varieties do not form root suckers. But you can propagate the crop on the site using layering, apical cuttings and seeds.

Reproduction by horizontal layering

The procedure for propagating black raspberries by horizontal layering should begin in the spring.

1. At a distance of 0.5 m from the bush, shallow beards are made.
2. Bend the shoots and place them in the prepared recesses.
3. The place where the stem comes into contact with the ground is pinned with a metal bracket and covered with earth.
4. Over the summer period, roots will form in this place, and a new plant will begin to form.
5. Next spring, separate it from the mother bush and transplant the resulting bush to a new location.

Propagating raspberries by horizontal layering is the easiest way

Cuttings

Another method of propagation is by green cuttings. The procedure is carried out in the summer, while preparing planting material preferably on a cloudy day. In the middle of the season, small shoots with several leaves appear from the roots of adult black raspberry bushes. Such shoots must be cut with a knife 2–3 cm below the soil level.

After this, they are placed in a container with Kornevin solution for 6–8 hours. Then they are planted in a schoolyard at a distance of about 10 cm from each other, the soil is moistened and the plantings are covered with film.

To propagate black raspberries, take green shoots 7–10 cm long and cut them off with part of the root

After about a month, the green cuttings will begin to take root, a sign of this will be the appearance of new leaves. At this time, you can reduce watering and ventilate the greenhouse more often. In the spring of the next season, the rooted cuttings are transplanted to permanent place, and they should be dug out together with a lump of earth.

Seeds

Propagating black raspberries by seeds is considered one of the most troublesome and time-consuming methods, but if there is no other way to get seedlings, then you can grow a bush from berries. For this:

Many gardeners are mistaken, confusing black raspberries with blackberries. Therefore, we should tell you what black raspberries are.

The genus of raspberries (Rubus L.) includes more than 400 species. The varieties of summer ripening raspberries grown in our gardens come mainly from two species: either European red (Rubus idaeus L.) and black or blackberry raspberries (Rubus occidentalis L.). Blackberries belong to the species Rubus caesius L.

Black raspberry. Requirements

Black raspberries are less demanding on soil than red raspberries. This is explained by the presence of a powerful, deep root system, which ensures the supply of additional nutrition from the deep layers of the soil. Under similar agrotechnical conditions, black raspberries are usually more productive than red raspberries. You should avoid planting its plants in areas that have become overgrown with potatoes, tomatoes and other plants of the nightshade family, which contribute to the infection of this berry crop with dangerous diseases.

Black raspberry. Description of the plant

Black raspberry is a semi-spreading bush up to 2.5-3.0 m high with arched hanging shoots. The plant has a perennial underground (root) system and a two-year above-ground part. Annual shoots are green with a bluish bloom, with strong spines directed towards the base of the shoot. Biennial stems are dark brown with a purple or bluish bloom. The leaves are slightly to strongly wrinkled, curled. The inflorescence is of the corymb type, the flowers are usually white. The fruit is a hemispherical drupe. The color of the berries ranges from black to yellow, the taste is pleasant sweet and sour with a typical blackberry flavor. They have an attractive appearance, good transportability and high medicinal properties. Black raspberries are rich in vitamins, organic acids, P - active substances, their anti-carcinogenic effect has been proven. Fruit ripening is uniform, fruiting occurs in July.

Black raspberry. Landing

The principles of choosing a place to plant black raspberries, maintaining the soil under the crop, fertilizing, pest and disease control are basically the same as when growing red raspberries.
The area where this crop is grown must be well protected from winds, especially in winter. Level groundwater– at least 1.5-2.0 m, stagnation of water is extremely undesirable. In the conditions of home gardening, when planting black raspberries, the distance between rows is set at least 2.0 m, and between plants in a row - 0.7 m. This placement of plants allows you to have good density plantings and ensures high yields.
Typically, plants are planted in holes 30...40 cm deep and 40...50 cm in diameter. 6...8 kg of humus or peat manure compost, 150...200 g of superphosphate and 70...80 g of potassium sulfate are added to each hole on medium-fertile podzolic soils. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be replaced with wood ash - 500...600 g per pit. Organomineral fertilizers are thoroughly mixed with the soil and the resulting mixture is poured over the root system of the seedlings. After planting, water at the rate of 3...4 liters per plant and mulch the soil surface with peat, rotted compost or chopped straw with a layer of 6...10 cm.

Black raspberry. Care

When caring for young plants, an important place is given to the formation of the bush. Thin, weak, diseased and broken shoots are cut out. When annual shoots reach a height of 50...60 cm, they are shortened by 7...10 cm. This operation stops the apical growth of plants, causes the awakening of axillary buds and the formation of lateral shoots up to 1 m or more in length by the end of summer. In early spring, before the beginning of the growing season, these shoots are shortened, leaving three to six buds on each, depending on the growth force. The weakest shoots are cut out at the base.
The proposed system for forming black raspberry bushes allows you to obtain fairly powerful, compact plants that hold the harvest well, do not lie down and do not need tying to a support. Short pruning of shoots reduces the number of berries on the shoot, but this is compensated by their large sizes and high commercial qualities. A smaller degree of pruning is also possible. In this case, a wire trellis must be used to support the shoots. They arrange it a year after planting the plants, for which along the row, every 8...10 m, posts with a diameter of up to 10 cm are placed, to which two wires are attached: one at a height of 60 cm, and the other - 120 cm. Shoots are tied to the wires in the spring, having previously shortened them up to a length of 140...150 cm.
Thickening of shoots inside the strip should not be allowed - this worsens the light and water-nutrient regimes of plants, promotes the development of fungal diseases, which ultimately reduces the yield and its quality. Taking this into account, every spring the shoots are rationed, leaving no more than seven to nine in the bush. Immediately after harvesting, it is necessary to cut out all fruit-bearing stems at the base, remove them from the site and burn them.
Mulching the soil in a row is an indispensable technique when growing black raspberries - it retains moisture, increases soil temperature, suppresses weeds, improves general state plants. You can mulch with manure, peat, rotted sawdust, chopped straw, even weeded grass (without seeds).
Black raspberries are moisture-loving; in June, before the massive ripening of the berries, they need watering. Don’t forget about the mineral nutrition of this berry crop. At least once every 2 years, rotted manure is applied to it (1 bucket per 1 sq. m.) and fed several times annually with water-soluble mineral fertilizers; it is possible to use wood ash (for example, 10-15 g of urea per 1 bucket of water). 1 glass of ash).

Black raspberry. Reproduction

Unlike red raspberries, black raspberries do not produce root shoots. It is propagated mainly by pulping or rooting the tops of arched shoots hanging down to the soil surface, when they are earthed up in August. A month later, in September, good adventitious roots and even small shoots form from the apical buds. The resulting young apical layers are covered with insulating material (peat, humus) or covered with earth for the winter, and in the spring they are separated from the bush and planted in a permanent place or for growing.
Propagation by green cuttings also gives good results, especially in greenhouses or greenhouses with sufficient moisture supply.
You can successfully propagate black raspberries by seeds. At the same time, as a rule, the basic economic and biological characteristics are preserved mother plant with slight deviations for the worse and sometimes for the better.
Significantly more black raspberry seedlings can be obtained by propagating them like gooseberries - by horizontal layering. To do this, for two years, the stems on the bush are cut off at a height of 10...15 cm from the base in early spring, preventing fruiting. Subsequently, five or six or more strong shoots grow from the upper part of each rhizome. In the spring, they are laid out around the bush in grooves 5...7 cm deep and pinned with wooden hooks. When adventitious roots appear on the underside of the shoots, the latter are sprinkled with soil, leaving the apical buds and leaves open. For better rooting, the cuttings are regularly watered, and in the winter they are covered with soil or covered with insulating material. By the fall of next year, young plants grow from the rooted shoots, which are separated from the mother bush and used.

Black raspberries, Cumberland variety

The most common black raspberry variety, Cumberland, was obtained in the USA in 1888 and still competes well with new black raspberry varieties. It is distinguished by its high density of berries, their transportability, and fresh shelf life. Productivity up to 10 t/ha.
Plants of medium height (1.5-2.0 m). Shoots with short internodes are arched, covered with a strong waxy coating, and have thorns. The number of thorns on the shoot is average; they are green, long, thick, with a thickened green base. IN large quantities lateral stepsons are formed. As with most black raspberry varieties, there are usually no root shoots. Fruiting occurs in the second half of July - early August.
The berries are medium, about 2.0 g, black, shiny, with a whitish coating between the drupes, round, sweet with a blackberry taste and aroma. There are a lot of drupes, they are small, tightly interlocked, the receptacle is small, shortened, with smooth surface. Biochemical composition of fruits: soluble solids - 9.29%, sugars - 6.6%, acids - 2.3%, ascorbic acid– 12.34 mg/100 g.
The variety is not affected by pests and diseases known to raspberries.
Since 2007, the variety has been zoned for home cultivation throughout the Republic of Belarus.

Material prepared by: Frolova L.V., Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, specialist in berry crops

Black raspberry or its second name blackberry-like raspberry belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a perennial shrub with arched stems covered with sharp thorns, the length of which reaches up to 3 meters. The homeland of black raspberries is North America. Black raspberries and blackberries are very similar, sometimes their berries are confused, but there is a difference between them: ripe raspberries are easily removed from the stalk, and blackberries are torn off along with the stalk.

Black raspberry: description of the culture and its beneficial properties

On personal plots It’s not so often that you come across these gorgeous bushes with black berries, but in vain, because black raspberries are not only ornamental plant, decoration of any garden or cottage, but also brings more harvest than traditional varieties of red and yellow raspberries.

What is the difference between chokeberry and traditional red varieties:

• Chokeberry raspberries do not form root shoots, so their bushes can be placed among other shrubs, trees, flowers and beds;
• It has increased drought resistance; choose sunny, well-lit areas of the garden for it;
• Ripe black raspberries do not fall off and bear fruit before red ones;
• Only some varieties of blackberry-like raspberries are frost-resistant; the plant requires protection from the wind in winter. To prevent breakage of shoots and their icing, it is recommended to tie them;
• Black raspberries are resistant to pests and diseases;
• The plant does not require special care. Regular watering and fertilizing are necessary;
• The plant has a powerful root system.

What are the benefits of black raspberries?

Black raspberries have a wonderful taste, sweeter than red raspberries. Some varieties have a honey taste, and high yields attract Special attention gardeners. With proper care, one bush produces up to 4 kg of aromatic berries. The berries are elastic and easy to transport. Black raspberries can not only be enjoyed fresh, they can be preserved for the winter or frozen.
Blackberry-like raspberries have the same medicinal properties as red ones, but their biochemical composition is different. They contain more vitamin P, which is responsible for strengthening the walls of blood vessels and ellagic acid, which is effective in the fight against cancer. Black raspberry leaves contain substances that increase blood clotting and help reduce prothrombin levels.

Black raspberry varieties

1. Litach. An early variety, bred in Poland quite recently - in 2008. The raspberry bush is vigorous, has rigid curved shoots with numerous large and tight thorns. Berries of small and medium size, closer to a spherical shape, have a specific gray or bluish coating.
2. Ember. Another early variety. Its bush is of medium strength and does not form shoots. The shoots have an arched shape, can reach up to 2.5 m in length, and have small thorns. The berries of the Uglek variety are small, but juicy with a sweet and sour taste, slightly pubescent. The yield of the variety is high and resistant to frost.
3. Bristol. One of the best varieties black raspberries, which gives the highest yields. Bushes of medium strength with shoots up to 3 meters in length. The berries are almost round in shape, have a slightly bluish bloom, and have a sweet and juicy taste. Plants of the Bristol variety prefer sunny garden locations with slightly acidic soil, do not tolerate frost and are susceptible to anthracnose.
4. Boysenberry. An early variety with a powerful bush with shoots up to 3 meters. Distinctive feature varieties - absence of thorns on the stems. The berries are slightly oblong in shape, large and shiny. Very sweet to taste. The variety produces high yields and tolerates winter well, and is resistant to diseases and pests.
5. New Logan. It belongs to an early-ripening, high-yielding variety, the height of the bush reaches two meters, and needs shelter for the winter. The berries are juicy and shiny.
6. Black raspberry Cumberland. The most common early ripening variety, which is distinguished by an arched powerful bush with thorns on the shoots. The berries are dense and taste like blackberries; let’s look at this variety in more detail.

Cumberland variety: description and features

The Cumberland variety is confidently gaining popularity among gardeners; its attractiveness is that it does not form root shoots, this makes it easier for summer residents to care for the crop; moreover, the variety is high-yielding and frost-resistant. Visually, Cumberland bushes are similar to blackberries, but have a number of significant differences and characteristic features:

• The Cumberland black raspberry variety has thick, powerful shoots reaching a length of up to 3.5 meters;
• the variety is resistant to pests and diseases;
• high yield of the variety for 12-14 years;
• frost resistance of the plant (not afraid of even severe frosts);
• berries with blackberry flavor;
• root shoots are not formed.

Black raspberry Cumberland planting

Black raspberry seedlings are planted in early spring, since the plant’s growing season begins early. The depth of the hole for planting should be at least 0.5 meters, and the width up to 50 cm. Half of the hole is filled with humus and wood ash (1:1), into which the seedling is placed. The roots should be carefully straightened, covered with soil (mixed with sand and complex fertilizer), and then water.

Black raspberry Cumberland, care

Black Cumberland raspberries, which even novice gardeners can care for, will become a wonderful decoration with regular pruning summer cottage in the form of a hedge. Its lush bushes with slightly curved spines are not attractive to birds, which are indifferent to black fruits.

It is very important to take care in advance of the support of the plant, the height of the shoots of which will reach up to 3 meters and a thickness of 3 cm. Therefore, in order to relieve the load on the bushes, it is necessary to construct a wire support to support the shoots. To do this, at the beginning and end of the row, powerful wooden posts 2-2.5 meters high are placed, on which strong wire should be fixed in three rows at a height of 0.5 m, 1.8 m and 2.1 m. Gardeners often use the black bush raspberries as a hedge and they fix the shoots on the fence or fix them on the sunny side of the house.

Trimming. The plant needs pruning, which should not be neglected. If the branching shoots are shortened in a timely manner, the bush will grow and its yield will decrease. Pruning is carried out twice a year: the first at the end of June, and the second in late autumn, when the temperature has not yet dropped to below zero. When performing summer pruning, the apical part of the shoots is cut off at a height of 1.7 meters. Such manipulations will contribute to more intensive development of young shoots, the number of which can reach from 6 to 8 pieces.

Autumn pruning is necessary to remove two-year-old shoots that have already produced fruit. And annual shoots are pruned to 30-50 cm above the ground. It is very important to properly prepare the plant for winter. To do this, the black raspberry shoots must be fixed near the ground (not too low) with metal staples; the plant does not need additional shelter, since the variety is frost-resistant and can easily withstand even the harshest winter under the snow.

In the event of a winter with little snow, it is recommended to rake all the available snow into a heap onto the shoots fixed with staples and moisten them with water so that a thin ice crust forms at the top of the snowdrift. In spring, the shoots should be freed from the staples and strengthened on a support. Dry, broken branches are cut to the ground. Despite the unpretentiousness of the crop, the Cumberland variety responds well to timely fertilizing, which contributes to better yields.

Feeding. Three feedings will be required during the season:
The first feeding is necessary after the bush has flowered. For fertilizer, an infusion of manure and chicken droppings is suitable, which is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:6 for manure and 1:16 for bird droppings. For every 10 liters of prepared fertilizer, add 1 liter of ash and 50 g of superphosphate. One black raspberry bush needs a bucket of fertilizing, after which the bush should be filled with water (4-5 liters.)
The next time feeding is carried out during the ripening of the berries, and the third time after the first fruits are removed. The solution is prepared similar to that for the first feeding.

Reproduction. The variety is propagated by horizontal layering. In early spring, shoots of the mother bush are pruned at a height of 10-15 cm above the ground for 2 years. During the summer period, 5-6 shoots are formed from the upper part of the plant's rhizome, which in the spring must be pinned in grooves 5-7 cm deep to form adventitious roots.

Features of planting black raspberries

Black raspberries, regardless of the variety, take root and grow well, but the yield of the crop still depends on the chosen location for its planting and quality care.

Choosing a landing site:

• Black raspberries are light-loving, tolerate drought well, but are afraid of wind and drafts;
• Neighbors of black raspberries cannot be nightshade crops (eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes), as well as its relative blackberries. This proximity can lead to plant disease with fungi and a dangerous disease - verticillium wilt;
• The optimal distance can be considered 80 cm between bushes, and 2 meters in rows, so that the bushes warm up evenly sun rays for rapid fruit ripening. Thanks to this planting, the plant is easier to care for and trim.

The black raspberry seedlings you will purchase need a special place for planting in early spring. You should choose a place for it that is protected from wind and drafts. It is advisable to choose black soil and well fertilized. This crop cannot grow next to potatoes, tomatoes, blackberry bushes or red raspberries.
On plot of land where the crop will be planted are being prepared planting pits, the depth of which should be about 0.5 meters, the distance between the holes is 1.5 - 2 meters. The holes are filled up to half with humus mixed with wood ash. Raspberry seedlings are lowered into holes, sprinkled with soil, which should be mixed with complex fertilizer, and then watered abundantly.

Reproduction

Raspberries are propagated by layering. Closer to autumn, when the stems stretch out, they are bent in an arched manner to the ground and placed in grooves up to 10 cm deep, then covered with earth, sprinkled with sawdust, peat, and straw.

Black raspberry care

The quality of the soil directly affects the yield of raspberries. Fertile, light loamy soil with sufficient minerals and nutrients is ideal. In this type of soil, moisture does not stagnate and it remains breathable.

Mulching. After planting the seedling, the soil needs to be mulched with dry grass, straw, sawdust, peat or manure.

Watering. Black raspberry bushes do not need a lot of watering, even in dry summers. But, during the ripening of the fruits, watering is required to make the berries larger and increase their yield. The most optimal watering for raspberries is drip irrigation.

Tying raspberries. Since raspberry shoots grow quickly, they need staking on supports or fences. Pillars dug in at the beginning and end of the row are used as support, and several rows of wire are stretched between them, and the stems are fixed to it.

Trimming. Pruning black raspberries is essential for yield. Summer and autumn pruning is carried out. Summer pruning is carried out at the end of June and consists of shortening the shoot, from which new branches are formed, which will bear the harvest. Autumn pruning can be called sanitary and preparatory stage for wintering. The shoots are pruned to a length of 30-50 cm, and dry, old, broken branches are removed.

Protecting black raspberries from diseases and pests

The most dangerous disease of black raspberries is verticillium wilt, which, unfortunately, has no cure. Therefore, it is important to purchase a healthy plant, follow planting recommendations and have well-drained soil. Insufficient soil drainage along with rainy summers can lead to fungal diseases of the plant. To prevent them, it is recommended to spray black raspberries with a preparation containing copper and use insecticides for prevention.

Another danger that awaits the crop is the raspberry beetle, which can be combated by spraying the bushes with a two percent solution of nitrafen until the buds awaken. Repeated spraying is carried out during the period when flower buds appear on the raspberries. Prepare a tincture of wormwood and marigold (200 grams of herbs per 10 liters of water)

Black raspberry, photo

Black raspberries are wonderful healthy berry, which in its own way taste qualities They are in no way inferior to red raspberries; with proper care, lush bushes will become a wonderful decoration for your summer cottage and will delight you with generous harvests.

Black raspberries are a relatively rare guest among our summer residents and gardeners. No one is surprised anymore yellow variety. But its black sister is often confused with blackberry. Breeders have developed varieties of garden blackberries and black raspberries, so it is difficult for a person unfamiliar with their differences to say with certainty which is a raspberry and which is a blackberry.

In this article we will look at the Cumberland black raspberry variety, its difference from blackberries, as well as care methods.

Let's look at the main differences between black raspberries and blackberries.

• To quickly figure out which bush is growing in front of us, we need to pick the fruit. Raspberries, whether red or black, have a hollow inside. The berry is torn off, but the receptacle remains on the branch. In blackberries, the receptacle breaks off along with the berry, and it does not remain empty.
• According to the shape of the berries blackberries look more like red raspberries, having the same oblong shape. The black fruit has a hemispherical shape.
• They also differ in ripening time. Blackberries ripen a little later. Although some cultivars may have the same harvest time.
• Having examined the plants, you can find differences in the stems. Blackberries have long (up to three meters) green stems with strong thorns. The blackberry bush is dense, resembling a ball of stiff wire. Black raspberries have shorter branches (from one and a half to two and a half meters). The stems are shorter, thinner and pale color with blue. Their thorns are smaller than blackberries.

Raspberry-blackberry hybrid

Raspberries crossed with blackberries are called Tayberry, bred in Scotland in the late seventies of the last century. It is obtained as a hybrid of blackberries and raspberries by pollinating Aurora blackberries with raspberry pollen. As a result, red-violet berries of an elongated shape, reaching six centimeters, were grown. Tayberry Ezhemalina is famous for its yield, pleasant taste and aroma of the fruit.

Shoots with small thorns grow up to two and a half meters. The hybrid produces a harvest from July to late autumn. It is resistant to diseases, frosts and pests. The basic principles of care and propagation are similar to growing ordinary raspberries.

The difference between Tayberry and black raspberries is the color of the berries. Taysberry fruits do not have the deep dark color of black raspberries, but instead take on a dark red color with a purple tint.

Black raspberry varieties

The first varieties of black berries were bred in America in the nineteenth century. The following types have gained popularity in our country:

1. Cumberland variety is the most common, obtained from crossing raspberries and blackberries. It is characterized by productivity and early ripeness, has powerful long shoots that take on an arched shape. Large blue-black berries taste similar to blackberries. The bushes are frost-resistant, tolerate Russian winters well, and are resistant to diseases and pests.
2. The second most common variety, loved by Russian gardeners, is Boysenberry. The early variety is famous high yield large sweet fruits. The absence of thorns on long shoots makes harvesting easier. Like Cumberland, Boysenberry is frost-resistant and rarely suffers from pests and diseases.
3. New Logan- another variety that came to us from overseas. Although its height does not exceed two meters, it produces a good harvest of early berries. But for the winter, its shoots must be carefully protected from frost.

Tested varieties of foreign selection are in good competition with new varieties bred by Russian scientists:

1. Ember refers to early varieties. It has a high yield, but its berries are small, sweet and sour.
2. Variety Litach came to us from Poland, where it was obtained as a result of selection in 2008. Small, round berries have a characteristic bluish bloom. The bushes are distinguished by long shoots with large thorns.
3. Gift of Siberia is famous for its winter hardiness, frost resistance, therefore it is recommended for planting in central Russia, Siberia and Far East. The small berries are distinguished by their dense structure and dessert taste.
4. Higher yielding varieties include Luck and Turn, yielding up to six kilograms per bush. Their berries are not large, but dense, and retain their presentation for a long time.

Description of the Cumberland variety

Using the example of the most popular and widespread variety of black raspberry, let's look at its features. The black berries of this variety are large, weighing 5-6 grams. The yield from one bush is up to ten kilograms subject to proper care, which exceeds the harvest from a red or yellow raspberry bush.

Although we are talking about the winter hardiness of blackberry-like raspberries, it is still recommended to cover the bushes for the winter and sprinkle them with snow. Thanks to shelter for the winter and early ripening, black raspberries take root in different climatic zones Russia. For middle zone and Non-Black Earth regions, it is required to provide protection from cold winds and drafts when planting.

Unlike red berry varieties, black raspberries have a powerful root system that goes one and a half meters deep.

This allows it to tolerate dry periods well. But the lack of watering negatively affects the number of ovaries and, accordingly, the harvest.

Cumberland bushes, which during the ripening period are densely strewn with ripe and ripening berries, present a picturesque picture, so they will become a decoration in any garden. Their long shoots reach three meters, hanging down to the ground in the form of arches. As they ripen, the color of the stems acquires a bluish tinge, and the stems themselves are covered with thorns.

Advantages and disadvantages of black raspberries

Despite not being very popular, black raspberries are in many ways superior to their relatives - red and yellow. Let's consider its main advantages:

• high productivity;
• drought resistance;
• pest resistance;
• undemanding to soil composition;
• can serve as a hedge;
• does not form root suckers, which allows it to be placed freely in the garden;
• the berries have medicinal properties.

Disadvantages of blackberry-like raspberries include:

• its winter hardiness is less than that of the red variety;
• susceptible to viral diseases.

Useful properties of berries

Let's consider beneficial features black raspberry Cumberland. By the amount of vitamins and other useful substances Black raspberries are superior to red and yellow ones. Famous for blackberry-like raspberries high content rutin (vitamin P), necessary to strengthen blood vessels.

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Anthocyanins strengthen capillaries and cleanse blood vessels from sclerotic plaques. In addition, the fruits and leaves contain substances that reduce the level of prothrombins, which normalizes blood clotting. Berries are rich in microelements - iron, manganese, copper.

Their taste is sweet and sour, reminiscent of blackberries. Due to their dense structure, the fruits are stored for several days and tolerate transportation well.

Characteristics of the Tayberry variety

Now let's talk about the description of the black raspberry variety. Appearance bushes is somewhat different from its usual red relative. Long shoots can reach three meters depending on the variety. Such long stems hang to the side, forming arched arches. Therefore, many gardeners tie stems to trellises.

Black raspberries can be classified as biennial because they bear fruit side shoots, growing up to one meter.

They are formed on annual stems. Therefore, for this type it is necessary to carry out correct pruning side shoots and cutting out old stems in autumn. They leave annual stems that will produce fruiting shoots the following year.

Growing and caring methods for black raspberries

Pruning in autumn

How to prune black raspberries? It is recommended to prune twice during the season. At the end of June, the upper part of the shoots is cut off at the height of human height. This procedure will accelerate the formation of lateral fruiting shoots. Weak shoots are removed, preventing thickening of the bushes.

In the fall, before frost sets in, two-year-old shoots are removed. Leave annuals, which are shortened to half a meter above the ground.

Reproduction

Propagating black berries is not that difficult. For propagation, apical layering is used. To do this, at the beginning of autumn, after fruiting has ended, the long shoots are tilted and the tops are placed in prepared grooves up to ten centimeters deep, covered with earth.

Cover the top with straw and sawdust. In the spring, the cuttings will take root and produce shoots that are used as seedlings.

Planting seedlings

Planting hybrid seedlings is not much different from other species. First you need to choose a landing site and prepare it. The place should be protected from cold winds and be sunny enough.

By planting raspberries near the fence, you can provide them with protection from the cold and support for growth.. At the same time, it can serve as a hedge thanks to its strong thorns, which few people dare to try.

When choosing a location, it is necessary to avoid such predecessors as all nightshades: potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and others. Also, do not plant next to red raspberries. The distance between them must be at least ten meters.

The following garden crops will be good predecessors:

• carrot;
• pepper;
• onion garlic;
• marigolds and marigolds.

It is necessary to maintain the distance between the bushes, taking into account the length of the shoots. In one row, bushes are planted with a gap of about one meter, and between adjacent rows - two meters.

Although black raspberries are not very picky about soil, to achieve good harvests better soils there will be loam, black soil and sandy loam. Seedlings are planted in autumn (late September - early October) or early spring.

To plant seedlings, you need to prepare a hole half a meter deep. A mixture of humus (6-8 kg), superphosphate (200 g), and potassium sulfate (80 g) is added to the bottom of each pit. Mineral fertilizers can be replaced with wood ash (0.5 kg). The composition is mixed with soil and a mound is made. The seedling is placed on its top, the roots are straightened down, carefully sprinkled with earth, gradually compacting it with your hands.

The neck of the plant should not be covered with soil.

After watering, the ground around is mulched with sawdust, straw, and humus. The mulch layer should be at least five centimeters.

To obtain powerful and at the same time compact plants, young annual shoots are pinched at a height of half a meter, which stimulates the development of side shoots.

Fertilizers

After the end of flowering, the first fertilizing is carried out with an infusion of manure (six parts of water are taken for one part of manure) or chicken droppings (ratio to water 1:16). Add infusion to the bucket wood ash(1 liter) and superphosphate (50 g). Similar feedings are performed two more times - during ripening and beginning of fruit harvest.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Ezhemalina is more resistant to diseases and less susceptible to attacks by insect pests than red. It is less often affected by a disease characteristic of raspberries - verticillium wilt. This is a viral disease that has no cure. Affected bushes are cut, uprooted and burned.

To prevent infection, every raspberry is planted at a distance of at least ten meters from red raspberries. In rainy summers, it is recommended to organize soil drainage to prevent fungal diseases from developing. For prevention, bushes are sprayed with copper-containing preparations. Insecticides are also used.

Ezhemalina can be affected by anthracnose, which manifests itself as a white coating on the leaves.. For control, fungicides are used, for example, Topaz, Mikosan or others commercially available. Among the organic means of control, infusions and decoctions are used. A decoction of horsetail has proven itself well.

One kilogram of grass is poured into a bucket of water and infused for a day. The next day, boil the composition for half an hour. For processing, the strained solution is diluted in a ratio of 1:5. Horsetail can be replaced with nettle, but leave it for two weeks rather than one day. Diluted with the same proportions.

The most dangerous pest is the raspberry beetle. Before the buds awaken, the bushes are first treated with a nitrophen solution (2% solution). The second treatment is performed when flower buds appear with an infusion of wormwood and marigold. Two hundred grams of herbs are poured into a bucket of water and left for at least a day.

As can be seen from the above, black raspberries are hybrids that combine all best sides blackberries and red raspberries. The berries are famous not only for their good taste, but also for their medicinal properties. The bushes are characterized by high productivity and unpretentiousness. Therefore, caring for black berries will not be difficult for beginners.

Now you know the name of black raspberry, its characteristics and methods of caring for the hybrid.