One of the features of wild blackberry is its ability to reproduce very quickly. This berry almost instantly fills vast spaces, is not afraid of drought, close occurrence of groundwater, low temperatures. However, garden blackberry, which currently has about forty varieties, is a plant, unfortunately, much more tender and capricious. This also concerns her “reproductive” qualities. Reproduction of garden blackberries is a rather complicated procedure. By a special technology, caring for this plant is also carried out.
How to choose a place
Blackberry is a sun-loving culture. Therefore, it should be planted in a well-lit area. In this case, it is advisable to choose a place so that the bushes are as protected from strong winds as possible. In the shade, this plant will also feel good. However, her berries in this case will not be so sweet and large.
In terms of soil composition, blackberries are not particularly demanding. However, it grows best on neutral humus-rich land. Acidic soil can be improved by adding dolomite flour or lime. In swampy or flooded areas, you can not place a blackberry.
Landing rules
A large hole should be dug under the blackberry seedling. The root system of the plant should fit completely in it. Its approximate width and depth is 50 cm. Before planting, a suitable soil mixture for this crop should be prepared. They make it from garden soil and compost. A very good solution would be to add 100 g of superphosphate and 35 g of some potassium fertilizer to the soil.
Part of the mixture is poured into the pit immediately. Then a seedling is lowered into it. Further, the roots are covered with soil so that the root neck of the plant protrudes about 1 cm above the ground. At the final stage, the earth around the seedling is compacted and carefully spilled with warm water. You can plant a blackberry according to the technology described above both in autumn and spring.
Care Features
The cultivation of blackberries on the site involves primarily the implementation of procedures such as watering, fertilizing, cultivating and removing weeds. The soil under this plant is moistened throughout the growing season. Watering is especially important during the period of shoot growth and berry ovary. The last time the soil under the bushes is moistened in October.
Once every three years, blackberries should be fertilized with compost (4-6 kg per bush). In intermediate years, nitrophos is used in an amount of 20-30 g per 1 m 2 .
Blackberry, planting and care (the reproduction of this culture can be carried out in different ways) for which are procedures that require the observance of special technology, a culture that requires periodic pruning. Its stems are shortened in autumn so that the length of the remaining part is 1.6-1.8 m.
Propagation by layering
Thus, in order to get rich harvests, plants should provide good care. Reproduction of a blackberry - the operation is also quite complicated. Apical layers are most often bred by creeping varieties of this plant. The essence of the method is the rooting of blackberry shoots without separation from the parent bush. This is one of the most effective methods that makes it possible to obtain many new young plants. Bred blackberry on this technology as follows:
- The soil around the bush is thoroughly loosened with a pitchfork to a depth of not less than 30 cm.
- A little coarse garden sand is mixed into the ground.
- All lumps lying on the surface are crushed.
- Leaves are torn off at shoots at a distance of 30 cm from the top.
- At the node level (approximately in the middle of the shoot), an oblique incision is made with a “tongue” approximately 5 cm long.
- The wound is sprinkled with some kind of hormonal drug.
- A saucer-like fossa is dug in the ground with a depth of 20-30 cm.
- The "tongue" is unbent and pressed with a pebble or sliver.
- The shoot is immersed in a knot in a hole, fixed with a piece of wire and sprinkled with earth.
- The upper part of the shoot is tied to any support in an upright position.
- The soil on top of the powdered part is slightly compacted.
This is how landing is made. Reproduction of blackberries in this way will be successful, however, only if the soil is periodically moistened around the bush. Watering should be carried out until the top is rooted. The formation process on the shoot of the root system usually lasts about a year. In some varieties, it stretches to a year and a half. In order to make sure that the roots have developed well, the shoot should be slightly raised with a pitchfork.
Cut the parent branch only in autumn or spring. The bush itself is immediately transplanted to a new place.
Propagation of blackberries by layering is one of the easiest ways. However, you can try to breed a creeping variety and a little differently.
Propagation by cuttings
This is also a fairly popular method, often used by amateur gardeners. Propagation of blackberries by cuttings is an operation that includes the following steps:
- In early June, green cuttings are cut from shoots. Each should have one kidney.
- A mixture of peat and sand in a 1: 1 ratio is poured into large plastic cups.
- Cuttings are planted in glasses and covered with a film on top.
In order for the planting material to take root well, a very high humidity (90-95%) must be maintained in the greenhouse. After about a month, the cuttings can be planted in a permanent place.
Propagation by root offspring
This method is usually used in order to breed bush varieties on the site. Propagation of blackberries by root offspring is the procedure that is best carried out in May-June. The height of the stems of suitable offspring is about 10-15 cm. The thickness of the seedling should be at least 8 mm at the base, and the length of the root system should be about 15-20 cm.
Propagation by root cuttings
This technology is used to breed creeping and bush blackberries of those varieties that produce too few offspring. Propagation of blackberries by cuttings is an operation that can be performed both in autumn and spring. In November or at the end of March, the uterine bush is completely dug up and cut into several parts. You can also separate the roots from it at a distance no closer than 60 cm from the stems. If the operation is performed in the spring, the resulting planting material is immediately transferred to a permanent place. If the bush was dug in the fall, root cuttings are stored in the basement until spring (in wet sand).
Propagation of the blackberry without breech: features
Varieties of this variety usually have either creeping stems or semi-standing. Therefore, most often they are bred with apical layers. You can propagate a shipless blackberry in any other way. The only thing - you can not use the technology of cultivation by root cuttings for this variety. The fact is that when it is used, new plants grow with spikes.
Propagation of blackberry with non-conical apical layering can be carried out according to several modified technologies. This method is convenient in that the plants can be immediately planted in a separate garden bed. The difference from the usual method is that the tip of the shoot is separated from the mother plant immediately. After that, it is placed in a small container with water, which must be dug on a prepared bed. Further, everything is done in the same way as in the usual way. That is, a hole or groove is dug nearby, in which the top of the handle is placed.
As you can see, the reproduction of blackberries is a rather complicated procedure. In any case, it is quite different from the methods of breeding most other garden berry crops. Creeping and semi-creeping varieties are best to breed with apical layers. For bush more suitable technology of propagation by root cuttings or offspring. The main thing is to adhere to the chosen method exactly.