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Recently, many summer residents are interested in novelties of raspberry varieties. The unusual color of raspberries is always of interest. Black raspberry Cumberland is a well-known hybrid of raspberries and blackberries.
These berries have a beautiful deep purple color, which gives the freshly squeezed raspberry juice an extraordinary zest. The variety tastes slightly sour than usual, but the beneficial properties of Cumberland raspberries are far superior to the rest. Indeed, in addition to the nutrients contained in raspberries, it also contains blackberry vitamins. What a luxurious chokeberry bush looks like is clearly visible in the photo.
Ripe purple and unripe red berries give a unique color to raspberry plantings. The advantages of the black raspberry variety are difficult to overestimate:
- The decorativeness of the berries decorates not only the site, but also the dishes.
- The berries are easily removed from the stalk, but do not crumble from the bush.
- It blooms for a long time and profusely.
- The productivity of the bushes is high and stable.
- Drought tolerant.
- Excellent frost resistance - the bushes winter quietly without shelter.
- Almost no pests, even birds do not peck berries.
- The list of requirements for caring for Cumberland raspberries is minimal.
- Early fruiting compared to red raspberries.
In order not to create the impression that the Cumberland raspberry variety has no flaws, it should be noted:
- a large number of seeds in berries;
- tendency to thickening of the bushes;
- an abundance of thorns on the stems
- obligatory garter or bush formation.
Cumberland raspberries are grown tied to trellises. It is recommended to leave no more than 10 shoots on one bush.
Description of the variety of black raspberry Cumberland
In order for the description of the Cumberland variety to be complete, attention should be paid to all parts of the raspberry bush.
Black raspberry refers to perennial shrubs with arched stems. The length of the shoots is about 2.5 - 3 meters. Varietal feature - they are covered with thorns. Shoots require shaping on trellises. If this is not possible, then gardeners shorten the shoots in early summer to get lateral branches. The Cumberland raspberry bush looks very compact.
Shoots of different ages differ in color. Annuals are green with a bloom of bluish or lilac, and biennials are brown in color.
A characteristic that many gardeners like very much - Cumberland raspberries do not give root growth. Young shoots grow from the buds of two-year-old stems at their base. The Cumberland raspberry is propagated in a "blackberry" way - by rooting the tops, as well as with the help of layering. This is done by dropping shoots.
Cumberland raspberries begin to bloom in June. The flowers of the variety are small, white. Pollination occurs by bees or other insects. The berries are red at the initial stage of ripening, and then turn black, dense and shiny.
A gray bloom is visible on the fruits, which persists during the processing of raspberries, especially when cooking jam. Well tolerates freezing, other types of workpieces, is used for baking. Cumberland raspberries are prized for their unique blackberry flavor.
Planting black raspberries in the garden
First you need to know what kind of soil Cumberland raspberries prefer. Gardeners love this variety for its simplicity in its composition.But it is still better to plant Cumberland on fertile loam and sandy loam.
For planting black raspberries, a well-lit area is allocated, protected from the cold wind. The groundwater level should not exceed 1.5 meters. Undesirable predecessors for Cumberland raspberries are nightshades (tomato, potato). These crops are susceptible to a dangerous disease - verticillary wilting, which is not good for raspberries. Black raspberries are disease resistant, but crop rotation rules should not be neglected. Also, do not plant bushes of black and red raspberries in close proximity.
The best time to plant Cumberland raspberries is early spring.
The distance between the seedlings for the Cumberland variety is maintained in the amount of 0.5 - 0.7 m in rows, the row spacing is made 2 meters wide. For each seedling, a planting hole with a diameter of 50 cm and a depth of 40 cm is prepared.If the soil on the site is not too fertile, then organic matter (5 kg), mineral fertilizers or wood ash (0.5 kg) are additionally introduced into each hole. Mix the fertilizer with the ground and fill the hole. After planting, the seedling is well watered, and the soil is mulched. Suitable for this purpose:
- peat;
- rotted manure;
- chopped straw;
- compost;
- cut dried grass.
Before planting, carefully inspect the roots of the seedling. If a specimen with a fibrous root is caught, it needs a land saturated with moisture. If with a pivot, it will root perfectly in arid areas.
In the first year, Cumberland raspberries do not require tying, but in the second year, install trellises. It is more profitable to tie the stems in a fan-like manner, as in the photo.
According to gardeners, this makes harvesting easier. At the same time, with the help of arched stems, you can decorate the site.
Some gardeners choose to plant the variety in summer or fall. But in this case, Cumberland raspberries can lie in wait for two dangers. In the summer, the seedlings take root well, but with a lack of moisture, the roots dry out, and the leaves burn in the sun. Planted in the fall, young plants do not always endure snow-free frosty winters, therefore they freeze out. Therefore, if you managed to acquire good planting material in the fall, then it is better to dig in and plant it in early spring. Properly planted plants still require maintenance. Planting and maintenance remain the main agricultural practices in the cultivation of Cumberland black raspberries.
Aronia Raspberry Care
Caring for Cumberland raspberries is slightly different from activities for red varieties. This is due to the fact that it does not form side shoots and greatly simplifies self-care. But leaving the bushes unattended is still not worth it.
Minimal care will allow you to harvest a decent harvest every year. Let's list some of the nuances of agricultural technology:
- Pay attention to watering the bushes in the phase of ovary formation and ripening of berries. Water black raspberries in moderation, trying not to dry out the soil or stagnate water.
- Do not avoid feeding. Raspberry Cumberland produces a lot of ovaries and requires additional nutrition.
- Top dressing should be done during certain vegetative periods - after shedding the color, during the pouring of fruits, after the first harvest.
- Do not leave shoots on the trellises in winter. They must be removed and bent to the ground.
- To carry out spring pruning and new tying of shoots to trellises.
Watering for gardeners is a familiar technique. But the feeding of each culture is different. For Cumberland raspberries, this is a very important action. It responds well to supplemental nutrition.
We determined the feeding time earlier, and we will list the species now.
For the first time (after shedding the flowers) it is good to use organic matter. Poultry droppings or rotted manure are melted in water (1: 1) for a week.And then the mullein is bred in a ratio of 1: 6, and the litter is 1:16. Additionally, 50 grams of superphosphate and 1 liter of wood ash are added to 10 liters of the solution. For one bush of black raspberries, a bucket of fertilizing composition is consumed. Water the bush immediately, just pour out half a bucket of clean water.
Cumberland black raspberries are fed the second time when the berries ripen. Third after picking the first berries. For both dressings, use the same composition and, be sure to then water the plants.
The main difference between black raspberries and the usual varieties is pruning, or rather, its necessity.
Pruning and shaping Cumberland raspberries
It will not work to neglect the formation and pruning of a black raspberry bush. This is a must when growing the Cumberland variety. If the shoots are allowed to grow as much as they want, then the plant will not have enough strength for a good harvest. You will have to settle for the small and rare Cumberland raspberries. How to prune black raspberries so that the bush is neat and beautiful, and the yield is high?
It is recommended to carry out two procedures for shaping Cumberland black raspberries. Advice! The first pruning is needed at the end of June, and the second - before the onset of frost, in late autumn.
For the first time, shoots are treated with a length of 2 meters. The apical part is pinched on them, reducing the length to 1.7 meters. This technique stimulates the development of new 6-7 lateral shoots. Pinch as early in the spring as possible so the branches form faster.
The second time (in the fall), two-year-old shoots are removed, but only those that have borne fruit. Annuals are pruned at a distance of 50 cm from the ground. Autumn pruning also involves the removal of excess shoots on each bush. Only 10 of the most powerful and healthy are left, the rest are completely cut out.
After pruning in the fall, the bushes are prepared for winter. The main thing is to protect the plants from damage by snow or wind. The shoots are bent to the ground and fixed. Many people use metal staples for this purpose, with which they fix the bushes. Planting shelters do not require, black raspberries have enough snow cover. In winters with little snow, it is shoveled onto bushes to protect Cumberland from frost. In spring, raspberries are freed from staples and fixed on supports or trellises. They clean the bushes from broken and dry shoots.
How black raspberries are propagated
Aronia raspberries are propagated by gardeners in several ways:
Apical layers
At the end of summer, the tops of the bush are bent to the ground and huddled. Water regularly so that adventitious roots form from the buds. Leave for the winter, covering with humus or peat. You can just additionally huddle. In early spring, young plants are separated and transplanted. For transplantation, a permanent place or area for growing seedlings is chosen.
Horizontal layering
Choose a healthy, powerful shrub for propagation. In early spring, all shoots are cut to a height of 15 cm from the ground. Well-developed shoots are formed during the summer. Grooves are made on the ground and stems are placed in them. As soon as the roots appear, sprinkle the shoots with earth, without covering the leaves and apical buds. Water regularly, cover for the winter. New plants are separated from the mother bush after a year in the fall. With this method of reproduction, a large amount of planting material is obtained, but the mother bush dies after 2-3 years.
Green cuttings
This method requires a protected ground, fogging plant, and is not as simple as the previous ones. Therefore, gardeners use it very rarely.
There is another type of Cumberland variety - yellow raspberry.
It differs from the black-fruited in the later flowering period. This characteristic allows the cultivation of yellow Cumberland in regions of the middle lane. Like the black one, it does not produce root shoots. In the photo there are Cumberland yellow raspberries.
Testimonials
Many gardeners enjoy cultivating the black and yellow Cumberland raspberries.
