Content
The United States is a leader in industrial growing blackberries... It is there that its best varieties are created. Unfortunately, domestic breeding does not pay due attention to this wonderful culture. The American blackberry variety Black Magic is considered one of the best.
Breeding history
Black Magic was developed at the University of Oregon in 2003 by James Moore and John Clark. Black Magic - hybrid blackberry arapaho and numbered grade APF-12. Its tests took place in the states of Arkansas and Carolina. In fact, it is a numbered variety, in the patent it appears as a form of APF 77, and Black Magic is nothing more than a beautiful trade name.
Description of berry culture
The repairing blackberry Black Magic is a typical kumanik. Domestic gardeners note that the culture is remarkable not only for its consumer qualities and resistance to adverse factors. The variety is very decorative and adorns the garden from spring to late autumn.
General understanding of the variety
Black Magic grows rapidly and forms a medium-dense bush. With timely and correct formation, it will be neat and compact. Shoots, like all kumaniks, grow straight. Last year's ones reach 2.5 m, annual ones - 1.5 m. Already a month after the beginning of the growing season, young lashes reach a meter.
There are thorns on the shoots, but there are few of them. In the fruiting zone, the thorns are rare, and they are absent on the pods (fruit twigs). This is why the Black Magic variety compares favorably with other remontant blackberries, which are characterized by the presence of sharp aggressive thorns along the entire length of the shoot.
Black Magic is capable of producing 5-10 replacement shoots (root suckers) per year. Their number depends on the power of the bush. To obtain a large number of shoots, the blackberry root system is specially damaged by the bayonet of a shovel.
Berries
BlackBerry Black Magic forms large, up to 4 cm in diameter, white flowers. The producer of the variety declares in the description that they are collected 6 or 7 in a bunch. Perhaps, in the conditions of North America, this is true, but in our country, and even with good care, flowers are grouped in 5-12 pieces.
Black Magic berries are large, black, glossy. They have a beautiful elongated oval or cone shape and a thick cap. The weight of one berry is 6-7 g.
The taste is excellent, its tasting score is 5 points. The variety is considered dessert and one of the sweetest. The aroma is strong, blackberry. Experts distinguish notes of black currant in it. Good taste is achieved not because of the sweetness (there are varieties that surpass Black Magic in this), but because of the excellent balance of sugar and acid.
This variety is self-fertile.It is pollinated with its own pollen and does not require the obligatory planting of other representatives of the culture nearby.
Characteristic
The repairing blackberry variety Black Magic is grown on the territory of the countries of the former Soviet Union for enough time for domestic gardeners to form their own opinion about it. Let's say right off the bat that reviews are generally very good to excellent. A certain fly in the ointment into the laudatory chorus is brought in by gardeners who have not fully understood the peculiarities of the variety.
We will try not only to tell you about the cultivation of Black Magic, but also to consider the most common mistakes.
Main advantages
The Black Magic variety managed to show itself well when grown in Russia, but has fully revealed its potential in the southern regions. It is recommended for open and closed ground - greenhouses, film tunnels.
Black Magic blackberries adapt well to various climatic conditions and soils. Its drought resistance is high. Just do not think that the variety can grow without watering, especially in the south.
Mistake # 1. The characteristic of the Black Magic variety as drought tolerant only means that it needs less watering than other varieties. The culture is hygrophilous and needs water in large quantities.
In the southern regions, Black Magic blackberries tie a second crop even at high temperatures (29-32⁰C). Other remontant varieties do not pollinate in this heat or form a few small berries that can dry out before reaching maturity.
The frost resistance of Black Magic is low - 12-13 degrees. Wherever it is grown, the bush will have to be insulated for the winter.
Shoots of the Black Magic variety are covered with sparse, not very sharp thorns. They are not numerous in the fruit-bearing areas. Fruit twigs are generally devoid of thorns.
Mistake # 2. Sometimes gardeners who have never grown a blackberry before plant the Black Magic variety. After reading the description, they expect the plant to have thorns like raspberries. Facing reality can be worth a few drops of blood and grade disappointment. Before criticizing Black Magic, we advise you to "get acquainted" with the thorns of another repairing blackberry.
The transportability of Black Magic berries is assessed by the originator as average. In our conditions, it is much higher. It is possible that local conditions influence the consistency of the Black Magic variety. In America, the disadvantages include the fact that during storage, some fruits turn red.
Flowering period and ripening time
BlackBerry Black Magic is characterized by early awakening and profuse flowering. The first buds on last year's shoots open by the end of April or the beginning of May (depending on the region). With the growth of the current year, flowering begins in late June or early July.
Blackberry Black Magic remontant. This means that she can produce two crops per year. The first - on last year's shoots in early summer, the second - on a young growth, ripens depending on the region by the end of summer or early autumn.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
In the first year after planting, the Black Magic variety of blackberries produces 3-4 kg of berries on last year's shoots, and from 200 g to 1 kg on a young growth. In the future, the yield of early and late terms is leveled and increases to 8-9 kg per bush.
The Black Magic variety can be grown as a non-remontant crop. To do this, some gardeners generally cut out all the whips under the root in the fall and get one harvest. It ripens on the shoots of the current year, and earlier than if the blackberry bore fruit twice.
The term for picking blackberries is extended. Fruiting usually lasts about one and a half months. Black Magic blackberries are well adapted to our conditions and are able to set berries even at the peak of the heat.
In the open field, with two harvests, the first fruiting occurs at the end of June - July, the second from the end of August.When Black Magic is grown as a crop that yields only on the growth of the current year, the berries begin to sing at the end of July.
Indoors, the first crop is harvested in May.
Mistake number 3. Wanting to reap two crops, residents of cooler climates grow Black Magic as a remontant. As a result, some of the berries do not have time to ripen. The harvest turns out to be meager - in dessert blackberries, it is already small compared to more sour varieties. Growers forget that the total weight of the Black Magic berries harvested during the season will be the same whether you grow a crop as a remontant or once fruitful.
What can you advise? If you live in the south or grow blackberries indoors, harvest two crops. Residents of the northern regions should think about whether they need a remontant variety? Wouldn't it be better to pick one, but a bountiful harvest of sweet dessert berries?
Scope of berries
Black Magic berries are the most delicious. This is the opinion of most gardeners with experience in growing crops. They are best eaten fresh. If you have several bushes, then jam, juice or wine will turn out to be aromatic, healthy and more delicious than those made from raspberries.
The shelf life of berries of the Black Magic variety in cool conditions is up to three days.
Disease and pest resistance
Black Magic varieties are resistant to pests and most diseases. In particular, it is extremely rarely affected by brown rust, but anthracnose is moderately.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of Black Magic are undeniable. This wonderful variety has shown itself well when grown in different regions of Russia and neighboring countries. It should be noted:
- Black Magic variety - remontant. But in the northern regions, it can be grown as fruiting once.
- Good berry taste, rated 5 points.
- The possibility of growing in open and closed ground.
- Drought tolerant - berries set even at high temperatures.
- High adaptability of the variety to unfavorable growing conditions.
- Disease and pest resistance.
- When growing a variety as a once-fruitful crop, the bush can be left uncovered for the winter.
- For the dessert variety, the productivity of Black Magic is high.
- Fruiting occurs not only on last year's growth, but also on the shoots of the current season.
- There are few thorns in the culture, and fruit formations are generally devoid of thorns.
The variety has disadvantages, but they are insignificant and cannot outweigh the advantages:
- Insufficient winter hardiness.
- Although there are few thorns, they are still there.
- The inability to grow Black Magic blackberries in the northern regions as a remontant crop - most of the fruits of the second harvest do not have time to ripen.
- The shoots of the variety are powerful and bend poorly - it is difficult to remove them from the support and cover them for the winter.
Reproduction methods
Elite blackberry varieties are expensive, they are sold out quickly. This is due to the fact that culture on the territory of Russia was not widespread before, but now its merits have been appreciated. Self-cultivation of blackberries, especially kumanik, to which the Black Magic variety belongs, is not difficult.
- The easiest way to transplant root suckers. To increase their number, the blackberry root is deliberately damaged with a shovel bayonet.
- You can dig in the layering. It will take root quickly.
- Pulsing (propagation by the tops of the shoots) also gives good results.
- Cuttings root perfectly.
- You can divide an adult, well-grown bush.
- The largest number of plants can be independently obtained using root cuttings for propagation.
Landing rules
Black Magic is planted in the same way as other varieties. It is important to choose a suitable place and buy a good seedling.
Recommended timing
In the south, it is recommended to plant blackberries in the fall, in extreme cases - in early spring.
Mistake # 4. If it is said - "as a last resort", then it is undesirable. Suppose you were given a seedling in the spring, do not throw it away. Or a neighbor decided to remove the growth after the snow melts, and the choice is like this - the plant will be on your site or on a compost heap. Then it's worth the risk. But southerners should not buy blackberries in the spring - there is a high probability that they simply will not take root.
In northern regions and temperate climates, the crop is planted in autumn.
Choosing the right place
Blackberries need a sunny, wind-protected place. Groundwater should not come closer than 1-1.5 m to the surface. Variety Black Magic remontant, in the southern regions, with repeated flowering and fruiting, it may need shading.
Blackberry is a moisture-loving culture. This must be taken into account when planting, as well as the fact that its roots lie deeper than those of raspberries, and their water stagnation is unacceptable.
Black Magic is more adaptable to different types of soil than other blackberries. But nevertheless, he prefers to grow on loams with a slightly acidic soil reaction, generously flavored with organic matter.
Soil preparation
The landing pit is prepared in advance. It is better to dig it up at least 2 weeks before planting the blackberry. Since the root of this culture goes quite deep, the size of the pit should be about 50x50x50 cm. The fertile top layer of the earth is mixed with a bucket of humus, phosphorus (120-150 g) and potash (40-50 g) fertilizers. Sand is added to dense soil, overly acidic - lime, alkaline - sour (red) peat.
The planting hole is filled ¾ with a fertile mixture and filled with water.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
To get a good, productive plant, the choice of planting material must be approached responsibly. Pay attention to the root system first. It should be well developed, with 2-3 thick processes and a large number of fibrous roots, similar to matted hairs.
When buying seedlings in the fall, the wood of the shoots should be well matured, without cracks and wrinkles. Spring bushes may have thin green twigs, especially if the propagation was carried out not by root suckers or by dividing an adult plant, but by cuttings.
The pre-planting preparation of blackberries consists in watering a container plant or soaking an open root system for 12 hours.
Algorithm and scheme of landing
After you have prepared the landing pit and let it settle, proceed in the following sequence:
- In the center of the groove, form a bump from the soil, place a blackberry on it, straighten the roots.
- Fill the hole with nutrient mixture so that the root collar is covered with soil by 1.5-2 cm.
- Compact the soil well.
- Water the bush using at least a bucket of water per plant.
- Cut off the ripe shoots, leaving 14-20 cm (some sources advise to shorten the blackberry to 3-5 cm).
- Mulch acidic soil with humus, alkaline or neutral - acidic peat.
When planting several bushes, the distance between plants should be 1.0-1.5 m, in rows - 2.5-3.0 m.
Follow-up care of the culture
The first time after planting, the blackberry will need regular watering. Use at least 0.5 buckets per plant.
Growing principles
Black Magic variety needs a garter. If you grow it as a remontant crop, you will need a T-shaped or multi-row trellis about 2.5 m high. Last year's growth should be evenly tied on one side, the young one on the other.
If Black Magic is grown as a once-bearing crop, the support can be made easier. It should be such that it is easy to tie up young shoots first, and then harvest.
Fruiting is affected by fertilization of the crop, pruning, and when growing a variety, as ripening in two terms, a shelter for the winter.
Necessary activities
Blackberries love moist soil, but overflows will not do it to their advantage.Most water is needed during flowering and fruit formation. In the fall, they must do moisture charging - it will help the plant to winter better.
If the soil was well filled with fertilizers before planting, in the first three years you can limit yourself to applying nitrogen in early spring. Then, during the flowering period, the blackberry is given a full mineral complex, and in the fall - a phosphorus-potassium supplement. The Black Magic variety is remontant and bears fruit abundantly. In the summer, you need to do foliar dressing. Since blackberries often suffer from chlorosis, chelates must be added to the fertilizer container.
It is better to replace weeding with mulching, but after harvesting, it is advisable to loosen the soil by 5-8 cm.
Shrub pruning
A feature of the Black Magic variety is that it is capable of bearing fruit on the growth of the current season. This blackberry can be grown as a one-time crop, which is justified in regions with cool climates and short summers. In this case, at the end of the season, all shoots are cut at ground level.
In the south and when growing crops in closed ground at the end of autumn, last year's shoots are completely cut into a ring, and the young are shortened to about one and a half meters. The following spring, 7-10 well-overwintered branches are left. The growing lateral shoots are shortened, leaving no more than 50 cm. This contributes to the formation of a large number of fruit branches. For the same purpose, young shoots that will bear fruit in the fall and next summer, as soon as they reach a length of 0.9-1.2 m, are shortened by cutting off 10 cm of the top.
Preparing for winter
If you are growing Black Magic as a one-time crop, prune it back in the fall. Some just mow the bushes. Cover the planting with a thick layer of humus and forget about it until spring. When the snow starts to melt, be sure to uncover the bushes.
It is difficult to cover the Black Magic variety grown as a remontant crop. This blackberry has powerful, unruly shoots that are reluctant to be removed from the trellis and bend poorly. And yet it will have to be done. Then the branches are fixed on the ground and covered with spruce branches or agrofibre, sprinkled with a layer of soil of 10-12 cm.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
Blackberries are generally more resistant to diseases and pests than their closest relative, raspberries. Black Magic is no exception, but it is sometimes struck by anthracnose. To reduce the likelihood of this disease, place the beds away from the blackberries. This is especially true for nightshade crops and strawberries.
In order to prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases, treat the blackberry immediately after removing the shelter and before winter with a copper-containing preparation.
Conclusion
Black Magic variety is one of the best. In the south and indoors, it can be grown as industrial. In cool climates, it has proven to be an excellent crop for private gardens.
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