Content
Blackberry is not an exotic berry. Everyone knows it, many have tried it. But unlike raspberries, which grow on almost all household plots, blackberries have not received wide distribution in Russia and the countries of the former USSR. But times are changing, thanks to the Internet, television and print media, domestic farmers learn what crops are grown and bring a lot of income abroad.
It turns out that blackberries are among the most popular berries. It doesn't have to be sour and prickly. There are varieties that are thornless, fruitful and very tasty.
Breeding history
Variety garden blackberry Brzezina was bred at the Polish Institute of Horticulture, located in the city of Brzezina. Its authors are Agnieszka Orel and Jan Danek. The famous Black Satin and Darrow are the parent varieties of Brzezin's blackberries.
The tasks of Polish breeding are somewhat different from the North American ones. Overseas, the priority is to obtain varieties with excellent taste, even to the detriment of yield. Polish scientists, on the other hand, set the task of breeding an easy-to-care blackberry that does not require shelter for the winter. True, good taste also matters.
Brzezina is one of the newest varieties. It was registered and patented in 2012, but went on sale only in 2015.
Description of berry culture
Brzezina has not yet reached its potential. Three years is too short a time to talk about compliance with the description given by the breeders. Perhaps that is why the gardeners' reviews about Brzezin's blackberries are somewhat different from the properties declared in the patent. It is possible that climatic features also played a role here.
General understanding of the variety
Blackberry Brzezina forms a vigorous shrub with semi-creeping shoots. Juveniles are colored light green; as the wood matures, they turn light brown. In the first year after planting, 1-2 lashes are formed, later the shoot-forming ability is very good.
Spines are absent, fruit branches are short and numerous. Brzezina blackberries reach fruiting age at three or four years. By this time, its shoots become thick, tough and grow up to 3 m. They do not bend very well, which makes it difficult to shelter for the winter. A lot of side branches are formed, which makes the Brzezina bush looks massive. On the other hand, there are few offspring suitable for reproduction. To increase their number, the blackberry root is deliberately damaged with a shovel bayonet.
Leaves of a delicate green color, with numerous cloves. The root system is well developed. Fruiting occurs at the growth rate of the previous year.
Berries
The fruits of the Brzezina blackberry are collected in numerous clusters. Each carries about 10 berries. Poles create varieties suitable for commercial cultivation. Therefore, Brzezina blackberries are dense, beautiful and well tolerated during transportation.
Since the variety is new, gardeners cannot say with certainty what the fruit will be when it reaches its full potential. But the signal specimens look promising.The size of Brzezina berries is not leveled - fruits of 5-6 g and 7-9 g are found on one bush. Some foreign sources claim that as the blackberries mature, their weight will increase to 8-12 g. Time will tell.
The color of the fruit is black, with a characteristic shine, the shape is oblong, similar to Karaka Black, but much smaller in size. In addition, the Brzezina berry does not resemble a giant elongated mulberry, but an ordinary one, moreover, plump. Look at the photo of Brzezin and Karak Black blackberries - they are really similar, if you do not pay attention to the size of the fruit.
Brzezina
Karaka Black
Brzezina blackberry taste, sweet, with a slight sourness and pleasant aftertaste. The official tasting score is 4.6 points. Domestic gardeners have not yet managed to insert the variety into their ratings - probably too little time has passed.
Characteristic
Here is the problem with the characteristics of Brzezin's studless blackberry. They differ from those stated in the patent. Perhaps the variety has not yet had time to show itself, or the conditions even in Ukraine are very different from those in Poland. But it is possible that the Brzezina blackberry was rushed to advertise, passing off wishful thinking. In any case, the answer can only be received in a few years, but for now, let's sort it out together.
Main advantages
Blackberry Brzezina is declared as not requiring shelter for the winter. But it is prone to freezing of flower buds, so if you leave the lashes without insulation, this will significantly reduce the yield.
The manufacturer claims that the variety tolerates drought and heat well. So much has been said and written about the culture's love for moist soil and regular watering that any gardener knows that the drought tolerance of blackberries is a relative concept. But the fact that at high temperatures Brzeziny berries are baked, residents of the southern regions need to know.
The transportability of the berries is really high - they are well transported, do not flow when stored in a cool room. Shoots are devoid of thorns along their entire length. Brzezina is not capricious in her care, she imposes the same requirements on the composition of soils and placement as other blackberries.
Flowering period and ripening time
Brzezina is positioned as a very early variety. While this is not true. Rather, it should be classified as medium early. Fruiting begins in early July in the south, in other regions - later by 1-2 weeks.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
It is too early to talk about the productivity of Brzezina. But the creators of the variety claim that about 8 kg of berries can be harvested from each adult blackberry bush. Perhaps, like Polar, Brzezina will turn out to be more prolific in shelter for the winter, when the flower buds will not be affected by frost.
The fruiting times indicated in the authors' description should be 10-14 days ahead of Loch Tei. In practice, both varieties reach maturity at the same time. But so far we can only observe signal berries. Perhaps, having entered full fruiting, Brzezina will indeed turn out to be a very early variety.
Berries ripen unevenly, fruiting is extended for 5-6 weeks.
Scope of berries
Brzezin's blackberries can be eaten fresh, processed and frozen for the winter. They are well transported and will soon appear in European supermarkets.
Disease and pest resistance
Brzezina blackberries are resistant to diseases and pest attacks. But this variety must be processed at the beginning and end of the season for preventive purposes.
Advantages and disadvantages
We can only guess what advantages and disadvantages the Brzezina variety has - it has not yet entered full fruiting either in amateur gardens or on industrial plantations. And, as it turned out, it is rash to rely on the description of the breeders in this case.However, perhaps in 2-3 years Brzezina will show itself as a super-early variety, not afraid of frost and heat. It remains to wait a bit.
The advantages of the Brzezina variety include:
- Large beautiful berries.
- Good drought tolerance (like blackberries).
- High resistance to diseases and pests.
- Good berry taste.
- High frost resistance.
- Lack of thorns.
- Early fruiting.
- Good transportability of berries.
- High productivity.
- Good shoot-forming ability.
- Small amount of overgrowth.
Among the shortcomings, we note:
- Blackberry Brzezin still needs to be covered for the winter.
- The berries are damaged by extreme heat.
- Flower buds freeze without shelter even in the south.
- Thick, hard shoots are difficult to tie to a support, remove and bend to the ground.
As you can see, so far there are more advantages than disadvantages. What else will the Brzezina blackberry variety please or upset us, we will find out later.
Reproduction methods
The Brzezina variety is difficult to propagate by pulping or layering - hard shoots do not bend well. To tilt the whip to the ground, it will have to be accustomed to a horizontal position from the beginning of growth. You can propagate the variety:
- dividing an adult bush;
- green or rooted cuttings;
- deliberate damage to the root system (thus increasing the number of offspring).
Landing rules
Planting Brzezina practically does not differ from other varieties of blackberries. It can be easily performed by any novice gardener - here it is important to choose the right place and prepare the soil.
Recommended timing
Like other blackberries, Brzezina is planted in the south in early autumn so that the bush has time to take root before frost. In other regions, it is placed on the site in the spring. Then the blackberry will take root during the warm season and will well endure the winter.
Choosing the right place
Blackberries love light fertile loams with a slightly acidic soil reaction. The landing site should be protected from cold winds and well lit. In southern regions, shading may be required at noon to keep the berries from baking in the sun. Groundwater should not approach the surface of the earth closer than 1-1.5 m.
Soil preparation
Planting holes are dug with a diameter of 50 cm and the same depth. The upper part of the soil is mixed with a bucket of humus, potash (50 g) and phosphorus (150 g) fertilizers. If the soil is excessively acidic, lime is added to it, alkaline or neutral peat is improved with high-moor (red) peat. Dense soil is enriched with sand, carbonate soil - with organic matter.
Then the planting hole is filled with the prepared mixture by 2/3 and filled with water. After 10-14 days, you can start planting.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Brzezina is a new variety. You should buy it directly from the nursery or from trusted dealers. Blackberry shoots should be smooth, without cracks or other damage, the root system should be well developed. Brzezina is devoid of thorns, their presence signals that another variety is being sold to you.
Preparation for planting consists of watering container seedlings or soaking an unprotected root for 12 hours.
Algorithm and scheme of landing
There is no experience in growing Brzezina blackberries. Manufacturers recommend planting bushes in private gardens at a distance of 2-2.5 m from each other; on industrial plantations, observe an interval of 1-1.5 m. Leave 2.5-3 m between rows.
A young bush prepared and cut by 10-15 cm is planted in this way:
- An earthen mound is formed in the center of the landing pit.
- Blackberry roots are evenly distributed around it.
- The pit is gradually covered with fertile soil, constantly compacting it in order to avoid the appearance of voids. The root collar should be 1.5-2 cm deep.
- The seedling is watered with water. At least 10 liters are spent for each.
- The soil around the blackberry is mulched with humus or sour peat.
Follow-up care of the culture
Caring for Brzezin's blackberries will not present any particular problems. Polish breeders develop varieties that are easy to care for.The exception is a shelter from the frost - they believe that their blackberries will perfectly survive the cold season on a trellis. Unfortunately, in our conditions such wintering is unacceptable.
Growing principles
Although the Brzezina blackberry shoots are tough and thick, they must be tied to a trellis. One-two-year-old bushes do not need support - their whips are still quite short. Starting from the third year, fruiting shoots are tied to one side of the support, the young growth is tied to the other.
Opinions differ on the need to pinch the shoots. Some gardeners say that there will be enough lateral branches, while others argue that shortening the tops will increase the yield of the variety. Time will tell which of them is right.
Necessary activities
After planting, the young bush is watered twice a week. In the future, the soil is constantly kept in a wet state - blackberries are a moisture-loving crop. Just do not forget that waterlogging of the soil will damage the roots.
You need to feed the Brzezina variety at least three times per season:
- nitrogen at the beginning of the growing season;
- complete mineral complex during the formation and opening of blackberry buds;
- potassium monophosphate or other similar fertilizer after fruiting.
Foliar dressing with the addition of chelates and epin throughout the season will be useful, but not more often than once every 2 weeks.
Loosening of the soil is carried out in spring and autumn. In the middle of the growing season, it is better to mulch the soil - this will preserve moisture, cover the blackberry roots from overheating and reduce germination weeds.
Shrub pruning
The fruit-bearing lashes are immediately cut out - they only take away the strength from the blackberries, prevent the young lashes from ripening, on which berries will appear in the next season. The rationing of shoots in an adult bush is standard - 6-8 of the strongest branches are left.
Practice will show whether it is necessary to pinch the tops for strong lateral branching. Thin, weak and broken shoots are removed throughout the season.
Preparing for winter
Although Polish breeders claim that the Brzezina variety in the southern regions can winter without shelter, it is not worth the risk. They said the same about other varieties - Polar, Guy, Rushai. And all of them had to be sheltered even in Ukraine in order to get a good harvest.
The shoots of the Brzezina blackberry are tough and thick. They should be taught to take off the tapestry in autumn from an early age. To do this, young lashes are pinned to the ground until they reach 30-40 cm, and only then they are lifted onto a support.
Tunnel shelters are best suited for Brzezine. But you can insulate blackberries with straw, dry corn stalks, spruce branches, spunbond or agrofibre.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
Blackberries rarely get sick and are affected by pests. This allows you to grow a crop without unnecessary processing. But prevention is a must, especially with dense plantings. The Brzezina variety should be sprayed with preparations containing copper in spring and autumn.
Do not plant solanaceous crops, strawberries or raspberries next to blackberries.
Conclusion
Brzezina's blackberry variety has not yet shown all its strengths and weaknesses. But planting him is definitely worth it, even if he does not become a new star. This is especially true for those who grow blackberries for sale - Polish varieties are better adapted to our conditions than North American varieties.
