Content
Blackberries are not often found in the gardens of Russians, but nevertheless, recently this culture has begun to gain more and more popularity and is becoming in demand. One of the varieties that gardeners can grow on their plots is called Chief Joseph. It will be useful to learn about this blackberry, its features, advantages and disadvantages, as well as the method of cultivation, for those who are interested in this culture.
Breeding history
The blackberry Cheif Jozeph or Chief Joseph is an American variety bred at the University of Arkansas, like many of the series to which it belongs. It is named after a leader who became famous for leading one of the Indian wars at the end of the 19th century. The origin of the variety has not been precisely established, therefore the parent plants are not known for certain.
Description of berry culture
The blackberry belongs to the genus Rubus (Raspberry) of the Rosaceae family. It is a semi-shrub with flexible stems, with or without thorns. The leaves are trifoliate, similar to crimson, but larger. The berries are green at first, then sequentially acquire a brownish, red, dark blue color, and, finally, completely ripe, they become black-purple. It is for the sake of these large sweet fruits that blackberries are grown on an industrial scale and by amateur gardeners on their private plots.
General understanding of the variety
The Blackberry Chief Joseph has a powerful bush with strong shoots that grow up to 3-4 m. There are no thorns on them, which is typical for all varieties included in the line of American varieties from the University of Arkansas. The bush is distinguished by strong growth, strong semi-creeping shoots that can withstand the load of berries and do not break. The leaves are medium in size, bright green, there are many of them on the bush, so they form lush greenery. The flowers are white, large. The root system is strong, nourishes and holds the plant well in the ground. There is little overgrowth, often it appears only after damage to the roots.
Berries
The berries of the Blackberry variety Leader Joseph are large - up to 25 g, rounded-elongated, shiny, bright black, collected in numerous clusters. Their taste is sweet, practically without acid. It resembles a wild blackberry, with a pronounced aroma. Gardeners note that the very first berries taken from young bushes (the so-called signaling) are often mediocre. But, starting from the next season, their taste becomes brighter and characteristic of the variety. There are many berries on the bush, abundant fruiting. Ripe blackberries are very dense so they can be transported over long distances.
Characteristic
Blackberry Chief Joseph is considered a remontant, that is, it is capable of producing 2 crops per season. This attracts many gardeners to her who choose this variety for growing.
Main advantages
According to the characteristics of the variety repairing blackberries Chief Joseph she tolerates drought and heat well, perfectly adapted to various weather and climatic conditions in Russia. Plants are unpretentious in care, resistant to major diseases, and also do not impose special requirements on the soil. Shoots need shelter for the winter, but due to the fact that they are semi-creeping, they are easy to lay and cover.
Flowering period and ripening time
Blackberries of this variety in the Middle lane ripen by the beginning of August. In the southern regions - by the end of July. According to this indicator, Chief Joseph is almost on a par with the famous Triple Crown variety, even slightly ahead of him.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
The yield of Chief Joseph's remontant blackberry is very high - an adult 3-4-year-old bush gives as much as 35 kg of berries. But this volume can vary depending on the correct cultivation and formation, the nutrition of the plant, the load on it. You can pick berries within 5-6 weeks.
Scope of berries
Ripe Blackberry Chief Joseph can be eaten fresh, and you can also make all kinds of sweet homemade preparations from it: jams, compotes, preserves. Due to the fact that the fruits are dense, they can be stored for some time in a cold place, transported for the purpose of sale.
Disease and pest resistance
Blackberries of this variety are considered resistant to diseases and pests, so they can be grown without agrochemical treatments. If they do appear, then standard treatments with common fungicides or insecticides will be quite enough to cure.
Advantages and disadvantages
Blackberry Chief Joseph is distinguished by the following advantages:
- strong shoot growth;
- rapid growth of the bush;
- powerful lateral branching.
Plants begin to bear fruit early and are highly productive, producing large, sweet berries.
Among the disadvantages of this generally wonderful variety, it can be noted:
- soft taste of the first berries;
- low sugar content in them with heavy precipitation;
- there are many replacement shoots, which somewhat complicates the care of the bushes.
Reproduction methods
Blackberry breeding Chief Joseph carry out rooting shoots and cuttings. In the first case, when the shoots reach a length of 1.5-2 m, their tops are laid in grooves dug near the bush and sprinkled with earth, without separating them from the mother plant. The soil is kept moist until rooting. In the fall, the layers are dug up and transplanted to a new place.
Young BlackBerry Shoots Chief Joseph can also be used to cut cuttings from them. To do this, take their upper parts and cut segments with one kidney. They are planted in cups filled with fertile soil. The containers are placed in a greenhouse, where they take root.
Landing rules
It is no secret that for the successful growth and development of blackberries, it must be properly planted. This will guarantee that the variety will grow well and show all its productivity.
Recommended timing
Blackberry seedlings Chief Joseph is best planted in the spring, not in the fall, so that young plants do not freeze, especially if the winter is snowless or very cold.
Soil preparation
Preparing the soil for blackberries consists in digging it up, leveling it, making planting holes. 5-6 kg of humus, 50 g of potash fertilizers and 100-150 g of superphosphate are added to each. Top dressing is mixed with the soil, the pits are filled with this mixture by 2/3 of their volume.
Choosing the right place
Best of all Blackberry Chief Joseph grows in a sunny place, but it can also be planted in partial shade. But the complete absence of light is not allowed - this will affect the quality of the berries. The planting site can be open, but you can also place bushes near buildings and fences.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Blackberry seedlings Chief Joseph 1 or 2 years old should be healthy, well developed, with fresh young foliage, not lethargic, free from damage, traces of diseases and pests on the shoots and roots.It is better to purchase them in specialized nurseries, where good varietal material is grown. Before planting, the roots of plants are soaked in a solution of a root formation stimulator for better survival.
Algorithm and scheme of landing
Planting holes for strong-growing blackberries Leader Joseph are made at a distance of 1.5-2 m from each other, 2.5 m - in the aisles. Their depth and diameter should not be less than 0.6 m. Drainage and a mixture of fertilizers are poured into the pits, a layer of earth is added on top, on which the plant is installed. After that, the seedling is covered with fertile soil along the root collar, the soil is mulched with peat, humus, straw, hay, sawdust. Shoots are cut off after planting, leaving pieces with 1-2 buds above the ground. The bush is watered abundantly.
Follow-up care of the culture
After planting seedlings, during the entire growing season, the plants need some care. It consists of watering, loosening, fertilizing, pruning and harvesting.
Growing principles
Blackberries of the Chief Joseph variety are grown on a trellis, for which high supports are installed along the edges of the beds with bushes and a wire is pulled. Shoots are tied to it individually or in bundles. You can also grow plants, leaving the shoots to creep along the ground, but then they are cut off at a height of 2-2.5 m.
Necessary activities
Blackberries of the Chief Joseph variety are considered drought-resistant, therefore, frequent watering is not required for it, especially if a mulching covering of sawdust, peat, hay, straw, last year's foliage, mowed grass is laid on the ground. If it is not there, then after watering the soil must be loosened. The bushes are fed with complex fertilizers in the spring, before flowering begins and before the fruits begin to set on the bushes.
Shrub pruning
In the spring, the growing branches of the Blackberry Leader Joseph are cut off when they reach a height of 2.5 m, the lateral branches growing on them - 1 m. The shoots of the first order are tied to the upper trellis, the second order - to the lower wire. In the fall, all branches that have finished fruiting are cut out at the root, only young shoots are left.
Preparing for winter
Every season growing blackberries Chief Joseph ends up sheltering her for the winter. Shoots are removed from the trellis, tied together, laid on the ground, wrapped with insulating material and sprinkled on top with another layer of earth. In the spring, the shelter is removed.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
These blackberries are in good health, so they can be grown without fear that the bushes will suffer from diseases. However, there is information that spider mites can settle on plants - if this happens, they are treated with pest drugs.
Conclusion
The Blackberry variety Chief Joseph, interesting in its characteristics, can be recommended to lovers of this culture as early maturing and fruitful. With proper care, it can delight the gardener with delicious large berries for more than one season in a row.
Testimonials
Reviews of the Blackberry Chief Joseph gardeners are mostly positive.
