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Blackberry is a garden crop of North American origin, which is also happily grown in Russia. There are enough varieties of this berry that can grow safely and bear fruit well in Russian conditions. For example, many gardeners plant Navajo blackberries on their plots. Consider the features of this variety, its characteristics and the rules of agricultural cultivation.
Breeding history
The Navajo blackberry variety is just over 20 years old. It was bred in 1987 in the United States by scientists at the University of Arkansas along with other varieties of this culture, the common feature of which is the absence of thorns on the shoots. The name of the variety - Navaho (Navajo) - comes from the name of one of the Indian peoples. Several varieties were chosen as parental forms for it: Thornfree, Cherokee, etc. Now the blackberry of this variety is popular not only in its homeland, but also in European countries and in Russia.
Description of berry culture
Blackberry is a subgenus of the genus Raspberry, in which there are 8 species, 2 of which are used for cultivation. These are shrubs with flexible erect or recumbent shoots. Blackberries are grown for the sake of sweet or sour-sweet berries, which in shape and appearance resemble raspberries, but are not red, but dark blue or black.
General understanding of the variety
The bush of this blackberry is powerful, with high (up to 2 m) erect shoots. They are quite strong, but they can bend under the weight of the berries, so they need to be tied up after they reach a height of 1.5 meters or more. Differs in strong shoots, therefore forms a lot of growth.
In addition to the classic Navajo variety, the Navaho Bigandearly hybrid obtained on its basis is also known. This is not a full-fledged variety with characteristics different from the original form, but a hybrid form... The authors of this creation argue that the hybrid Navajo blackberry produces taller shoots (up to 2.7 m) and larger berries that ripen faster and have a dessert flavor. This is evidenced by the name of the hybrid, which in translation means "large and early".
Berries
The berries of the blackberry of the Navajo variety are of a short-conical shape, aligned in size and shape, relatively small (compared to other varieties of this crop) in size. Their weight is in the range of 4-7 g. But this feature is well compensated by the huge number of berries ripening on one plant. For example, 1 adult young bush can contain more than 0.5 thousand berries.
The berries of the Navajo blackberry are dark blue (in the phase of biological ripeness - deep black), shiny, have an excellent moderately sweet taste, which tasters rated 4.9 out of 5 points, and many gardeners call it almost a reference. The berries are able to maintain their commercial and taste qualities for 5 days.The seeds of this blackberry are small, almost invisible, which is also considered an advantage of the variety and is appreciated by blackberry lovers. The berries are dense, so they can withstand transportation well.
Characteristic
The Navajo variety has qualities that attract many gardeners, both amateur and professional, to it. That is why it is increasingly chosen for planting on their plots by gardeners throughout Russia.
Main advantages
The Navajo blackberry is considered an unpretentious variety that does not require special personal care. It tolerates drought well, can grow on almost any soil (but prefers fertile sandy loams and loams), has good frost resistance (up to -20˚С), therefore, in regions where the temperature does not fall below this indicator in winter, it can grow without shelter. In the rest, the bushes will need to be covered. There are no thorns on the shoots of this blackberry, which makes manual harvesting much easier.
Flowering period and ripening time
The Navajo variety is of a late ripening period, therefore it begins to bloom late - in the Central zone of the Russian Federation, bushes throw out flowers in the second half of June. The berries ripen, as stated in the characteristics of the variety, in August or September. This is influenced by the weather conditions of a particular season, the condition of the plants and, to some extent, the place of planting (in a sunny or tennis place).
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
Due to the huge number of berries, the yield of Navajo blackberries is quite high and amounts to 9 kg per 1 sq. m. Fruiting in the bushes is extended and lasts from 3 to 4 weeks.
Scope of berries
Most of the fruits of the Navajo blackberry are eaten fresh, but they can also be used for making homemade preparations. They are used to make compotes, jam, preserves, filling for brass pies, and freeze in the refrigerator.
Disease and pest resistance
It was noted that blackberries of this variety are not prone to diseases and pest attacks, therefore, it is not necessary to treat the bushes with pesticides if this is not required. This reduces the cost, time and effort spent by the grower growing the plants.
Advantages and disadvantages
The blackberry variety Navaho has many positive qualities, among them are:
- self-fertility (pollinators are not required for the formation of the ovary);
- high yield due to abundant fruit formation;
- undemanding to the conditions of cultivation;
- ease of care (it is easier to care for bushes with erect shoots and it is easier to cut them);
- easy access to the berries during the collection process due to the absence of thorns and the fact that the berries are located in large bunches;
- good preservation of berries and their transportability (despite the fact that they are juicy, the berries remain firm and do not flow for almost a week after picking);
- excellent dessert taste of blackberry.
The variety also has disadvantages. Those who grew it note that with high humidity and in cool summers, the yield decreases, the taste of the berries is influenced by the amount of heat and light radiation absorbed by the plants. The disadvantage is the need to remove excess shoots that thicken the bushes.
Reproduction methods
The Navajo blackberries are propagated by rooting the tops of the shoots and by the root offspring. It is very simple to do this: when the young growth reaches about 0.6 m, the tops of it are cut off. After that, new shoots begin to grow from the axils of the leaves. Together with the shoot, they are pressed to the ground and buried at a shallow depth. In the fall or next spring, they are dug up, cut off from an adult plant and transplanted to a new place. The basal shoots, when they reach a height of 0.2 m, are dug up together with a lump of earth and transplanted to new beds.
Landing rules
With proper care, every blackberry bush can grow and bear fruit successfully for 10-15 years and it is greatly influenced by where and how it was planted.This is why planting and caring for Navajo blackberries in the spring is of great importance to all subsequent plant life and productivity.
Recommended timing
The best time for planting bushes is spring, in the northern regions they can also be planted at the beginning of summer. In autumn, blackberries are not planted, since young plants do not tolerate winter well, especially long and cold ones.
Choosing the right place
The place for the bushes is chosen sunny and warm, but partial shade is also acceptable. It is impossible to plant in a too shaded place: the plants will constantly receive less light and heat, from which the berries will be small and sour. You can place blackberries on an open flat area or on small slopes, near fences, outbuildings, the main thing is that the plants are protected from strong winds and drafts.
Soil preparation
The Navajo blackberry does not have any special requirements for the type of soil, but its quality must be high. The soil must be fertile, humus, light, loose and airy. Acidity - neutral, slightly increased is permissible. The soil is preferable to be moisture-absorbing, but not swampy: too high humidity is contraindicated for a culture, in wet soil the roots of plants can rot.
You can prepare a plot for blackberries in autumn or spring. To do this, it is cleaned of plant residues, dug up and fertilized with organic matter or mineral fertilizers. Shortly before planting, the soil is leveled with a rake and holes are made.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Navajo blackberry seedlings should be healthy, free from damage, signs of disease, well developed. They should have strong roots and strong shoots with green (not pale) leaves. Plants with dry roots or poorly growing shoots are not suitable for planting. Before planting the blackberry, its roots are moistened and placed in a solution of a rooting stimulant, such as Kornevin, for the time specified in the instructions for use of the drug.
Algorithm and scheme of landing
The distance between the young plants being placed should be at least 1.5-2 m. The holes for them should be volumetric: at least 0.6 m in diameter and depth. During planting, 1 bucket of humus and 2 tbsp are poured into each of them. ash. From above, the fertilizer is covered with a layer of earth so that the roots do not touch them.
Navajo blackberry seedlings are planted in the following sequence:
- Moisten the soil in the holes.
- The bush is placed in the middle and its roots are spread.
- They cover it with earth along the growth buds.
- Shoots are cut with pruning shears, leaving 2-3 buds on each.
- The surface of the soil is mulched with hay, sawdust or straw, non-acidic peat.
A solid support is placed near each bush, to which long shoots will be tied. The second option: the supports are installed along the edges of the row, and between them 2-3 rows of wire are pulled, which will support the bushes.
Follow-up care of the culture
The agrotechnology of the Navajo studless blackberry is not difficult at all. If you plant it correctly, then the next season the first berries will appear on the bushes, and starting from the 4th year you can expect a bountiful harvest. The main task for the gardener at this time should be to provide plants with the necessary amount of moisture and fertilizers, the formation of bushes and their preparation for winter.
Growing principles
It is advisable to tie up the bushes of this blackberry, although it does not belong to tall varieties. They are grown on trellises, but as an alternative, special pruning of the main and side shoots on the bush can be used.
Necessary activities
The cultivation of Navajo blackberries involves the implementation of a set of standard agrotechnical works: irrigation, loosening (or mulching), weeding. The bushes are watered abundantly, especially during the period when the blackberry blooms and sets fruit. But you do not need to pour blackberries, it does not tolerate too wet soil. With a small area occupied by culture, you can install a drip irrigation system on the site. It will distribute water evenly and save it.After watering or rains, the soil is loosened, weeded weeds or lay a layer of mulch on the soil, which prevents it from drying out quickly. Moisture-charging irrigation is carried out only if the autumn is dry.
Shrub pruning
The Navajo blackberry is distinguished by the fact that it gives a strong growth, therefore, it is pruned from the second year of life. In late spring, the tops of young shoots, which are 1 m branches, are cut off. From this, lateral shoots begin to grow, the volume of the bush increases, and fruit formation increases.
The formation of the Navajo blackberry bush continues in the fall, as it bears fruit on last year's shoots, which give berries only one year. For this reason, they need to be cut out. This is done in the fall, cutting them with pruning shears at the root. Leave 3-4 new shoots, while shortening them.
Preparing for winter
For the winter, blackberry bushes need to be covered. For this, the shoots, when the foliage falls from them, are removed from the trellis, tied together and bent to the ground. Cover from above with a covering material: synthetic or vegetable, for example, spruce branches. Under such protection, blackberries tolerate winter cold well.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
All American blackberry varieties, to which the Navajo belongs, are considered resistant to pests and diseases... It has been established that even aphids and gall midges settle on its bushes quite rarely. But, nevertheless, this culture can be affected by spider and blackberry mites, raspberry beetle, powdery mildew, septoriasis and anthracnose. If insects or signs of disease appear, the blackberry should be treated with an appropriate insecticide or fungicide.
Conclusion
Blackberries of the Navaho variety are considered the most unpretentious, therefore they are popular with Russian gardeners. With proper care, it is capable of producing an excellent harvest for many years and delighting the owner with it.
Testimonials
Gardeners who grew this blackberry leave their reviews about the Navajo variety.
Blackberry Navajo Video:
