Content
Most of the modern blackberry varieties are created abroad. Our nurseries buy propagation material there in order to grow seedlings for the domestic market. Gardeners, having read the excellent characteristics of overseas blackberries, chase new products, and then they cannot understand whether they were let down with the variety or confused something in the description.
And the small chest opens simply - the culture has been tested in other conditions. It takes time to find out how this or that new, named promising variety will behave in our or neighboring countries. Blackberries should take root in Russia, enter into full fruiting, survive several harsh winters, and suffer from the extreme continental climates. And only then can you make any conclusions.
The "star" of recent seasons is the remontant black thornless grade large blackberry Ruben (Reuben). It would seem that one phrase contains the main characteristics of culture, except for taste. And they are all very attractive to any gardener. But not everything is so simple. Let's figure it out together.
Breeding history
The creation of the Reuben Repair Blackberry is an example of a fruitful collaboration between the University of Arkansas and the UK's largest European nursery, Hargreaves Plants Ltd. First, an American breeder, Professor John Ruben Clarke, crossed in 2005 the highly productive lines (crosses) of the blackberry APF-44 and 2292T2. The work on the hybrid continued in the English nursery, where in 2006 the HPB3 seedling was selected for further work.
As a result of selection, a high-yielding blackberry variety Reuben was obtained, named after Professor Clark. It passed the tests and entered the market in 2009. In Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, the Reuben blackberry variety appeared in 2011-2012.
Description of berry culture
Blackberry Ruben is a promising large-fruited variety. It can be grown not only as a berry crop, but also to decorate the garden.
General understanding of the variety
Blackberry Ruben belongs to the upright varieties, the so-called kumaniks. Its shoots in length can reach from 1.6 to 2.5 m. The shape of the bush depends on the area of feeding and forming. With thickened plantings and a vertical garter of lashes, the plant will be compact, it will take up little space. If the distance between the bushes is left greater than 1.3 m, you can grow a powerful, beautiful blackberry.
The shoots of the Ruben variety are straight, do not weave. Young growth is green, annual whips with mature wood are light brown in color. The shoots are covered with thorns along the entire length, which, after the berries ripen, begin to crumble. This makes it easier to shelter for the winter and harvest.
Side shoots grow in sufficient quantity and are easy to shape. The root system is powerful.
Berries
Ruben blackberry forms very large flowers - their diameter exceeds 6 cm. The berries are round-cone-shaped, beautiful, with a diameter of about 4.5 cm, collected in clusters of 8-10 pieces.The weight of the fruit is impressive - up to 14.5 g, the color is black, with a glossy sheen.
The taste of the berries is sweet, with an appropriate mild sourness and delicate aroma. The fruits are firm but juicy. Tasting score - 4.5 points. But there is no unity in the gardeners' reviews about the Ruben blackberry variety. They consider the taste to be excellent, others argue that the berries should not be more than 3.6 points.
This variety is remontant and, under certain conditions, allows you to harvest two crops per season.
Characteristic
The characteristics of Ruben blackberries grown in the post-Soviet space will be adjusted, because the variety belongs to the newest. But some conclusions can be drawn today. Immediately, we note that there is no consensus about the variety. Some praise him, others scold Reuben and advise him to urgently replace it with another blackberry.
Perhaps the negative reviews are caused by the fact that the Ruben variety has only its inherent characteristics. If you do not take them into account, the cultivation of this blackberry will not be successful.
Main advantages
The Ruben variety is quite whimsical to care for. Its winter hardiness is low, bushes require compulsory shelter even in most of the territory of Ukraine, if the crop is grown as a remontant. In Central Russia, it is better to cut out all the shoots for the winter and be content with one harvest.
The drought resistance of the Reuben variety is also average. This blackberry needs to be watered regularly, especially in the absence of rainfall. Heat resistance is generally low - the flowers stop pollinating, which we will discuss below. In addition, the manufacturer advises planting Ruben in partial shade. Time and the experiments of enthusiasts will show what this means in our conditions. Perhaps the Reuben blackberry just needs to be in the shade for part of the day, like a hydrangea. Or maybe it needs to be planted under the canopy of large trees with an openwork crown or artificial structures so that the growing site looks like an undergrowth.
Ruben's blackberry has the same requirements for the composition of the soil as other varieties. Its shoots are covered with thorns, which begin to crumble after the berries ripen. Fruits are dense, do not lose marketable qualities for a long time and are well transported.
Flowering period or what to do with Ruben
Problems with the Ruben blackberry variety begin from the moment the buds open. Let's figure it out in stages.
Temperature and humidity
I would like to say separately about the heat resistance of the Reuben variety. To begin with, at a temperature of 27-30 degrees, the pollen of this blackberry becomes sterile. In the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine, such a heat may come as early as May, and end in September.
It turns out that where it is hot in summer, on a young growth, ovaries may not appear at all. When growing the Ruben variety, as a once-fruiting crop, mass flowering begins in June. If you save last year's shoots for two harvests, the buds on the young sticks will open even later.
In addition, at the time of pollination, high air humidity is needed. Of course, it can be created artificially, including fogging installations or by stretching special nets that stabilize ultraviolet light. But do they all have them? And does it make sense to buy and install additional expensive equipment if there are enough blackberry varieties that do not have problems with pollination?
Is it a remontant Ruben variety?
In the northern regions, the second crop simply does not have time to ripen. So the cultivation of Ruben blackberries in the Moscow region, for example, as a remontant culture, does not make sense. The largest harvest can be harvested only by mowing the shoots at the root for the winter, and the harvest can be harvested from the growth of the current year.
The conclusions are disappointing. It is impossible to grow Reuben blackberries in the open field as a remontant crop. In the north, due to the fact that the second harvest will go before winter. In the south, it is guaranteed that you can get berries only from the shoots of the last season.At an annual growth rate, pollination may not occur at all. This means that if you grow Reuben blackberries as a remontant, you will get half the harvest. If you cut off all the whips for the winter, you risk being completely without berries.
findings
So what's the deal? Did the breeders of the two countries - the United States and the United Kingdom - jointly bred a variety that is worthless? After all, if you grow Ruben blackberries only in temperate and cold climates as a once-fruitful crop, what to do with its low resistance to frost? And why does she need renovation?
And everything is extremely simple. The variety is intended for indoor use - only there the Reuben blackberries will reach their full potential. In the greenhouse, the lighting can be adjusted, and the temperature can be made as needed, and the humidity can be increased.
The rest of the gardeners can experiment with the Ruben blackberry variety on their site. Through trial and error, and she can, if desired, create acceptable conditions. It is a pity that so far there is little experience in adapting this variety.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
The Ruben variety belongs to remontant. This means that the first harvest from last year's shoots begins to be harvested in mid-June, and ends by the end of July. The second ripens by the beginning of autumn on a young growth. In the northern regions, most of it will not have time to keep up. In greenhouses, Ruben blackberries can begin to bear fruit (depending on agricultural technology) from mid-April to May inclusive.
You can also grow the variety in a culture that yields a crop once a season. At the same time, the Reuben blackberry is cut to the root in the fall, which avoids the laborious shelter of shoots for the winter. The crop ripens in the middle of summer with the growth of the current year. In the southern regions, flowers may not fertilize due to high temperature and low humidity - essential conditions for successful pollination.
The authors of the Ruben variety claim that this blackberry is very fertile. But in most domestic sources it is indicated that in the open field one bush gives up to 3.5 kg of berries, in the closed field - about 5.5 kg. And is this a high yield? But what about 20-25 kg per bush? True, 30 tons of berries can be harvested per hectare.
In fact, everything is simple - 3.5-5.5 kg from a bush, Reuben blackberries are capable of giving in the first year of fruiting. Further more. By the way, in the first year after planting, it is recommended to cut off all flowers in order for the root system to develop well - a guarantee of future abundant harvests.
Scope of berries
Ruben blackberries can be eaten fresh, frozen, prepared for wine and winter supplies. The fruits are well stored and can withstand transportation.
Disease and pest resistance
Like any blackberry, the Reuben hybrid variety is highly resistant to pests and diseases. This does not cancel preventive treatments, especially in greenhouses.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reviews of domestic gardeners about the Ruben variety are contradictory - from admiring to abusive. Who is right, time will judge - this blackberry has not yet had time to show all its advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, the positive qualities include:
- Good berry taste.
- Reconditioning of the variety.
- The ability to grow a crop without shelter for the winter - by cutting out shoots at the root.
- High transportability of berries.
- Reuben blackberry fruits are beautiful and large - up to 14.5 g each.
Unfortunately, listing the shortcomings will take up more space:
- Low frost resistance.
- Blackberry Ruben is pollinated only at temperatures below 27-30⁰C and high humidity.
- The inability to grow the variety in regions with cold and temperate climates as remontant due to the late second fruiting.
- Erect blackberries (kumanik) are inconvenient to cover for the winter.
- The shoots have thorns, although they fall off when the berries ripen.
- The need to shade the bushes.
- Reproduction of this variety is difficult.
All these disadvantages, except for the existence of thorns and problems with reproduction, do not matter when growing Ruben blackberries in greenhouses.
Reproduction methods
Unlike other varieties, reproduction of the Ruben remontant blackberry is difficult. Amateurs can plant a few shoots or divide an overgrown bush. Cutting in the open field does not lead to success, and in closed rooms you need to use greenhouses, growth hormones and phytolamps. It is problematic to propagate kumanik by layering and pulping because of the upright powerful shoots.
Landing rules
Reuben reaches its full potential in greenhouses. But few gardeners grow this crop in greenhouses. We will describe planting and caring for Ruben blackberries in dachas and personal plots.
Recommended timing
In the southern regions, Reuben blackberries are planted in the fall, when the temperature drops to moderate, but no later than a month before the onset of frost. So the culture will have time to take root. When planting in spring, the sudden heat can destroy the seedling.
In temperate climates and in the north, blackberries are planted when the soil warms up. Long spring and mild summer contribute to the good survival rate of the bush.
Choosing the right place
Unlike other varieties, Ruben's blackberry prefers partial shade, especially in the south. But the lack of sunlight prevents the berries from ripening. So the place must be chosen carefully.
The groundwater should not approach the surface closer than 1 m. The soil requirements for the Reuben variety are the same as for other blackberries: a slightly acidic reaction, light loams, a large amount of organic matter.
Soil preparation
It is advisable to dig the planting holes in advance, measuring 50x50x50 cm. The nutrient mixture is prepared from the upper fertile layer of the earth, a bucket of humus and starting fertilizers (potassium - 50 g, phosphorus - 120-15 g). Sour (red) peat is added to alkaline or neutral soil. Too dense clay soils are improved with sand, calcareous ones - with additional doses of organic matter. Lime is added to an overly acidic soil.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
The Ruben variety is a novelty, you need to buy it directly in the nursery or in proven retail chains. You will most likely get some other blackberries from your hands. The varietal feature is a light gray bark on adult shoots.
The root system should be well developed and smell like fresh soil. Smooth, flexible and smooth shoots are a sign of the health of the blackberry.
Pre-planting preparation consists in watering a container plant or soaking an open root for 12 hours.
Algorithm and scheme of landing
For Ruben blackberries, both a sparse (1-1.3 m between plants) and a compacted (0.8 m) planting are possible. The rows should be 2 m apart from each other.
A 2/3 dug planting hole is covered with a fertile mixture and filled with water. After 10-14 days, you can start planting:
- In the middle of the hole, fill in an earthen mound, around which spread the roots of the blackberry.
- Fill and compact the fertile mixture so as to deepen the neck by 1.5-2 cm.
- Water the blackberries, using at least 10 liters per bush.
- Mulch the soil.
Follow-up care of the culture
Reuben blackberries need to be cared for carefully, especially outdoors. This is a new variety with a number of features to consider when growing.
Growing principles
Despite the fact that Ruben blackberry belongs to kumaniks - erect varieties with powerful shoots, an adult bush needs a garter. In the first year after planting, the plant can do without a trellis.
In the third year, the Ruben variety comes into full force, its shoots grow up to 2-2.5 m and bend under the weight of flowers and berries. It is not good if part of the crop ends up on the ground. For garters, you can use any trellis: multi-row, T, E or V-shaped.
Yield is influenced by many factors - from agricultural technology to weather conditions.Good fruiting can be achieved only if all recommendations are followed, which is most easily achieved in greenhouses.
In order to speed up fruiting in the open field for 10-14 days, in early spring, arches are installed over the blackberries or simply cover the bush with white agrofibre until the shoots reach half a meter growth.
Necessary activities
The first time after planting, the bush needs to be watered twice a week, spending at least 5 liters of water for each plant. Blackberries are generally a moisture-loving crop, and the Reuben variety does not differ in high drought resistance.
In the spring, immediately after removing the shelter, the culture is fed with nitrogen. At the beginning of flowering, they give a complete mineral complex. During the formation of berries, blackberries are fertilized with a solution of mullein infusions (1:10) or herbs (1: 4). In autumn, potassium monophosphate gives good results. Foliar dressings with the addition of chelates are useful for blackberries. In hot weather, it is recommended to spray the Ruben variety every 10-14 days alternately with epin and zircon.
To increase moisture and retain water in the soil, it is recommended to mulch the soil under the bushes with sour peat. You need to loosen the ground in spring and autumn. A layer of mulch in summer will not only increase humidity, but also prevent germination weeds.
Shrub pruning
If the Reuben variety is grown as a once-fruiting crop, all shoots are cut out before hibernation. In the spring, new lashes will appear, on which the harvest will ripen.
An adult Ruben blackberry bush is formed, leaving 6-7 shoots. You do not need to pinch them - with sufficient feeding, side branches are formed in sufficient quantities. Throughout the season, sanitary pruning is carried out - they remove broken, weak or dried out sections of the lashes.
Preparing for winter
If the blackberry variety Reuben is grown as a once-fruitful crop and all shoots are cut off before winter, it will be enough to fill an earthen mound above the root. This is how roses are covered in southern and temperate climates.
In order for the variety to show remontability, before the onset of frost, the shoots are removed from the trellis, the last year's are cut out, and the growth of the current season is tied, tilted to the ground, and fixed. You can arrange a tunnel shelter or use spruce branches, straw, agrofibre and dry soil for insulation.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
The Ruben variety is rarely affected by diseases or pests. Preventive treatments should be carried out in spring and autumn with preparations containing copper. Greenhouses have their own processing system, different from open ground, you need to adhere to it. But there is no danger that the neighborhood with other crops (raspberries, strawberries, nightshades) will transmit unwanted diseases to the blackberry.
The culture often suffers from chlorosis, and it lacks iron. It is best to replenish the deficiency of this element by spraying the bush with chelates.
Conclusion
Ruben blackberry is the newest and most controversial variety. Whether to plant it on the site, or wait for more balanced reviews on growing in our conditions, everyone decides for himself. A video about Ruben blackberry will help you get to know the variety better, just do not forget that this is another, not time-tested opinion:
