Growing blackberry, the closest relative of raspberry, is becoming increasingly popular in our environment. Interestingly, in Europe this crop is grown all year round, and in America they love it more than other berries.
Like raspberries, she has enough vitamins, wonderfully processed for storage in the winter. Some gardeners like it more than raspberries, because the covering of the berries is harder and easier to transport.
Planted plant seedlings in the ground can be in the spring and autumn. Let us dwell in more detail on planting a blackberry garden in the fall.
Planting in the fall: all the pros and cons
Gardeners did not come to a common opinion when it is better to plant blackberries in spring or autumn. Some say that it is necessary in the spring, while others argue that the season does not matter for disembarkation.
Any opinion is the place to be, so consider all the pros and cons in relation to this issue. Let's start from the very first, what they pay attention to when planting seedlings of this plant. The earth must be heated and properly prepared.
And to prepare the land, that is, to clean it from weeds and to apply fertilizer, just everyone advises it in the fall. Regarding the temperature of the soil, it is natural that in the autumn it is better heated than in spring.
Did you know? Blackberry yield is more than 5 times raspberries.It is believed that if the seedlings are planted in the fall, they may not survive the frost and will die. There is some truth in this, however, in the same way in winter, plants that were planted in the spring may die. Plus, of course, the fact that in the summer the bushes got accustomed and therefore more healthy than just planted.
On the other hand, it can be said that if the saplings planted in the fall will endure the winter cold, they will certainly be more resistant to weather conditions next year and less likely to get sick. Frost-resistant varieties of frost do not harm in principle.
Learn more about such varieties of blackberry as "Thornfrey", "Black Satin", "Giant", "Chester Thornless", "Tiberri".Blackberry, a plant that loves the sun more than a partial shade. Therefore, the presence of a warm sun is a necessary condition for its good growth. Of course, if you plant seedlings in the spring, they will receive a sufficient amount of sunlight and become stronger.
But on the other hand the scorching summer sun can destroy them. If the summer is very hot, then the plants can simply “burn”. In the autumn, the sun is gentle, so the plants feel comfortable and death from the sun can be precisely avoided.
If you decide
As can be seen, there are no special contraindications for the landing of the culture in the autumn period. We learn in detail how to properly plant and care for garden blackberries in the fall.
Selection of seedlings
Experienced gardeners are advised to buy blackberry saplings in special nurseries that are engaged in its breeding. It presents a variety of varieties of both ordinary garden and remans species.
The latter is now becoming increasingly popular due to the fact that it bears fruit longer and is more resistant to both weather conditions and diseases. There are planting material with high and low levels of education of shoots. This, too, must be considered when choosing guided by the amount of space reserved for landing. It is necessary to choose annual plants with several branches of more than half a centimeter in diameter.
Important! On the roots of the blackberry seedling, a kidney should already be formed, without it, the planting will not make sense.
You also need to pay attention to the root system - it must be healthy in appearance without signs of rotting. Immediately before planting, you can hold the roots in a solution of a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per liter of water. This will destroy the parasites, if any, and give the roots extra oxygen.
Choosing and preparing a place
Before planting a blackberry in the fall, you need to decide on a landing site and prepare it.
Important! It is impossible to plant blackberries in places where vegetables were located before.
In order for the plant to feel well, it needs a sunny place. It is also necessary to remember that the blackberry gives a lot of shoots, so from a place of its landing to buildings and fences it should be kept at a distance of about 1.5 m. The culture gives a good harvest, if the soil is well hydrated and fertile. Therefore, before planting a blackberry in the fall, it is recommended to fertilize. Due to the fact that the roots of the plant lie deeper than that of a raspberry, the soil is loosened to a depth of 0.5 m.
About 5 kg of manure or compost, up to 150 g of superphosphate and three times less potash are added to the pit.
Fertilizers, it is important to mix well with the ground so that they are not in contact with the roots of plants. Gardeners say that after such a fertilization the soil is fertile for about 4 years.
Landing pattern
The garden blackberry planting scheme directly depends on whether the plant will produce many or few shoots. If the formation of low-level shoots use the so-called cluster method. Several seedlings are placed in one hole, the distance between them should be slightly more than 1.5 m.
Belt way of planting involves a high level of formation of shoots. Each seedling is planted in a separate hole in a row, the distance between which is about a meter. Width between rows from 2 to 2.5 m.
When planting, straighten the roots of a plant, sprinkle it with earth and water it. It is important that air pockets do not form and the kidney is at least 3 cm above the ground.
Did you know? Bezshpovnaya blackberry breeds only cuttings of young shoots. If propagated by roots, then on the seedlings will then be thorns.
The time when planting blackberries in the fall - from the end of summer until the first serious cold. September is best for this. It is warm enough and the plant will have time to take root until the cold.
Shelter for the winter
Blackberry pruning required in the fall. This is the stage of preparation for wintering and preparation for greater yields next year. It is necessary to cut only the shoots, fruiting in this year. If there was no fruit, as in seedlings, the plant is simply cut to 10-20 cm.
In winter, the bushes are insulated to protect them from frost. The scourge is laid, a little peat or sawdust is poured under the root and covered with shoots with agrofibre, spruce or roofing material with a layer up to 15 cm. You can cover the leaves with corn leaves and a film on top. The plant usually does not vperevaet under cover.
Features care for blackberries in the fall
If you decide to plant a blackberry in the fall, then the seedlings periodically need to be watered and loosen the ground. You can also treat them from diseases and pests. The easiest way to do this is to prepare a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide per liter of water and spray the shoots.
This solution can be watered after planting up to two times a month. This will neutralize the soil from pests, fertilize the roots and give them extra oxygen.
The plant can not be planted next to raspberries. Since it multiplies faster, raspberries will simply disappear. Blackberry is quite unpretentious plant with much higher yields than raspberries. She feels great in our climatic conditions.
It can be planted in both spring and summer, while observing some mandatory recommendations. Blackberries do not bear fruit in the first year after planting, so with proper care next year, expect a great harvest.