Black diamond blackberry: variety description, cultivation

Despite the fact that raspberries are considered the queen among garden berries, in recent decades there has been an increase in the popularity of such berry crops as blackberry. This is especially noticeable in the industrial cultivation of these berries in the USA. Black diamond blackberries are one of the American varieties for producing berries on an industrial scale.

Content:

• Black diamond or "Black Diamond", description of the variety
• How to plant and grow black diamond blackberries
• Some features of growing and using blackberries

Black diamond or "Black Diamond", description of the variety

Twenty years ago, breeders at the experimental station at Oregon State University in San Francisco were faced with the task of obtaining a blackberry variety that would combine the following qualities:

• the taste of berries is not inferior to the best varieties of this crop
• high yield
• attractive presentation
• excellent transportability
• thornless shoots convenient for mechanized berry picking

Scientists from the USA managed to obtain variety, almost fully meeting the above qualities. It was not possible to achieve a taste and aroma of berries superior to the reference blackberry variety “Marion” in this regard. It was also not possible to grow plants with a complete absence of thorns. Although the shoots of this variety are almost completely devoid of sharp thorns along their entire length, the exception is their lower part.

There is a well-defined spininess here up to a height of 30 - 40 cm.The black diamond berry is black in color, with a glossy shiny surface, slightly elongated in shape, weighing up to 6 grams. The taste is sweet, slight sourness does not spoil it. The harvest from a bush, subject to agricultural technology, can reach up to 30 - 35 kg. The undoubted advantage of the variety is the rapid ripening of the berries, which makes it convenient for industrial cultivation.

The variety is quite frost-resistant. But despite the fact that it can withstand negative temperatures down to -27 - 29 degrees, it is better to cover it in the winter. Flowering and fruiting are observed on shoots of the second year. Thus, on a perennial root system, shoots live only two years. Fruit branches are straight and rigid. Flowering begins towards mid-June. The flowers are large and pink.

This late flowering is also a plus, since by this period there are almost no sudden frosts and the flowers are not damaged by them. In temperate climates, berries ripen in August.

The variety is tolerant to most diseases:

• gray rot
• various wilts
• anthracnose

Black Diamond berries can withstand transportation over long distances better than many varieties of berries. The variety is recommended both for fresh consumption and for processing into juice, compotes, jams and even wine. In order for a plant to show all its varietal qualities, you need to know some growing features.

How to plant and grow black diamond blackberries

Selecting a location

To get good yields of berries with a sweet taste, you need to choose well-lit places with moderately moist and fertile soil for growing. Black soil and loams are good. Sandy soils will require additional organic matter.Important! Place blackberries of this type in the shade and in excessively damp places. varieties do not do it.

Soil preparation

Before planting, the area is cleared of weeds and debris and dug over the entire area. Planting holes are dug in the prepared soil at a distance of approximately 90 - 120 cm. When planting several rows of blackberries, 1.5 - 2.5 m should be left between them.

Each pit is filled with 5-6 kg of humus, adding up to 100 g of superphosphate and up to 50 g of potassium sulfate. If planting will be done in furrows, then for digging you need to add 10 - 12 kg of humus per square meter. meter, and no longer add it to the furrows themselves.

The time for planting blackberries can be either autumn or spring. Important! Plant in spring before the leaves bloom. Since the variety remained quite rare for a very long time, many not very conscientious sellers sold blackberry seedlings of unknown origin under the name black diamond. Therefore, it is advisable to make purchases only from trusted manufacturers and sellers.

It is better to choose specimens with closed roots; you should not buy shoots whose roots are open and have already dried out. Place the seedling in the planting hole, cover the roots soil, compact it and pour about 20 liters of water under the bushes. Cover the watering area with mulch. After planting, trim the shoot to three buds.

Some features of growing and using blackberries

This variety has some peculiarities in cultivation. To get a decent harvest, the plant is formed using a bush method. The optimal number of shoots in one bush is 5-6. Although, depending on specific soil and climatic conditions, you can leave a little more or less shoots. The next feature is related to the winter shelter of the shoots of the specified blackberry variety.When an annual shoot reaches a length that allows it to be bent to the ground, this is approximately 0.5 m, they run to it and pin it to the soil.

Then the shoot grows horizontally. This protects already hardened and poorly bending shoots from damage during the autumn bending down to the ground.

For the winter, Black Diamond blackberries are covered with a non-woven covering material, on top of which a layer of spruce branches or vegetable mulch can be spread. In early spring, fertilizers are applied to the blackberries, and fertilizing during the appearance of buds and ovaries is applied depending on the condition soil. In all other respects, growing black diamond blackberries is the same as other large-fruited varieties of this crop.

Application

Blackberry leaves and berries can be dried for use in folk medicine. The berries can be brewed as tea and taken as an antipyretic. A decoction of the leaves is prepared for both internal and external use. It helps with various inflammatory processes, and eczema can be treated with lotions from the decoction.

Fresh berries are indicated for all low-calorie diets. By growing blackberries on your plot, you can get a good harvest of both tasty and healthy berries.

Video about the Black Diamond blackberry variety: