Blackberry Giant settled in the country
Blackberry Giant is a variety that is distinguished by its large berries and resistance to diseases. This perennial shrub belongs to the Rosaceae family. If you take proper care of the plant, over time, it will thank you with delicious berries.
Description of the variety Blackberry Giant
The Blackberry Giant is often confused with the Bedford Giant Blackberry. The only difference is the size of the berries.
The tall bush has powerful shoots 1.5-2.5 meters long. In early summer, the stems are covered with large white inflorescences. This late flowering ensures good yields, since by this time there are practically no severe frosts. The plant bears fruit in the second year, from July to September. Prefabricated drupes have an elongated conical shape. In the process of ripening, the color of the berries changes: from green to rich brown. Absolutely ripe fruits acquire a glossy black-purple skin.
Description of the benefits of Blackberry Giant:
- juice - saturated, dark red;
- sweet pleasant taste with slight sourness;
- juicy pulp;
- pronounced blackberry aroma.
Ripe fruits can be eaten fresh and used for processing. Blackberries are perfect for freezing for the winter, as well as for making jams and preserves. They are a good addition to compotes, baked goods and other desserts.
Avid brambles compete in the preparation of aromatic liqueurs. The berry of this culture is a valuable storehouse of vitamins and minerals. It strengthens the immune system, normalizes blood pressure, improves metabolic processes in the body. Because blackberry juice is antiseptic, it is often used to heal wounds.
Among so many advantages, there is a place for the only drawback - the plant loves moisture very much, which means it is vulnerable to dry soil. An insufficient amount of liquid significantly reduces its yield and can lead to death.
Planting blackberries
Competent planting and proper care of the bushes will provide you with healthy berries right up to the next harvest. Saplings are planted in spring and autumn. It is best to plant seedlings after winter, before the start of the growing season. During the season, the root system will have time to get stronger, which will help the bush to easily endure the harsh winter. It is allowed to plant blackberries a couple of weeks before frost, but not later, in order to protect it from death. Late disembarkation is practiced in regions with mild, warm autumn.
In cassettes, seedlings can be planted all season.
Blackberry Giant is a variety that cannot develop normally in the shade. When choosing a place for a plant, pay attention to well lightening warm areas with light partial shade. With the soil, things are easier, in this regard, the Giant is not whimsical and feels good in loams (weakly acidic reaction). But despite this, it is not recommended to abuse heavy clay and wetlands, as this can harm the plant.
At the present time, specialized stores offer a large selection of blackberry seedlings, but in order to get a bountiful harvest, you need to know which plants are best to purchase.For example, experienced gardeners are advised to pay attention to the age of the stems and buy several summer bushes with a powerful root system at once. One-year-olds have thinner stems and small roots, while two-year-old blackberries (40 cm high) have at least three roots of 15 cm each.
Growing and caring for the Giant blackberry
Despite the fact that the Giant variety is not whimsical in care, it is still necessary to follow the technology.
The main feature of dried seedlings is shriveled bark and brown flesh.
Watering. The root system is quite deep, so watering must be carried out every seven days. It is imperative to adhere to this condition during the period of flowering and ripening. About one bucket of water should be poured under one bush.
Top dressing. Chernozem should be fertilized in spring and only with nitrogen compounds (urea in a ratio of 10 grams per 5 liters of water). It is recommended to feed poor soil with Kemira Plus (20 grams per 10 liters). During the period of active growth of fruits, it is recommended to pay attention to feeding potassium sulfate, in the amount of 30 grams per 10 liters of water. For one square meter of plants, you need to use no more than six liters of concentrate. A good alternative to minerals is ash (200 grams / sq. Meter). In autumn, the soil is enriched with superphosphate (35 g / 1 m2), nitrophosphate (30 g / 1 m2), potassium sulfate (30 g / 1 m2). Do not forget about organic matter: in summer - mullein and chicken droppings, in autumn - humus.
A third of a successful crop directly depends on the feeding system.
Support installation. To make this type of blackberry look beautiful and give a good harvest, you should take care of the support. The installation of such structures will solve the problem of the formation of a fungal infection and ensure an even arrangement of the shoots.
Bush formation and preparation for winter
When forming a berry bush, it is important to remember that it bears fruit in the second year of its life. In the first season, active growth and budding are observed. The second year is the harvest itself and the bud dying off. Therefore, on the eve of frosts, careful pruning of the bushes should be carried out - weak shoots are removed, and those that delighted with berries are completely removed. As a result, a bush of 8-10 strong twigs remains, with a fan-shaped formation. After wintering, old shoots are opened and fixed vertically on a trellis.
Despite the fact that this variety is frost-resistant, experienced gardeners still advise to insulate the bush. This is done as follows: shoots are laid on the ground, sprinkled with straw and agrofibre (you can use roofing material, corn leaves, sawdust).
Now that you know all the intricacies of caring for and growing Giant blackberries, you can get a bountiful harvest of incredibly tasty and healthy berries. It is enough to adhere to the basic rules and your garden will be replenished with a unique plant.