Choosing a blackberry for the Moscow region, given its winter hardiness

Tell me, what winter-hardy blackberry varieties are suitable for growing in the Moscow region? Already two times they tried to breed this useful berry in the country, but the bushes did not survive our winters: of the three species, only one survived, but he was very ill. Hopefully we chose the wrong variety.

Growing horticultural crops in the Moscow region requires a special approach due to the harsh climatic conditions. Blackberry is no exception - frosty snowy winters, which come early and do not want to retreat before the spring sun, cause significant harm to this berry. Freezing of fruit buds is the smallest thing a bush can get off with. If you do not take into account the climate when choosing varieties, you can plant this crop indefinitely, since it will still freeze out.

The most important condition for growing blackberries in the Moscow region is the choice of varieties with high winter hardiness. Only these plant species are able to survive in low temperatures and please with a good harvest.

To date, thanks to the work of breeders, many frost-resistant types of blackberries, including hybrid ones, which tolerate frosts to minus 30 degrees and below without loss.

Despite the increased frost resistance, almost all types of such blackberries need additional shelter, but there are also particularly resistant plants among them that can winter on their own.

Winter-hardy varieties that do not need shelter

Among the blackberries, which are able to survive frost even without sheltering it for the winter, it is worth noting the following varieties:

1. Agave... A medium-sized bush with erect shoots no higher than 3 m. The stems are very strong, do not bend, covered with sharp thorns. The crop ripens in the middle of summer, sweet berries weigh up to 5 g. Fruits within 15 years after planting. The variety is unpretentious to the soil, tolerates drought and frosts up to 40 degrees, but needs good lighting for the berries to ripen.
2. Polar... Low, erect and thornless bush (up to 2.5 m) with early fruiting. Large berries weighing up to 12 g ripen in early July. You can collect 5 kg from one bush. Resistant to disease.

Additional shelter for Polar blackberries can double its yield - up to 8-10 kg of berries per bush.

Winter hardy varieties of blackberries that require shelter

Among the varieties of blackberries, which tolerate the climate near Moscow well with its obligatory shelter, the following varieties are especially popular:

1. Darrow... A powerful bush with thorns bears fruit with medium berries no more than 4 g each. In case of frost above 35 degrees, it requires shelter.
2. Chester... Semi-shelled thornless bush with high yield, sweet and sour berries weigh up to 8 g each. It tolerates frosts up to 26 degrees.
3. Oregon Thornless... Creeping shrub with long, up to 4 m shoots without thorns, which are easy to lay under cover. The berries are large (9 g), with sourness. It hibernates without shelter at temperatures up to 29 degrees.

Features of growing blackberries Agavam - video