Features of growing blackberry varieties Darrow

Blackberry - this berry attracts with its unpretentiousness, excellent taste and the content in it of a large amount of useful substances. In addition, you can cultivate them in almost every corner of Russia. The article will talk about such a variety as Darrow's blackberry, created in the United States, about its agricultural characteristics and how to propagate it.

Blackberry Darrow: the history of the origin of the variety

Blackberry variety Darrow: Photo

New York breeders began work on the creation of this variety in the 40th year of the 20th century, and the first bush was received after 6 years. In order to get it, the Henrik variety was crossed with the Eldorado variety. The name of this plant was given in the 58th year of the 20th century in honor of Dr. J. Darrow. This man devoted many years of his life to the selection of fruit and berry plants in Maryland. Today, all rights to this variety are held by Cornell University of New York, USA, previously it was an agricultural experimental station.

It is interesting to know that Mexico is the leader in industrial cultivation, but almost all of the harvested crop is exported to European countries and the United States.

Blackberry Darrow: variety description, distinctive features

Blackberry Darrow: Photos

Based on the information provided by American sources, the following can be said about the variety:

Blackberry Darrow has erect, thick three-meter branches with a reddish tint, covered with long thorns. Shoots are covered with feathery five-lobed green leaves. Snow-white flowers are collected in inflorescences of 8 or 12 pieces. The fruits have an elongated conical shape and are painted black. One 2.5 centimeters long fruit weighs 4 grams and has a sweet taste with sourness and juicy pulp.

Plant resistance

Climatic data from American sources is only valid for a specific state in the United States. But as regards the growing conditions on the territory of our country, these data are already based on what Russian gardeners say.

The Darrow blackberry variety in our country has shown itself as a plant with high resistance to frost. Can easily withstand temperatures as low as -34 degrees. As far as drought tolerance is concerned, there is no information available.

Timing of fruiting

Darrow is self-fertile and does not require cross-pollination. Its fruits are easy to pick, because they are located on the surface of the bush and you do not need to look for them among the foliage. The bush begins to bear fruit early and for one and a half months. Surprisingly, you can get some fresh berries even in autumn.

According to reviews, the gardener knows that an adult bush can produce about 10 kilograms of berries.

Blackberry Darrow: Pros and Cons

TO advantages Darrow varieties include:

• Consistently high yields;
• High resistance to frost;
• Strong immunity that protects against many diseases.

TO disadvantages can be attributed:

• Sharp thorns;
• Tying bushes to trellises. However, this applies to almost all varieties.

How to plant a Darrow blackberry variety

Blackberry Darrow: Photos

In order for the planting of Darrow variety blackberries to be correct, it is necessary to carry it out at the right time, choose a place where the plant will be comfortable and purchase a healthy seedling.

When to plant

Given the frost resistance of the Darrow blackberry variety, its planting can be carried out in the spring, before the buds open, and in the autumn, after the growth is over.

In the north, planting is best done in the spring, so that the young seedling has enough time to adapt and take root well. This will help him easily cope with the first winter.

Landing place

Darrow's blackberry prefers to grow in open, sunny areas protected from strong winds. If you plant a plant in the shade or in a low place where water flows, this will lead to the fact that the shoots will take too long to ripen. And also it will negatively affect the plant's resistance to severe frosts and diseases.

The bushes can be located next to various buildings or fences, and can also be used as a hedge covered with thorns.

Darrow's blackberry can be grown on any type of soil, but with an increased alkali content in the soil, it can develop chlorosis.

How to choose a seedling

In order for the plant to meet the declared characteristics, it is necessary to purchase seedlings in nurseries or specialized stores. Before buying it, you must carefully examine it, paying special attention to the root system, where there should be no mold or decay. It should also have at least one kidney. The seedling should have 1 or two shoots with a cross-sectional diameter of 5 mm.

Blackberry Darrow - how to plant

Blackberry variety Darrow: Photo

Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the landing holes in advance, keeping a distance of one and a half meters between them, since this culture needs space. The distance between the rows should be 2 meters or more. The hole should go to a depth of 40 centimeters and have the same width.

Fertilizers are laid out at the bottom. To do this, mix humus (5 kg), superphosphate (100 g), potassium (40 g), and pour garden soil on top. When preparing a site for planting, you must immediately think about the trellises on which powerful shoots will be attached. A three-row trellis is best suited, where the wire will be located 50 cm from the ground, the second row 120 cm, and the third 180 cm from the ground.

Landing is carried out as follows:

• The seedling must be placed in the hole, carefully spreading its roots.
• Next, you need to fill up the plant in such a way that the root collar goes 2 centimeters deep into the ground.
• After that, the seedlings are trimmed to the second or third bud.
• After planting, the plant should be watered using about 6 liters of water and the soil around the plants should be mulched with peat or compost.

How to care for Darrow blackberries

Blackberry Darrow: Photos

Darrow's blackberry, like many other blackberry varieties, has a drought-resistant plant, but in order to harvest good yields of tasty juicy berries, the plant should be used in moderation. water.

Those bushes that are planted in the current year are watered with an interval of 30 or 45 days, then only during dry periods.

Adult bushes, which have already begun to bear fruit, should be watered when they begin to actively grow shoots and berries ripen. You also need to regularly conduct loosening soil, which will provide better oxygen transmission to the roots, and weeding.

Loosening is carried out between rows 6 times during the whole season with a depth of 12 centimeters. It is necessary to loosen the soil around the plant to a depth of 5 centimeters.

Mulching will be very useful for the plant, as it will serve as additional nutrition. And it will also retain moisture in the soil for a longer time, stop the growth of weeds and reduce the need for loosening. Straw, compost, fallen leaves and other organic matter are perfect as mulch.

In order for the yields to be high, the blackberry bushes must receive nutrients in sufficient quantity. With the onset of spring and autumn, a plot of 1 sq. meter is added compost or mullein (5 kg).In the fall, add superphosphate (30 g) and potassium (40 g) there. After mixing all the ingredients, they must be repaired during digging to a depth of 12 centimeters. At the beginning of spring, a three-centimeter layer of peat is applied on top of the fertilizer.

Blackberry Darrow. How and when to prune. Garter

Blackberry Darrow: Photos

The branches of the bush must be fixed on the trellis in such a way that the shoots of the last year are located on one side, and the new ones, which do not bear fruit, on the other side. Thanks to this, you can significantly simplify maintenance and it will become easier to harvest.

In order to fix the branches on the trellis, you can use the following methods:

• Fanny - place the shoots of the last year on the right and left sides, and direct the current year upwards in the center.
• Separated - when using this method, young shoots are fixed on one side, for example, on the right, and fruit-bearing branches - on the other side.
• Undulating - the shoots of the last year are launched along the wire located below, making bends in the form of a wave, and the fixation of young shoots occurs in the upper rows.
• Cable - here the shoots that bear fruit are laid out along the wires, and the shoots of the current year are launched along the central part of the trellis.

Pruning is carried out after the entire crop has been harvested. At this moment, all the shoots that have borne fruit are cut off to the very base. Any shoots that show signs of disease or damage should also be removed.

It should be remembered that this bush is strewn with sharp thorns, therefore, canvas gloves should be used to work with it, as well as tools with long handles.

When the plant begins its growing season, it is necessary to pinch young shoots. As soon as they grow up to 1 meter in height, the tops are shortened by 10 centimeters. Trimming of lateral shoots occurs when they reach a length of 0.5 meters, leaving only a length of 40 centimeters.

When to harvest and store crops

The Darrow variety has extended fruiting, for this reason it will be possible to harvest several times. It is necessary to hold such an event when the weather is dry. If you plan to eat fresh berries near the place where they grew, or harvesting jam, jam, juice or wine, then you need to collect the fruits after they reach full ripeness. If a long-term transportation is planned, then harvesting should be done a little earlier.

Blackberry Darrow can be stored for a couple of days at room temperature. If the berries are quickly chilled, they can be stored at zero temperature and 90% humidity for two weeks. Deep freezing is suitable for blackberries and does not negatively affect its taste.

Wintering

Blackberry Darrow: Photos

Darrow's ehwick is highly resistant to winter cold, so she does not need additional shelter. Winter preparation includes pruning and digging a site with fertilization.

Blackberry Darrow: breeding features

Blackberries with erect shoots are propagated using cuttings and root shoots.

For blank cuttings it is necessary to remove the plant from the ground and divide the roots so that each part is at least 10 centimeters in length and 5 mm in diameter or more. Cuttings are planted towards the end of summer or spring in holes, to a depth of 10 centimeters. Sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. New plants will begin to bear fruit after 2 years.

An adult bush forms annually root processes. To propagate a bush, you need to choose a growth that grows near a bush with a high yield and dig it up. As soon as it grows up to 15 centimeters, plant it in the period May-June, keeping an earthen lump.

Reproduction seeds It is also possible, and according to experts, such bushes will retain all the characteristics of the mother plant, but the harvest can only be expected in 4 years.

Diseases and harmful insects: control methods

Blackberry Darrow has strong immunity, which allows it to be quite resistant to various diseases. But with frequent mistakes during care or in adverse weather conditions, the protective functions may decrease and the plant will get sick.

The plant can get sick:

• Rust Is a fungal disease that affects the green part and branches of the bush. The disease leads to a decrease in yield up to 60%. In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to remove the fallen leaves in time, water during the drought period, regularly inspect the plant and in time remove all damaged areas, on which small brown blotches have appeared.
• Anthracnose - this disease is especially common where the climate is humid. It affects the entire aerial part of the plant. It can be identified by the purple spots that appear in the first summer month. If you start the disease, then the spots will grow, forming ulcers, and the plant will begin to wilt. The berries deform and dry out. With good ventilation, the disease spreads less.
• Didimella - when this disease appears, the buds and shoots are affected, foliage begins to fall off and the bush dries up. The development of this disease is active if the plants are planted too close to each other.

If, when examining the bush, signs of a fungal disease were noticed, it is necessary to immediately carry out the treatment with an infusion of garlic or sulfur preparations. As a preventive measure, treatment is carried out using Bordeaux liquid.

In order to reduce the risk of invasion of harmful insects, blackberry bushes should be planted as far as possible from strawberries, raspberries and strawberries.

The most dangerous for the plant are insects such as:

• Medvedka - it betrays the root part and stems in their lower part. You can deal with it with the help of traps and poisoned baits, which are sold in all specialized stores.
• Raspberry aphid - very dangerous for young shoots. Due to the damage she inflicts on them, the shoots begin to freeze. If found, all shoots with damage are cut out, if the damage is significant, then treatment with Nitrofen is carried out with the arrival of spring.
• Raspberry fly - all shoots that are gnawed by them suffer from its larvae. For preventive purposes, the trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer. This will prevent the insect from getting out of the ground in late spring. Affected shoots wither and must be cut off.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the Darrow blackberry variety has been around for a long time, it not only does not lose its popularity, but also increases it. Both large farms and amateur gardeners in their gardens are engaged in the cultivation of this blackberry. Blackberry Darrow is perfect for growing in the northern regions of the country.