Description and characteristics of Navajo blackberries, planting and care

Navajo blackberries are of North American origin and are widely grown in Russia and the CIS countries. The bushes successfully adapt to new conditions, bear fruit abundantly, and are rarely susceptible to diseases or harmful beetles. The variety is grown for sale or personal consumption, since the berries have excellent taste and appearance. First you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety and the algorithm for planting bushes.

Breeding history of the species

A late-ripening variety of blackberry was bred in 1987 in America by breeders from the University of Arkansas. The name comes from the name of the Indian peoples. Species were used as parents blackberries thornfree, Cherokee.

Description

Fruit

Blackberries are conical-shaped, small, compared to other types. The weight of 1 copy is about 4-7 grams. There are about 500 berries on one bush - dark blue, shiny, with an excellent sweet taste.

Tasters rated it 4.9 points. The fruits retain their presentation for 5 days.

The seeds are small, almost invisible.

Navajo blackberries are excellent for transportation due to their thick skin.

Bush

The bushes are erect, the shoots are smooth, without thorns, and grow up to 2 meters. Stems have a dense structure, emerald hue. The plant does not require the installation of trellises or complex forming prunings.

Flowering period and ripening time

Navajo blackberries bloom in the second half of June in central Russia. The inflorescences are small, inconspicuous, cream-colored with a hairy center. It takes 2 months from the formation of the ovaries to the ripening of the fruit.

Yield indicators, fruiting dates

From 1 blackberry bush of the Navajo variety, up to 7 kilograms of fruit are collected. The harvest ripens from August 15 and lasts until early September. The timing of fruit ripening is affected by the planting location and the weather conditions of the season.

Scope of application of berries

Blackberries can be used for fresh consumption, as their taste is dessert and sweet.You can add berries to baked goods and make preparations for the winter from them.

Resistance to pathologies and harmful bugs

Navajo blackberries are practically not susceptible to diseases or beetle infestations due to their powerful immunity. When bushes do not receive proper care, their protective properties are reduced.

Advantages and disadvantages of berry crops

The Navajo blackberry variety offers many positive traits, but there are also negative aspects.

Specifics of planting blackberries

Blackberries grow successfully on any soil, but to get a good harvest, it is advisable to plant them in light sandy or loamy soils, saturated with humus, with neutral or slightly increased acidity. Too moist soil, location in a lowland, with a high level of groundwater, are not suitable for bushes. There is a risk of rhizome rotting.

Recommended timing

It is optimal to plant blackberries in late April, May, or early June, depending on weather conditions in the region. The earlier the bush is planted, the more time it has to take root before frost arrives. You should not plant in the fall, since blackberries do not tolerate frost well.

Choosing a suitable location

Blackberry bushes should be planted in a sunny, warm place, but you can also choose partial shade.In the shade, they will not receive enough light or heat, and the berries will form small and sour. Choose a place on the plot that is flat or on slight slopes, next to fences and buildings. Blackberries should not be exposed to gusts of wind.

Soil preparation

If you plant blackberries in properly prepared soil, they will bear fruit for 10-15 years. 2 weeks before planting, the soil is plowed with a shovel and cleared of weeds. If the soil is acidic, add lime to it. Holes are dug 2-3 days before planting, with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 50 cm. The distance between the beds should be 1.5 meters. A bucket of humus, 2 cups of ash, 80-100 g of minerals are poured into the recesses, and watered.

Selection and preparation of planting material

Seedlings are inspected for diseases and beetle attacks. It should be smooth and not deformed. Place the seedlings overnight in a root growth stimulator called Epin or Matador. Additionally, dip in a weak manganese solution.

Planting technique

The root system of the seedlings is carefully straightened, placed in prepared holes, and covered with earth. Afterwards, water the plantings with 10 liters of water for each bush. The root area is mulched, the seedlings are shortened to 2-3 buds. Each bush is equipped with a trellis, this will increase productivity and make it easy to care for.

Since Navajo blackberries have an increased shoot-forming ability, pieces of slate and iron should be dug along the borders as a limiter.

Further care of the bush

Proper care of blackberries involves timely watering, loosening, pruning, and fertilizing. The bushes are treated with pesticides to prevent attacks by beetles and diseases.

Watering and fertilizers

Blackberry bushes should be irrigated in the presence of periodic precipitation during the formation and ripening of fruits. If the season turns out to be dry, do abundant water-recharging irrigation. Blackberries should be fertilized in March; 20-25 g of nitrogen - urea, ammonium nitrate - are added to the plants. During the ripening of berries, 30 g of potassium. Once every 3 years, feed in the spring with humus, compost, take 4 buckets per 1 bush.

Shrub pruning

Young branches are pinched in September and June, when they grow up to 1 meter tall. The top is cut to 20-25 cm, and the side shoots. Manipulation stimulates the growth of lateral branches, increases pollen, and the formation of ovaries.

Wintering

Preparatory work involves the complete removal of old, deformed shoots and removal of branches from the trellises. Blackberry bushes are covered with organic mulch and agronomic fiber.

Possible diseases, beetle attacks, their elimination

Navajo blackberries sometimes suffer from septoria, powdery mildew and anthracnose. In the first case, the appearance of brown or grayish spots with a yellow border is noted. As a treatment, a solution of Bordeaux mixture is used; the bushes are irrigated with it before flowering and after fruiting.

Anthracnose is characterized by the appearance of rust-colored spots on the leaves, the leaves become brittle, fall off, and dry out. To save the plant, spray it and the soil means Skor in a ratio of 20 ml per 10 liters of water before pollen and after the formation of berries. When a loose whitish coating appears on the shoots and fruits, this indicates an ashtray disease. After the snow melts, the bushes are doused with hot water; during the period of ovary formation, they are sprayed with Oxyx, Vectra, and Fundazol.

Among the harmful beetles, blackberries can be attacked by spider mites, blackberry mites, and raspberry beetles. In the first situation, leaves fall, productivity decreases, and the growth of green mass thins out. To get rid of insects, treat with tobacco tincture, onion peels and garlic broth with the addition of laundry soap.

Manipulations are carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 1 week. Blackberry mites feed on its fruits and determine their presence by the deformation of the berries. The treatment is the same as in the case of spider mite infestation. The raspberry beetle is revealed by a large number of holes in the berries; they rot. Bushes are saved by treating them with Actellik and Fufanol. 2 sprayings are carried out with a pause of 10 days.

Harvesting and storage

The fruits are collected by hand, in several approaches. After harvesting, overripe and damaged specimens are discarded. They are consumed immediately or sent for processing. Berries should be stored in a room with an air temperature of up to +5, this can be a basement, cellar, or refrigerator. Place the blackberries in wooden or plastic boxes, with oilcloth or paper placed on the bottom. The humidity in the place where fruits are stored should be no more than 80%.