How to propagate blackberries by air layering and green cuttings at home

Propagating any varieties of blackberries is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. There are many ways to plant blackberry bushes. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Why is it worth propagating garden blackberries?

Growing blackberries does not require special knowledge, as many summer residents may think.Growing blackberry bushes is no more difficult than growing raspberries or fruit trees. Blackberry bushes can still rarely be found on domestic plots, although blackberries are unpretentious plants and are very easy to care for. The advantage of garden blackberries is the large amount of vitamins and microelements in ripe fruits. The berries are juicy and sweet, and they also make delicious jam.

Specifics of blackberry propagation at different times of the year

Growing blackberries in natural conditions at home is not so difficult. Planting at certain times of the year has its own specifics. Plants are mainly planted in spring and autumn. In summer, bushes are planted as a last resort, when there is no other option. plant blackberry bushes. In autumn, it is recommended to plant the plant in the southern and central regions.

High humidity promotes spectacular root growth in winter. With the onset of spring, seedlings actively begin to grow.

When cuttings are planted in the spring, they do not have time to take root before the onset of warm weather. And when it gets warm, the cuttings immediately begin to increase their leaf mass, which does not have a very good effect on the yield and health of the plants. In autumn, cuttings are planted one month before the onset of cold weather. And in the spring, you need to plant cuttings until the air temperature rises to +15 degrees.

Reproduction methods

There are many ways to propagate blackberries in the garden. Some of them are simple enough that even a beginner in gardening can cope with propagating berries. Only an experienced summer resident can cope with other growing methods. Each method of growing blackberries also has its pros and cons.

Tops

Propagation by apex is suitable for climbing and climbing varieties that produce long and elastic shoots. As a rule, this is how the plant reproduces in the wild. Propagation by tops is suitable for beginners in gardening and for those summer residents who do not want to spend a lot of time on it. Plant propagation stages:

• In the period from the first ten days of July to the first days of August, you need to bend the tops of young shoots to the soil.
• The top 15 cm must be covered with soil or hilled up.
• After about a month, the tops will take root and begin to actively develop.
• With the onset of autumn, the tops are covered with spruce branches or straw.
• In the spring, they are carefully cut off from the mother bush and transplanted to a new location.

This method of reproduction is considered one of the simplest, yet most effective. It is rare that the tops do not produce roots.

Dividing the bush

Growing crops by dividing a bush is most common among summer residents. Almost any plant can be planted this way. And blackberries were no exception. Any variety of berry can be diluted using this method.

Cultivating shrubs in this way is suitable if there are no young shoots on the berries, and other methods are not suitable.

Stages of growing blackberries by dividing the bush:

• In spring or autumn, blackberry bushes are dug up.
• After which the bush is divided so that each part has 2-3 healthy shoots. In this case, there must be at least one bud on the roots.
• As a rule, one adult bush produces 6-7 bushes.
• After this, the separated seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place.

This method is suitable if the bush has grown greatly and needs to be replanted.

Root suckers

With the onset of spring, each plant begins to expel root shoots for further reproduction. As soon as the root shoots reach a length of 15 cm, they need to be cut off with sharp pruners and transplanted to a new location. In order not to wait for autumn, this process can be accelerated. In autumn, a large lump of soil is left on the rhizome. This way the plant will not feel any changes, which means it will not get sick in the spring.

By layering

It is best to propagate climbing varieties of blackberries using apical layering. A large number of bushes can be obtained if the mother plant has grown sufficiently, and those shoots that could produce a harvest are not particularly needed:

• Next to the kut you need to dig a trench to a depth of 20 cm.
• At the end of summer you need to attach the shoot to the soil and bury it.
• Only the tops should remain on the soil surface.
• After the shoot is completely covered with earth, it is pinched on both sides. On the one hand - at the base. On the other hand, at the top.
• Then the shoot is mulched and watered abundantly.
• After about 2 months, the first roots appear, as well as new shoots.

In the spring you can begin transplanting the cuttings to a new location.

Reproduction in water by dormant bud

This method takes a lot of time, but it is very effective. Blackberry propagation stages:

• In early October, cut young cuttings about 15 cm long. Cut off the leaves and place the shoots themselves in the refrigerator.
• In February, take out the cuttings and place them in a jar of water so that only one bud is in the water.
• The jar with cuttings should be kept in the sun and the water should be changed periodically.
• After some time, roots will appear from the cuttings, after which the lower part of the cutting is cut off and planted in a container with soil.
• The second bud is dipped in water, and it will also produce roots.

In this way, you can grow several seedlings at once. In spring, cuttings with roots are planted in a permanent place.

Cuttings

You can plant blackberries using cuttings. This method is suitable for any type of berry. The advantage of cuttings is that you can get the maximum number of seedlings at minimal cost.

Cutting process:

• In autumn, cuttings 40 cm long are cut from young but already lignified shoots.
• Then you need to bury them with earth to a depth of 20 cm.
• With the onset of spring, dig up the cuttings, cut them off on both sides by 5 cm and cover them again with soil.
• The cuttings are regularly weeded and watered.
• When the first pair of leaves appears, the cuttings are dug out of the soil and planted in separate pots.

After new leaves appear on them, the blackberries are planted in a permanent place.

Stem cuttings

Planting with stem cuttings uses the same technology as conventional cuttings.

Seeds

Growing blackberries using the seed method takes the longest time. From the moment the seeds are planted until the first berries appear, at least 5 years pass. In addition, not all novice summer residents will be able to cope with this task. The germination rate of store-bought seeds is very low and is only 10%. The germination rate of seeds collected by hand reaches 80%. To get seeds, you need to collect overripe berries and mix them. As a result, the seeds should separate. Rinse the blackberry pulp several times in water through cheesecloth to wash out the seeds.

Spread the seeds on gauze and dry. After which you need to put them in a dark room for 2-3 months. For example, in the refrigerator. Place the seeds in a container and cover with damp sand.

In spring, the seeds are planted in the ground. Containers with future sprouts are placed under phytolamps. In autumn, seeds are planted in open ground. Don't be afraid that the sprouts will freeze. Such conditions are quite natural for blackberries. In the spring, after the snow melts, the first shoots should appear. When they grow up, they are seated.

The advantage of growing seeds is the ability to care for seedlings at home. In addition, sprouts in spring can be planted at any time after the end of night and day frosts. You can also control the quality and quantity of blackberry seedlings. The downside is that the sprouts will have to create favorable conditions for them to germinate.

Green cuttings

Another simple way to propagate blackberries is through green cuttings. To do this, in the summer, when the leaves of the bushes are fully formed, several shoots are cut off. These shoots are then cut as cuttings. Cut off a couple of lower leaves, leaving only the top.

Each seedling is planted in separate containers (peat cups can be used). The containers are placed in a dark, warm room and covered with cling film to create a greenhouse effect. The cuttings are regularly ventilated and watered. After 2 weeks, roots should appear. After another week, you can plant the blackberries in a permanent place and root them there. This method is good because with minimal time you can grow a large number of berry seedlings.

How to propagate blackberries without thorns?

Thornless blackberries reproduce by apical layering. But other methods are also suitable. When growing, you should remember that in the first year the shoots do not bear fruit, and in the second year, although lateral shoots with fruits are formed, they then die off completely.

When planting thornless varieties, attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. Before planting cuttings with roots, the soil is mixed with wet sand, peat and mineral fertilizers. The thickness of fertile soil is about 10 mm.

Possible mistakes

The main mistake when growing blackberries is strictly following the recommended planting dates, even if the weather conditions are unfavorable. Cuttings should be immediately rooted in the ground at a permanent planting site. When transplanting, you can damage the delicate roots. Another mistake is failure to follow the rules of agricultural technology. Many gardeners do not pay attention to care during blackberry propagation, which is also a mistake.