The best varieties of remontant blackberries, planting, growing and care

Gardeners rarely take up space in the garden by planting remontant blackberries. And the common one is still rarely planted. But culture spreads quite quickly. The blackberry, which produces a repeated harvest of berries, was bred only 10-15 years ago. But she already has supporters who are ready to replace the usual bushes with her. But is this plant really that attractive?

How is it different from regular blackberries?

The remontant blackberry differs from the simple blackberry in its ability to bear fruit again. The first berries ripen on the shoots of last year, and the second on the shoots of the current year, grown over the summer. If you care for the plant like an ordinary blackberry, then it will bear fruit once. But remontant requires proper pruning for the winter. Shoots (old and young) are shortened to stumps 20-25 cm from the soil surface.

Then fertilizing and covering are carried out, for which peat, sawdust or covering material is used. Overwintered bushes will produce their first harvest in June-July. And the regrown branches will delight you with repeated fruiting in August-September.

Pros and cons of remontant varieties

Gardeners who have such a plant in their dacha note the positive qualities of the shrub:

1. The plant is easy to prepare for winter. Pruning and covering prevent freezing of the above-ground part of the plant.
2. Artificially induced late flowering protects blackberries from return frosts: the ovaries are not damaged, the harvest is guaranteed.
3. When planting in spring (April - early May), the berries will ripen in August-September. Ordinary blackberries will produce a harvest only next spring.
4. Low winter pruning is a preventive measure against pests. Affected branches are cut to a healthy area and burned.
5. The bushes are very decorative throughout the season: they are either covered with fragrant flowers or with ripening fruits.
6. The plant is compact.When planting, there is no need to limit the garden bed; it will not spread across the area.

But there are also disadvantages:

• the total weight of two harvests is no more than the weight of one harvest of ordinary blackberries;
• increased need for moistening the ridge;
• overloaded bushes require strong support.

Repeated fruiting allows the gardener to gradually process a bountiful harvest.

Classification of varieties

Blackberries can be divided into:

• bramble (its stems practically do not bend);
• sundew (has thin creeping stems up to 5 m long);
• semi-creeping varieties.

Most of the cultivars grown in gardens are related to brambles.

According to ripening time

Blackberry varieties ripen at different times. According to the timing of ripening, plants are conventionally divided into:

• early;
• mid-early;
• average;
• mid-late;
• late.

The taste of berries differs in varieties of different ripening periods.

Early

The berries on such bushes ripen at the very beginning of summer: June. But you shouldn’t expect sugariness and aroma from them: they don’t exist. But the flesh is watery and juicy. The value of the harvest is its early appearance.

Mid-season

The berries ripen in mid-July. They are less watery and more aromatic. They are great to eat fresh or make compotes.

Late

Late varieties delight the gardener in August - early September. Their pulp is juicy and aromatic, the juice contains a lot of sugars. Such berries are eaten fresh, prepared, or dried.

Winter-hardy

Gardeners are attracted to winter-hardy varieties of remontant blackberries. Such bushes overwinter without shelter; their fruit buds and shoots do not freeze. Winter-hardy blackberries save the gardener's time preparing bushes for winter.

According to growth characteristics

Remontant blackberries have bushes with different growth patterns. It depends on the type of shoots.

Bush blackberry varieties

Bush blackberries have tough, poorly bending shoots. Their height rarely exceeds 2-2.5 m. There are usually 3-5 shoots in one bush. This is enough to get a harvest. Excess stems weaken the plant.

creeping blackberry

This type of blackberry has thin shoots that bend easily. Their length reaches 5-6 m. The tops easily take root on their own. Over time, such blackberries turn the area into impenetrable thickets. Rarely found in country gardens.

By growing area

Blackberry is a Southerner. But because of the pleasant taste of the berries and unpretentiousness, it has become widespread in different climatic zones.

For the Moscow region

In the Moscow region, remontant blackberries with erect shoots have become widespread. They are easy to care for, but they need to be tied to a support: the plant overloads itself with fruits. The best varieties for the region: Ruben, Black Magic, Prime Jim, Prime Arc, Prime Yang. They easily produce two abundant harvests. By completely removing last year's shoots, the single harvest increases.

For central Russia

For central Russia, early varieties of remontant blackberries are preferred. They will have time to produce both harvests before the onset of cold weather. In a warm autumn, the plant pleases with berries until mid-October.

The varieties Freedom and Giant have proven themselves to be excellent. Their shoots are erect, up to 2.5 m high. The plants are winter-hardy.

For the Urals

The climate of the Urals is continental. It is characterized by cold, long winters and hot but short summers. In such conditions, remontant blackberries do not feel well and bear fruit poorly.

But we can recommend some varieties that, with good winter shelter, will delight you with a harvest. It is worth paying attention to Ruben, Polar, Loch Tay.

According to external parameters

Remontant blackberries differ in bush habitus.But gardeners are interested in one more difference: the presence or absence of thorns.

Spiny

Traditionally, the plant’s spines are frequent and sharp. You have to wear gloves when picking berries. Which is inconvenient. And during trimming and gartering, you have to wear special clothing so as not to damage the skin.

Thornless

Breeders created thornless blackberry varieties. It is much easier to care for such plants.

By yield

Gardeners want to have the most productive variety of remontant blackberries in their dachas. But it is important to remember: the declared yield is obtained only if all fertilizing, watering, and garters are observed.

Among the varieties with high yields, the following stand out:

• Ruben (up to 7 kg per square meter);
• Prime Ark (has large berries up to 10 g);
• Giant.

These varieties traditionally give two good harvests.

How does remontant blackberry propagate?

Remontant blackberries do not produce root shoots like traditional ones. But there are methods for its reproduction.

By layering

Reproduction by layering is the easiest way. The top of the shoot is slightly cut, pinned to the ground and sprinkled with soil. The area is regularly moistened. After 3-4 weeks, the new bush is ready for planting in its permanent place.

Cuttings

For this method of propagation, a part of the stem with 3-4 buds is cut off. The upper cut is made straight and treated with wax. The lower one is cut at an angle of 45 degrees. Leave 2-3 leaves, the rest are removed. The lower cut is placed in a root former solution. The glass with the handle is placed away from direct sunlight. After 3 weeks the shoot takes root.

Seeds

Gardeners practically do not use this method because of its labor intensity. In addition, only varieties can be propagated in this way; hybrids do not transmit parental qualities.

The seeds are scattered over the surface of the moistened soil and placed in a greenhouse.The container must be constantly ventilated and the soil must be moistened. After the true leaves appear, the blackberry is planted in a queen cell, and the next year - in a permanent place in the garden.

Root buds

An ideal way to rejuvenate culture. The old plant is dug up and the rhizome is examined. Healthy areas with 2-3 buds are identified. Cut the root into pieces, sprinkle the sections with activated carbon. Then the root pieces are planted in pre-prepared planting holes. It is important to regularly moisten the soil before the stems appear.

Features of planting and care

To obtain regular harvests, it is recommended to follow the rules for planting and caring for blackberries.

Soil requirements

Blackberries prefer slightly acidified, medium-nutrient soil. It grows well on medium loams and sandy loams. Heavy loams should be sanded. It is recommended to acidify sandy soils with peat.

Blackberries love organics. Before planting, mature compost or humus should be added to the soil. It is important to avoid high groundwater levels in areas where shrubs are located.

Disembarkation dates and schemes

Remontant blackberries are planted twice a year: in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). Spring planting has the advantage: the seedling will have time to build up its root system and successfully overwinter.

When planting in the fall, the gardener runs the risk of getting a frozen bush in the spring. When planting later, the plant should be carefully covered and the soil should be moistened.

The shrub loves sunlight. This should be taken into account when placing bushes. Plants with a powerful habit are placed at a distance of 70-90 cm from each other. Compact plants allow planting every 40-50 cm.

Optimal climatic conditions

The plant is a native of the southern regions.Therefore, it grows and bears fruit best in regions with mild winters and long, warm summers. At the same time, the plant is sensitive to the number of sunny days. But breeders create frost-resistant varieties and hybrids with a short ripening period. If you follow the rules of care and select the type correctly, you can get two bountiful harvests even in problem regions.

Top dressing

Blackberries are responsive to the addition of organic matter. When planting, it is recommended to fill the planting hole with compost or humus. During the season, it is recommended to sprinkle compost mixed with mulch under the bushes 2-3 times. In autumn, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the amount of 20 g are required for each plant. After application, it is recommended to loosen the soil and cover it with mulch.

After the snow melts, it is necessary to feed the bushes with nitrogen fertilizers (urea). 10-12 g should be added to each plant. Then it is recommended to rake away the old mulch and cover the tree trunk space with new one. The layer should be 15-20 cm thick.

Trimming

After the plant leaves winter, it is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning. All frozen, broken shoots must be removed. Then in the summer 2-3 pinchings are carried out: the lateral fruiting shoots are shortened at a height of the main one of 30 cm and 70 cm. In autumn, all shoots (old and new) are shortened to the size that the gardener can cover. If you plan to get one harvest, old shoots are cut out at ground level.

Diseases and pests: ways to combat them

Due to the way they are grown, remontant blackberries are practically not affected by the raspberry beetle and raspberry fly. But in dry summers the plant is threatened by spider mites. To prevent damage to plantings, it is recommended to monitor soil moisture.

Plantings are sometimes affected by anthracnose. To prevent disease, it is recommended to fertilize in a timely manner.

Shelter for the winter

Blackberries need shelter for the winter. Spruce branches collected in the forest are suitable for this. It will protect plants from damage by mice. The stumps are completely covered with spruce branches, and on top with straw (it will provide warmth). It is recommended to stick several branches near the plantings on the south side to ensure snow retention in winter.