Description and characteristics of blackberries of the Thornless Evergreen variety, propagation, planting and care

Thornless Evergreen blackberries are grown commercially in their native America. The variety is productive and disease resistant. This type of blackberry is ideal for an amateur garden. In the south, the bushes are decorative all year round; in temperate latitudes they decorate the garden plot from spring to late autumn.

Breeding history of Thornless Evergreen

European settlers brought the first blackberries (Rubus laciniatus Wild) to America. Old European varieties have mutated. The thornless clone was introduced into culture by F. Steffis. The work was carried out at the Oregon State Institute. In 1926, the new variety was named Thornless Evergreen.

Despite its venerable age, the variety is in demand among farmers in many European countries (Germany, Serbia, Poland). In his home state of Oregon, large areas are allocated for it. It competes with large-fruited erect forms of blackberry.

Pros and cons of the variety

Disadvantages include late ripening - from mid-August to mid-September. Not everyone is satisfied with its low yield in the first years. Full fruiting occurs at the age of 3-5 years.

The advantages of Thornless Evergreen include:

• the variety is not aggressive, the bushes do not spread, since there are no root shoots;
• stable yield;
• frost resistance;
• transportability;
• extended fruiting;
• decorativeness;
• versatility of use.

Varieties

Thornless Evergreen blackberries are part of the Thornless varietal series, which unites about 100 varieties of the crop; the varieties are the most popular among farmers and hobbyists:

• T. Oregon;
• T. Merton;
• T. Hoole;
• T. Hull;
• T. Austin;
• T. Chester;
• T. Logan;
• T. Loganberry.

External characteristics of the berry crop

According to the Russian classification, the Thornless Evergreen variety belongs to the group of creeping varieties of blackberries, they are called dewberries. The bushes are compact, formed by 3-5-meter shoots of 1 and 2 year olds.Over the summer, an adult plant can produce up to 10 or more replacement shoots. During the growing season, fruitful buds are formed on the annual shoot. The harvest is formed on two-year-old shoots.

The young shoot is green at the beginning of development, but by the end of the first season it acquires a reddish tint. The root system is powerful, penetrating up to 2 meters deep. Root shoots are not formed.

The leaves are green all year round. They are beautiful, carved, with a leathery surface. The inflorescences are large, racemose, consisting of 25-70 white or white-pink flowers. During flowering, Thornless Evergreen bushes are very decorative.

The berries are not large, one-dimensional, the average weight of one is from 3 to 5 g. They are easily removed from the stalk. During fruiting, multi-berry clusters hide the leaves. The color of fully ripe berries is black.

Short description

Late variety Thornless Evergreen. Flowering continues from June to July. Harvest from mid-August to mid-late September.

In what areas is it recommended to plant?

The Thornless Evergreen variety is not included in the State Register, so there are no exact recommendations for growing regions. In a cover culture, this variety of blackberry can be grown in the middle zone. The variety is in the collections of amateur gardeners in Bashkiria, Mordovia, Orenburg, Moscow, and Volgograd regions.

Resistance to frost and drought

The variety can withstand frosts ranging from -20 to -29 °C. In regions where the snow cover is stable and falls early, the crop overwinters well under a small shelter. The blackberry root system is powerful, so it can tolerate short-term drought. With drip irrigation, the variety is grown in dry areas of Texas.

For the Russian central zone, 1 watering per week (20 l) is sufficient, provided the tree trunk circle is mulched.

Susceptibility to diseases and insects

To maintain the health of the bush, one early spring treatment with a copper-containing preparation is sufficient. The variety has stable immunity. Preventive measures come down to sanitary pruning and maintaining the cleanliness of the tree trunk circle.

Reproduction methods

A novice gardener should purchase a seedling with a closed root system. This is the most reliable option blackberry propagation. If there is an adult Thornless Evergreen bush in the garden, then the variety can be propagated in 2 ways:

• green cuttings;
• apical layering.

Productivity

The yield of a bush depends on the agrotechnical background. During the first 3 years, few fruits are formed. From the 4th-5th year, 10 kg or more are collected from the bush. The yield of mature blackberries is stable.

Taste and use of fruits

At the stage of technical ripeness, the taste of the berries has a pronounced sourness. When ripe it goes away. The pulp of the ripe berry is juicy and aromatic. The taste is pleasant and refreshing. A versatile variety, the berries can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. They do not wrinkle during transportation. They are used in preparations, frozen, and eaten fresh.

Features of planting and care

When purchasing a 1-2 year old healthy seedling from a nursery, there are no problems with planting and survival. The main requirement for planting material is a healthy root system and absence of damage.

Preparation of planting material

The seedling in the container is planted in a permanent place without additional preparation. Bare-rooted blackberries must meet the following requirements:

• height of the above-ground part is not less than 40 cm;
• the central shoot is elastic;
• root length is at least 15 cm;
• skeletal roots at least 3 pieces.

Choosing the optimal location

Sunny places out of the wind are suitable. When choosing a site, you need to evaluate the proximity of groundwater so that the powerful roots do not rot over time. Low-lying places are not suitable.

A blackberry bush grows in one place for many years, so the soil needs to be fertilized with humus, long-acting mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium nitrate), and ash.

Technological process of planting

The sequence of planting operations is standard. Most of the time is spent preparing the planting hole. Its size is 40 x 40 x 40 cm. The interval between bushes is at least 2 m. The same distance is maintained to other plants in the garden (shrubs, trees).

Requirements to be observed during planting:

• the roots are straightened;
• the neck is not deepened;
• the hole is well watered and mulched.

Irrigation and loosening of soil

For the first 2-3 years, watering during the growth of the vegetative mass is abundant. An adult bush has a powerful root system, so watering is carried out only when the berries are filling. It is not recommended to loosen the soil within a diameter of 1 m from the center of the bush. A damaged rhizome may produce growth; it has thorns, so it should not be used to propagate the variety.

Fertilizing bushes

During the season it is enough to feed the blackberries 2 times.

Period	Fertilizer type
Early spring	Organic
Summer	Ash, superphosphate, potassium nitrate

Installation and connection to supports

The shoots are tied to a trellis. It is convenient to use two-lane designs. Replacement shoots are directed to one side, fruit-bearing branches are tied to the other. The use of other garden structures is allowed; they decorate the garden, but preparation for winter becomes more complicated. Removing and laying shoots takes more time.

Formation of a berry bush

In the fall, shoots that bear fruit, young ones with damage and weak ones are cut out. In the spring they are engaged in the formation of a bush:

• shorten last year's shoots;
• cut out branches with thorns.

Harvesting

The berries ripen unevenly. They are collected once every 2 weeks. Fruiting is extended. The first fruits ripen in mid-August, the last at the end of September.

Preparing for winter

After autumn pruning, young shoots remain on the bushes. They are removed from the support, laid on the ground (in a ditch), and pinned. They are sprinkled so that they do not suffer from frost in winter; they are used:

• peat;
• straw;
• sawdust;
• non-woven covering material.

Interesting and productive thornless blackberry variety deserves the attention of Russian gardeners.