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Today there are more than 400 varieties of cultivated blackberries. Unlike its wild relative, it has large, sweet berries and can be remontant and thornless. But garden varieties require shelter for the winter and, albeit minimal, but careful care. It is difficult for summer residents who visit their small plot of land from time to time to grow elite blackberries. Therefore, they are looking for an alternative - a variety that is unpretentious in care, resistant to the vagaries of the weather and at the same time gives a good harvest.
Perhaps gourmets will consider Agawam blackberries unworthy of their attention. But those gardeners who planted this variety on their plots are in no hurry to part with it. Why? The berries are small, the taste cannot be compared with modern cultivars, the spines are large, curved and very sharp.Moreover, it produces such growth that it is almost impossible to cope with it. What is the secret of Agavam blackberries? Let's take a closer look at this variety.
History of selection
The Agawam blackberry variety was created in the mid-19th century. Little is known about its origins. We can say for sure that the variety was created in the USA, and the parent crops were wild North American blackberry species. Some sources claim that Agawam has been known since 1865.
In 2006, the variety was included in the State Register and recommended for cultivation in all regions of Russia.
Description of the berry crop
Agawam blackberries were considered tasty and quite large at the time of their creation. It was grown as an industrial crop; for more than 80 years, this variety held the palm in terms of prevalence in Europe and America.
General idea of the variety
Agawam blackberries form a powerful, compact bush. This is a typical bramble. Its thick, pentagonal shoots with drooping tops are densely strewn with brown, downward-curved thorns. The spines are medium in size, but very sharp and hard. Young shoots are green, darken towards the end of the growing season, last year's shoots are brown.
The leaves have a shape characteristic of the agave variety - all the blades diverge from one point. They are corrugated, heavily pubescent, with a very narrowed tip. The central veins on the reverse side are covered with spines, although much smaller than the spines on the shoots. The leaf size is medium, the color is green. They are firmly attached to the lashes. Even in winter, Agavam blackberries often become leafy.
The ability to form shoots in this variety is average. But Agave produces a lot of overgrowth, and it is difficult to fight it - neither digging a border nor covering the soil with slate or metal sheets helps.
Fruiting of this blackberry occurs on last year's growth.
Berries
Agawam blackberries have medium-sized fruits - from 4 to 5 g, slightly pubescent. They are painted black and have the shape of a truncated cone or oval. The attachment of the berry to the prickly short stalk is average. Each cluster consists of 15-20 fruits of varying degrees of maturity.
The taste of ripe Agavam blackberries is sweet and sour, with a delicate aroma; the fruits are dense and can withstand transportation well. Overripe berries become soft, watery and fresh. At the stage of technical ripeness, their taste and aroma resembles grass, they are not even too sour. So you need to pick Agave blackberries on time.
This may be why the tasting score of the berries is low - only 3.5 points. Reviews from gardeners about Agave blackberries vary. Some consider it a garbage variety and advise replacing it with another, with large, sweet berries and without thorns. Others, on the contrary, argue that if Agawam blackberries are picked on time, then no capricious thornless novelties are needed.
Characteristic
Before moving on to the characteristics of Agawam blackberries, we remind you that this is one of the first varieties, bred about 150 years ago. And it is still planted both on industrial plantations and in private households. If you want to close the tab and move on to other varieties, first watch a video about Agawam blackberries grown without shelter in the south of the Moscow region. Listen to what the owner, who doesn’t want to get involved with thornless new products, says about her:
Main advantages
Agawam blackberries are one of the most frost-resistant varieties. It really can be grown without shelter in Ukraine, Belarus and central Russia. When creating modern varieties, Agavam is used as a donor of frost resistance.It can easily tolerate a short-term decrease in temperature to -25-30⁰ C. Unlike cultivars of Polish selection, the flower buds of the Agavam variety freeze slightly.
But this blackberry does not like extreme heat - the berries can get baked. In the southern regions it can be planted in partial shade - this will have little effect on the harvest. Average drought resistance is a relative concept. All blackberries need to be watered regularly if you want a good harvest. The Agawam variety will respond to poor soil moisture with small berries.
This blackberry has fewer soil requirements than other varieties - it will grow even on soil with a neutral reaction.
Transportability of berries is good at the stage of technical and full ripeness. You should not let it become overripe - then the fruits will only be suitable for processing, but their taste will not be the best (by 3.5 points).
All problems in care come down to the inconvenience caused by sharp and curved spines. This complicates harvesting, and in those regions where the winter is so severe that the vines still need to be covered, sheltered for the winter.
Flowering period and ripening time
Agawam blackberries bloom in May. In the southern regions, buds with white petals open 7-10 days earlier than in the north. During flowering, the bush is completely covered with a white blanket and looks very elegant.
The berries ripen unevenly. The bulk reaches ripeness by mid-August. For blackberries, these are average terms.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
The average yield of Agavam blackberries is about 100 c/ha.And this despite the fact that 30 c/ha is considered a good indicator! This harvest is achieved thanks to compacted plantings and the fact that the Agawam variety has good shade tolerance - even those berries that lack light ripen.
From 5 to 15 kg of berries are harvested from one bush. Fruiting is extended. It is better to pick Agave blackberries at the stage of full ripeness, since at the stage of technical maturity or overripe, they have a mediocre taste.
Area of application of berries
Agawam blackberries can be eaten fresh, frozen or processed. They say that the most delicious jam comes from this variety.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Agavam blackberries are resistant to pests and diseases at the level of other varieties. If the berries are not picked on time, gray rot may appear on them.
Advantages and disadvantages
Of course, the newest varieties are thornless, sweeter and more aromatic. And the photo of Agavam blackberries shows that its berries are not as beautiful as those of Black Magic, Triple Crown or Karaka Black. But it has a number of advantages:
- High yield.
- The bush is growing quickly.
- The Agawam variety is one of the most resistant to cold (including flower buds). Even in the Moscow region it is not necessary to cover it for the winter.
- Easy to care for.
- Resistance to getting wet.
- Shade-tolerant (not to be confused with shade-loving).
- The Agavam variety is more undemanding to soil than other blackberries.
- Resistance to diseases and pests.
- The versatility of using berries.
- Extension of fruiting.
- The bush grows and bears fruit in one place for 15 years or more.
- The Agawam variety is old and proven. We know exactly what to expect from him.
Disadvantages include:
- Spiking of shoots and leaves.
- Mediocre taste of overripe or underripe berries. You need to get used to collecting them on time.
- A huge number of root shoots. It is very difficult to fight her.
- In the northern regions, shelter for the winter is difficult.
- The berries are small in size.
Reproduction methods
Oddly enough, the unpretentious Agavam variety does not reproduce well by layering and pulping. And the point here is not that thick, erect lashes are difficult to bend to the ground. They don't take root well! Only 1 layer out of 10 will take root well.
But the variety will produce so much shoots that you won’t know where to put it.
Landing rules
Agave is planted in the same way as other varieties. Even if you deviate from the generally accepted rules somewhere, this will not be critical, as when placing elite blackberries on plots.
Recommended timing
The Agawam variety in the south is planted in the fall, no later than a month before the onset of frost. In the northern regions, it is better to do this in the spring, when the soil warms up. Then the blackberries will have time to get comfortable on the site and overwinter well.
Choosing a suitable location
This is where we can take more liberties than with other varieties. Agavam blackberries are not afraid of getting wet, so they can be planted in lowlands.
The soil can be not only slightly acidic, but also neutral. But if it’s not a problem for you to buy some red (high) peat, it’s better to spend the money on it. Otherwise, you will then have to purchase chelates - blackberries are prone to chlorosis, and it is the increased acidity of the soil that helps to avoid it.
The Agavam variety can be planted in partial shade. In this, it is similar to its wild relatives, who often live in the undergrowth under the canopy of trees with an openwork crown. In the south, such planting is even preferable - the berries will bake less.In cold regions, choose a place that is well lit and protected from the wind.
Soil preparation
It is better to follow all the rules for planting and preparing the soil, even for the Agawam blackberry variety. Then it will be easier for you to care for her. So, dig a planting hole with a depth and a diameter of 50 cm. Mix the layer of earth removed from above with a bucket of humus, 50 g of potash and 120-150 g of phosphorus fertilizers. If the soil:
- dense - add sand;
- sour – lime;
- carbonate – organic matter;
- alkaline or neutral - acidic (red, high-moor) peat.
Mix everything well, fill the planting hole 2/3 and fill with water.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
There should be no problems with purchasing Agawam blackberry seedlings - the variety is quite common. Make sure the root is well developed. Don’t be lazy to smell it – it should smell like fresh earth.
But remember that the Agavam variety is not one of the most popular. Seedlings may be stale. Make sure the shoots are flexible and free of cracks, wrinkles or other damage.
The day before planting, water the plant in the container and soak the bare root in water.
Algorithm and landing scheme
Single agave blackberry bushes can be placed at a distance of 2 m from each other. For a large number of seedlings, compact planting of 1.0-1.5 m is possible. The distance between rows is 2-3 m.
Form a mound in the center of the planting hole, straighten the roots around it and fill it with nutrient soil. Compact the soil and water with a bucket of water. All that remains is to mulch the planting site with humus or peat.
Subsequent care of the crop
Growing Agave blackberries might be easy and enjoyable, but their shoots and even their leaves are covered in thorns.
Growing principles
The shoots of the Agawam variety, although thick and erect, reach 3 m. They need to be tied to a trellis. It is best to distribute the fruiting canes evenly on a horizontal support approximately 25 cm apart on one side. Young growth should be tied in the same way on the other side. This will make it easier to pick berries.
The following factors influence the yield of Agawam blackberries:
- Regular watering. With a lack of moisture, the berries become smaller.
- Trimming. Some gardeners leave dry canes that finished fruiting last year so as not to injure their hands. They say that they are dead anyway and do not consume any water or nutrients. But the yield drops significantly.
- In the northern regions there will be fewer berries in the shade, in the south - on the contrary, under the scorching sun.
- Naturally, if you want to get a good harvest, blackberries will have to be fertilized.
Necessary activities
Agave blackberries need to be watered regularly. Immediately after planting - twice a week, then - as the soil dries.
In the spring, the Agawam variety is fed with nitrogen, during the period of bud opening - with complete mineral fertilizer, after harvesting - with potassium monophosphate. During extreme heat, rainy or cool summers, spraying with epin and zircon alternately every 2 weeks is useful. It is good to add chelates to the bottle, especially if the leaves have turned yellow but the veins remain green (this is a sign of chlorosis).
In spring and autumn, the soil under blackberries must be loosened. During the flowering and fruiting period, this procedure can be replaced by mulching - peat, humus, or mown grass. This way the root will suffer less from the heat, weeds It will become difficult to germinate, and the soil will retain moisture longer.
Shrub pruning
Even if you are not going to cover your Agawam blackberries for the winter, be sure to cut out the shoots that have finished bearing fruit to the ground level. If you don't have enough time in the fall, do it in the spring! This will significantly increase your yield.
For the first 3 years, the Agawam variety does not need to be formed. Only in the fourth year of life do the shoots begin to grow in full force. Only old, frozen, dry and broken branches are removed. Be sure to cut out all lashes with signs of disease.
On an adult bush, 4-6 strong shoots are left for fruiting. As it grows, pinching is done - 7-10 cm of the tops of the side shoots are cut off. This way they will branch better and produce more fruit clusters.
Unlike other varieties, Agave blackberries produce a lot of shoots. It cannot be limited by digging in the curb or laying slate, iron sheets or other material around the bushes. The Agawam variety is ubiquitous! It will cope with any obstacle and still germinate. If you do not need seedlings, you will have to regularly cut out the shoots at ground level.
So blackberry pruning Agavam is a mandatory and troublesome procedure.
Preparing for winter
In the southern regions and most of central Russia, Agave blackberries do not need to be covered for the winter. Where insulation is still needed, it is better to pay attention to other varieties. If the thornless Agavam blackberry existed, it would be difficult to cover it due to its powerful upright shoots, but it would be possible. But bending the prickly, poorly bending lashes is problematic.And why, if there are more than 400 varieties, many of which either have no thorns or have pliable shoots.
You can try placing Agawam blackberries directly on the trellis. To do this, the roots are sprinkled with soil, and the shoots are hung directly on the support with burlap and agrofibre. It is important to firmly secure the covering material and prevent it from icing.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
If you do not plant raspberries, nightshades or strawberries next to blackberries, they will rarely get sick. Recommended distance is 50 m.
For preventative purposes, shoots are treated with copper-containing preparations in spring and autumn.
Conclusion
Of course, Agavam is an old variety. But it does not need to be covered in most regions, and in general it is considered one of the healthiest due to its close relationship with the wild blackberry species. And its taste is not so bad if you pick the berries on time. That is why many experienced gardeners are in no hurry to part with the old, proven Agave blackberry variety.
