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Blackberries cannot be called an exotic berry. Everyone knows it, many have tried it. But unlike raspberries, which grow on almost all personal plots, blackberries have not become widespread in Russia and the countries of the former USSR. But times are changing, thanks to the Internet, television and print media, domestic farmers find out which crops are grown and bring big income abroad.
It turns out that blackberries are among the most popular berries. It doesn't have to be sour and prickly. There are varieties that are thornless, productive and very tasty.
History of selection
Variety garden blackberries Brzezina was bred at the Polish Institute of Horticulture, located in the city of Brzezina. Its authors are Agnieszka Orel and Jan Danek.The parent varieties of Brzezin's blackberries were the famous Black Satin and Darrow.
The tasks of Polish selection are somewhat different from those of North America. Overseas, the priority is to obtain varieties with excellent taste, even at the expense of yield. Polish scientists set the task of breeding easy-to-care blackberries that do not require shelter for the winter. True, good taste matters too.
The Brzezina variety is one of the newest. It was registered and patented in 2012, but went on sale only in 2015.
Description of the berry crop
The Brzezina variety has not yet reached its potential. Three years is too short a period to talk about compliance with the description given by the breeders. Perhaps this is why gardeners’ reviews of Brzezin’s blackberries are somewhat different from the properties stated in the patent. It is possible that climatic features also played a role here.
General idea of the variety
Blackberry Brzezina forms a powerful bush with semi-creeping shoots. Young ones are light green, turning light brown as the wood matures. In the first year after planting, 1-2 shoots are formed; subsequently, the shoot-forming ability is very good.
There are no spines, the fruit branches are short and numerous. Brzezina blackberries reach fruiting age at three or four years. By this time, its shoots become thick, stiff and grow up to 3 m. They do not bend very well, which makes shelter for the winter difficult. A lot of side branches are formed, which is why the Brzezina bush looks massive. On the contrary, there are few offspring suitable for reproduction. To increase their number, the blackberry root is specially damaged with a shovel bayonet.
The leaves are delicate green in color, with numerous teeth. The root system is well developed.Fruiting occurs on the growth of the previous year.
Berries
The fruits of the Brzezina blackberry are collected in numerous clusters. Each bears approximately 10 berries. Poles are creating varieties suitable for commercial cultivation. Therefore, Brzezin blackberries are dense, beautiful and tolerate transportation well.
Since the variety is new, gardeners cannot say with certainty what the fruits will be like when it reaches its full potential. But the signal specimens look promising. The size of Brzezina berries is not equal - on one bush there are fruits of 5-6 g and 7-9 g. Some foreign sources claim that as the blackberries mature, their weight will increase to 8-12 g. Time will tell.
The color of the fruit is black, with a characteristic shine, the shape is oblong, similar to Karaka Black, but much smaller in size. In addition, the Brzezina berry does not resemble a giant elongated mulberry, but an ordinary one, and a plump one at that. Look at the photo of Brzezina and Karaka Black blackberries - they are really similar, if you do not pay attention to the size of the fruits.
Brzezina
Karaka Black
The taste of Brzezina blackberries is sweet, with a slight sourness and a pleasant aftertaste. Official tasting score: 4.6 points. Domestic gardeners have not yet managed to include the variety in their ratings - probably too little time has passed.
Characteristic
There are problems with the characteristics of Brzezin's thornless blackberries. They differ from those stated in the patent. Perhaps the variety has not yet had time to show itself, or conditions even in Ukraine are very different from Polish ones. But it is possible that they rushed to advertise Brzezina blackberries, wishful thinking. In any case, the answer will only be available in a few years, but for now, let's figure it out together.
Main advantages
Blackberries Brzezina are declared as not requiring shelter for the winter. But it is prone to freezing of flower buds, so if you leave the lashes without insulation, this will significantly reduce the yield.
The manufacturer claims that the variety tolerates drought and heat well. So much has been said and written about the culture’s love for moist soil and regular watering that any gardener knows that blackberry drought resistance is a relative concept. But residents of the southern regions need to know that Brzezina berries are baked at high temperatures.
The transportability of the berries is really excellent - they are transported well and do not leak when stored in a cool room. The shoots are devoid of thorns along their entire length. Brzezina is not capricious in care; it has the same requirements for soil composition and placement as other blackberries.
Flowering period and ripening time
The Brzezina variety is positioned as an extra early variety. So far this is not true. It should rather be classified as mid-early. Fruiting begins in early July in the south, in other regions - 1-2 weeks later.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
It’s too early to talk about Brzeziny’s yield. But the creators of the variety claim that about 8 kg of berries can be harvested from each adult blackberry bush. Perhaps, like Polar, Brzezina will be more prolific when covered for the winter, when the flower buds will not be affected by frost.
The fruiting dates indicated in the authors’ description should be 10-14 days ahead of Loch Tay. In practice, both varieties reach maturity at the same time.But for now we can only observe signal berries. Perhaps, having entered full fruiting, Brzezina will indeed turn out to be an extremely early variety.
The berries ripen unevenly, fruiting is extended over 5-6 weeks.
Area of application of berries
Brzezin blackberries can be eaten fresh, processed, or frozen for the winter. They are well transported and will soon appear on the shelves of European supermarkets.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Brzezina blackberries are resistant to diseases and pest attacks. But this variety must be processed at the beginning and end of the season for preventive purposes.
Advantages and disadvantages
We can only guess what advantages and disadvantages the Brzezina variety has - it has not yet entered full fruiting either in amateur gardens or on industrial plantations. But, as it turned out, in this case it is reckless to rely on the description of the breeders. However, perhaps in 2-3 years Brzezina will show itself as an extremely early variety, not afraid of frost and heat. It remains to wait a little.
The advantages of the Brzezina variety include:
- Large beautiful berries.
- Good resistance (as for blackberries) to drought.
- High resistance to diseases and pests.
- Good berry taste.
- High frost resistance.
- No thorns.
- Early fruiting.
- Good transportability of berries.
- High yield.
- Good shoot-forming ability.
- Small amount of growth.
Among the shortcomings we note:
- Brzezin's blackberries still need to be covered for the winter.
- Berries are damaged by extreme heat.
- Flower buds freeze without shelter even in the south.
- Thick, rigid shoots are difficult to tie to a support, remove and bend to the ground.
As you can see, there are more advantages than disadvantages so far.We’ll find out later what else the Brzezina blackberry variety will please or disappoint us with.
Reproduction methods
The Brzezina variety is difficult to propagate by pulping or layering - tough shoots do not bend well. To tilt the whip towards the ground, it will have to be accustomed to a horizontal position from the beginning of growth. The variety can be propagated:
- dividing an adult bush;
- green or root cuttings;
- intentional damage to the root system (thus increasing the number of offspring).
Landing rules
Planting Brzezina is practically no different from other varieties of blackberries. It can be easily done by any novice gardener - it is important to choose the right place and prepare the soil.
Recommended timing
Like other blackberries, the Brzezina variety in the south is planted in early autumn so that the bush has time to take root before frost. In other regions it is placed on the site in the spring. Then the blackberry will take root during the warm season and will survive the winter well.
Choosing a suitable location
Blackberries love light fertile loams with a slightly acidic soil reaction. The landing site should be protected from cold winds and well lit. In southern regions, shading may be required at midday to prevent the berries from baking in the sun. Groundwater should not come closer than 1-1.5 m to the surface of the earth.
Soil preparation
Planting holes are dug with a diameter of 50 cm and the same depth. The top part of the soil is mixed with a bucket of humus, potash (50 g) and phosphorus (150 g) fertilizers. If the soil is excessively acidic, lime is added to it; alkaline or neutral soil is improved with high-moor (red) peat. Dense soil is enriched with sand, carbonate soil with organic matter.
Then the planting hole is filled 2/3 with the prepared mixture and filled with water. After 10-14 days you can start planting.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Brzezina is a new variety. You should buy it directly from the nursery or from trusted dealers. Blackberry shoots should be smooth, without cracks or other damage, and the root system should be well developed. Brzezina is devoid of thorns; their presence signals that they are selling you a different variety.
Preparation for planting consists of watering container seedlings or soaking the exposed root for 12 hours.
Algorithm and landing scheme
There is no experience in growing blackberries of the Brzezina variety. Manufacturers recommend planting bushes at a distance of 2-2.5 m from each other in private gardens, and maintaining an interval of 1-1.5 m on industrial plantations. Leave 2.5-3 m between rows.
A young bush prepared and trimmed to 10-15 cm is planted as follows:
- An earthen mound is formed in the center of the planting hole.
- Blackberry roots are evenly distributed around it.
- The hole is gradually filled with fertile soil, constantly compacting it to avoid the occurrence of voids. The root collar should be buried 1.5-2 cm.
- The seedling is watered with water. Each one consumes at least 10 liters.
- The soil around the blackberries is mulched with humus or acidic peat.
Subsequent care of the crop
Caring for Brzezina blackberries will not present any special problems. Polish breeders are developing varieties that are easy to care for. The exception is shelter from frost - they believe that their blackberries will survive the cold season just fine on a trellis. Unfortunately, in our conditions such wintering is unacceptable.
Growing principles
Although the shoots of the Brzezina blackberry are tough and thick, they need to be tied to a trellis. One or two year old bushes do not need support - their vines are still quite short.Starting from the third year, fruiting shoots are tied to one side of the support, young growth is tied to the other.
Opinions differ regarding the need to pinch shoots. Some gardeners say that there will be enough lateral branches, while others argue that shortening the tops will increase the yield of the variety. Time will tell which of them is right.
Necessary activities
After planting, the young bush is watered twice a week. In the future, the soil is constantly kept moist - blackberries are a moisture-loving crop. Just remember that waterlogging the soil will damage the roots.
The Brzezina variety needs to be fed at least three times per season:
- nitrogen at the beginning of the growing season;
- a complete mineral complex during the formation and opening of blackberry buds;
- monopotassium phosphate or other similar fertilizer after fruiting.
Foliar feeding with the addition of chelates and epin throughout the season will be useful, but not more often than once every 2 weeks.
Loosening of the soil is carried out in spring and autumn. In the middle of the growing season, it is better to mulch the soil - this will retain moisture, cover the blackberry roots from overheating and reduce germination weed.
Shrub pruning
The fruiting canes are immediately cut out - they only take away the strength of the blackberries and prevent the young canes from ripening, on which berries will appear next season. The rationing of shoots in an adult bush is standard - 6-8 of the strongest branches are left.
Practice will show whether it is necessary to pinch the tops for strong lateral branching. Thin, weak and broken shoots are removed throughout the season.
Preparing for winter
Although Polish breeders claim that the Brzezina variety can winter without shelter in the southern regions, it is not worth the risk.They were talking about other varieties - Polar, Gai, Rushai. And all of them had to be covered even in Ukraine in order to get a good harvest.
The shoots of the Brzezina blackberry are tough and thick. They should be accustomed to being removed from the trellis in the fall from an early age. To do this, young lashes are pinned to the ground until they reach 30-40 cm, and only then raised to a support.
Tunnel shelters are best suited for Brzezina. But you can insulate blackberries using straw, dry corn stalks, spruce branches, spandbond or agrofibre.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
Blackberries rarely get sick and are affected by pests. This allows you to grow the crop without unnecessary processing. But prevention is mandatory, especially with dense plantings. The Brzezina variety should be sprayed with copper-containing preparations in spring and autumn.
You cannot plant nightshade crops, strawberries or raspberries next to blackberries.
Conclusion
The Brzezina blackberry variety has not yet shown all its strengths and weaknesses. But it’s definitely worth planting, even if it doesn’t become a new star. This is especially true for those who grow blackberries for sale - Polish varieties adapt better to our conditions than North American ones.
