Content
In recent years, gardeners have increasingly paid attention to blackberries. This crop attracts small farmers, and large farms are testing overseas or Polish varieties. Unfortunately, domestic breeders have paid little attention to blackberries for many years, and the market dictates its own laws. Thanks to the Internet and the abundance of printed publications, the consumer has become literate and picky. The information that blackberries are not only healthier than raspberries, but can be sweet, aromatic and thornless, has contributed to the growing popularity of the crop in the post-Soviet space.
History of selection
We are used to new varieties of blackberries coming to us from North America or Poland. But New Zealand scientists also made their contribution to the selection of this crop.The Karaka Black variety is often positioned as new in our country. In fact, work on its breeding began in 1982. Karaka Black is a complex hybrid, in the creation of which blackberries and raspberries took part. The parent varieties are Oregon-bred Aurora and Arkansas-bred Comanche.
Harvey Hall, an employee of the Hort Research research station (New Zealand), first obtained several promising seedlings from crossing the above cultivars. Then he combined the genes of the largest-fruited specimens with dense berries. This is how the blackberry variety Karaka Black, registered in 2003, was obtained.
Description of the berry crop
Karaka Black is very decorative throughout the season. This variety of blackberry can not only bring a rich harvest, but will also decorate any garden.
General idea of the variety
Karaka Black is a typical dewberry. Its shoots are of moderate thickness, flexible, which makes it easier to cover for the winter, and not too long - from 3 to 5 m for an adult plant. The bush cannot be called powerful, but the thorny lashes with short internodes are quite strong, they are easy to bend, but not break. The shoot-forming ability of the Karaka Black variety is average.
There are many fruit branches, because each of them bears no more than 3-6 berries for an adult blackberry, and 2-3 for a young bush. The Karaka Black variety produces little shoots, unless the well-developed root is deliberately damaged.
The leaves of this blackberry are green, with 3-5 elongated serrated lobes. Young ones can be colored yellow - this is not a disease, but a feature of the variety. Karaka Black has numerous and sharp spines.But they are not as large and tough as most thorned varieties.
Fruiting occurs on last year's growth.
Berries
The berries of Karaka Black blackberries are beautiful, black, with a glossy sheen. Fruits that are not fully ripened are purple, while in the early stages of ripeness they are red. From a distance, the berries of the Karaka Black variety look like large mulberries - their shape is elongated, tapering towards the top, and can be slightly curved.
The average length of the fruit is 4-5 cm, weight is about 10 g. It is noteworthy that the berries on young bushes are smaller than those on adult plants. After the fourth year, blackberries weighing about 14 g or more are not uncommon. Individual berries can weigh up to 17 g.
The taste and consistency changes depending on the degree of ripeness. Unripe fruits are reddish and sour. At the stage of technical maturity, they become sweeter, with a pleasant sourness and aroma. They are well transported and do not lose their consumer properties for 4-5 days in a cool room. Gourmets claim that the taste of Karaka Black blackberries cannot be confused with other varieties.
Overripe berries become soft and lose their piquant sourness. They tend to fall off, so gardeners should adapt to picking the fruits on time, especially if they are intended for sale.
Tasting rating of Karaka Black blackberries – 4.5 points. People's experts assessed the variety more reservedly and gave it 4.07 points.
Characteristic
The Karaka Black variety in England and other European countries is grown as an industrial variety in open ground and under film covers. This blackberry came to us not so long ago, but small farmers and gardeners have already appreciated it. On large farms, the Karaka Black variety is still being tested for resistance to the vagaries of our climate.
Main advantages
Karaka Black blackberries are not intended for frosty winters. Its shoots and flower buds are not able to withstand temperatures below -16-17⁰ C. They cover it even in the south of Ukraine, with the exception of areas where winters are mild and frosts are rare.
The drought resistance of the variety is low; regular watering is needed, especially if you want to get a decent harvest. Extreme heat can damage those berries that are exposed to the scorching sun all day, but this only happens in the south.
The transportability of fruits at the stage of technical or full ripeness is excellent. Overripe berries become soft. Not only do they become difficult to transport, their taste becomes worse.
Karaka Black blackberries can not be called either a capricious or unpretentious variety. Its care requirements are moderate, but you can’t just plant a bush and not pay attention to it. To a large extent, shoots equipped with dense small thorns make care difficult.
Flowering period and ripening time
Flowering of the Karaka Black blackberry in the southern regions begins in early or mid-May, in the north - a little later. There, the first buds open starting in mid or late May.
One of the features of the Karaka Black variety is that flowering (and, consequently, fruiting) occurs in waves. First, the upper buds open, located at the ends of well-lit shoots raised on a support. Then the flowering seems to flow down.When the buds open on the lower fruit branches located almost at ground level, the upper clusters are already ripe.
The Karaka Black blackberry is one of the first to ripen. In Ukraine, the first berries are harvested in early to mid-June, in the middle zone - by early July. And fruiting of Karaka Black is really extended - 6-8 weeks.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
The blackberry variety Karaka Black is considered promising and productive. An adult bush produces an average of 10-12 kg of berries, and with a good location and good agricultural technology - up to 15 kg. They harvest 15 centners per hectare; in their homeland, New Zealand, the yield of Karaka Black blackberries reaches 25 centners/ha. There is evidence that some European farms are approaching this figure, but only with active feeding and good care.
Fruiting of Karaka Black blackberries lasts for two months. This is not always convenient on large plantations. But the early dates (June-early July) of ripening of the berries allow them to be sold at a high price. When grown in small areas, long fruiting makes it possible to enjoy fresh blackberries for a long time. If there is not enough space, you may not want to grow other varieties.
Area of application of berries
Blackberries Karaka Black belong to the elite varieties. It can be eaten fresh, frozen for the winter, made into wine, juices, and jams. At the stage of technical maturity, the Karaka Black variety withstands transportation well, is stored for a long time and can be sold in markets or supermarkets.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Karaka Black blackberries are resistant to diseases and pests.Despite this, preventive treatments are mandatory.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Karaka Black variety is clearly promising for cultivation in private and small farms. In our conditions, planting it on large plantations is still in question. The undoubted advantages of this blackberry include:
- Large beautiful berry.
- Good taste.
- Flexible lashes that can be easily bent to the ground and covered for the winter.
- Karaka Black is one of the earliest varieties.
- If you do not intentionally damage the root, the variety produces little growth.
- High yield, as for dessert blackberries.
- Extended fruiting (good for private households and small farms).
- High resistance to pests and diseases.
- Good transportability at the stage of technical maturity.
- Long shelf life of berries.
- Dense juicy pulp.
The disadvantages of the Karaka Black variety include:
- Low frost resistance.
- Thorny shoots.
- Average resistance to heat and drought.
- Extension of fruiting (for large farms).
- Overripe berries are prone to shedding.
Reproduction methods
Blackberry Karaka Black is easily propagated by layering and pulping (rooting of apical shoots). The variety produces little shoots, but if you deliberately damage the root with a spade bayonet, the bush will produce more young plants that can be planted. In nurseries, Karaka Black blackberries are often propagated from green or root cuttings.
Landing rules
Planting the Karaka Black variety is not much different from other blackberries. In order for the rooting of seedlings to be successful, you need to choose the right place, prepare a nutrient mixture and do not forget to water the young plant.
Recommended timing
Blackberries should be planted in the spring, when the soil warms up by 40-50 cm.This will allow the seedling to adapt to a new place and take root before the cold weather. Only in the southern regions is planting done in the fall. The late onset of frost allows blackberries to take root. Spring planting in the south is extremely unfavorable - heat can come suddenly and destroy a plant that has not had time to take root.
Choosing a suitable location
Blackberries of the Karaka Black variety prefer sunny places, protected from cold winds. Lack of light will negatively affect the taste of the berries. Only in southern areas with scorching sun may shading be required.
The soil should be loose, ideally fertile, slightly acidic loam.
Soil preparation
To provide blackberries with the best conditions for growth and fruiting, you should prepare a fertile mixture for planting. To do this, the top layer of soil is mixed with a bucket of humus, and starting fertilizers are added - 120-150 g of phosphorus and 50 g of potassium.
Alkaline or neutral soils are acidified with red peat. Carbonate soils require additional addition of organic matter, very dense clay soils require sand. Too acidic soil is improved with lime.
Planting holes are dug with a diameter and depth of 50 cm. They are filled 2/3 with a fertile mixture, filled with water and allowed to settle for 10-14 days.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Those who talk about the thornless blackberry variety Karaka Black have either never seen it or are trying to sell you something unknown. Small, dense spines on the shoots are one of the signs of varietal conformity.
In addition, the root system should be well developed - with several thick shoots and many lateral filiform roots. The bark on the shoots should not be wrinkled or cracked.
Pre-planting preparation of blackberries - watering the container seedling or soaking the exposed root for about 12 hours.
Algorithm and landing scheme
Blackberry Karaka Black prefers a free planting. In private farms (if space allows), 3 m is left between bushes and in rows. On industrial plantations, compaction of more than 1.5 m is not recommended. Planting is carried out in the following sequence:
- A small mound is placed at the bottom of the planting hole. Blackberry roots are distributed around it.
- When backfilling and compacting the soil, one should not forget that the root collar should be buried approximately 1.5-2.0 cm.
- To water a seedling, they spend at least a bucket of water.
- The tree trunk circle is mulched with acidic peat or humus.
Subsequent care of the crop
A video about growing Karaka Black blackberries will help you not only learn the basics of caring for the variety, but also get to know it better:
Growing principles
Blackberries of the Karaka Black variety are grown on a trellis. Choose one that is convenient for you - multi-row, T-shaped. If the shoots are not tied up, they will fall to the ground, because the variety is a dewberry. Not only will the berries get dirty, but the vines may take root. Then you will have additional work, and given the thorny nature of the shoots, it will not be pleasant.
The yield and quality of berries are affected by fertilizing, watering, and in the northern regions, lighting. With a lack of sun, the berries do not gain sweetness well and remain sour. Since the ripening of fruits occurs unevenly - from top to bottom, as the berries form, the leaves shading the clusters should be torn off.
Necessary activities
The Karaka Black variety, like other blackberries, needs regular watering, especially during the period of flowering and berry formation. This means that the soil needs to be moistened throughout the season - the lower buds open when the harvest has already been harvested from the upper fruit branches.
At the beginning and end of the season, the soil under the blackberry bushes is loosened. The rest of the time it is better to cover it with mulch. On acidic soils, humus or straw is used; on alkaline and neutral soils, red peat is used.
In the spring, blackberries are fertilized with nitrogen, and during the flowering period - with a full mineral complex. During the filling of berries and subsequent waves of flowering, it is useful to do foliar feeding with the addition of chelates (they will help avoid chlorosis). After fruiting, blackberries are fertilized with potassium monophosphate.
Shrub pruning
First of all, immediately after fruiting, the old canes are cut out. They are no longer needed, and will only interfere with the ripening of young shoots, drawing nutrients and moisture onto themselves.
An adult blackberry leaves 6-8 strong lashes. The tops and side shoots do not need to be pinched - fruit branches are already formed in sufficient quantities. Although everyone's conditions are different, try shortening some of the main vines and leaving some to grow as is. So in 2-3 years you can determine which method of growing blackberries is best for your plot.
Preparing for winter
Karaka Black blackberry shoots bend well, like all dewberries. When sheltering for the winter, only thorns will pose a problem. The branches are pinned to the ground and covered with spruce branches, dry corn stalks, spandbond or dry soil. The closer to the north your region is located, the more thorough the insulation should be.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
If you do not plant raspberries, strawberries and nightshades next to blackberries, problems will be kept to a minimum. It is enough to treat the bushes with copper-containing preparations in the fall and spring.
Conclusion
Thornless blackberries are not always the best. Although the Karaka Black variety is equipped with unpleasant thorns, its berries are so beautiful and tasty that scratched hands are a small price to pay for the harvest.
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