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It is impossible to pass by a blackberry bush strewn with record-breakingly large juicy fruits indifferently. But, before you rush to plant the same miracle in your garden, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the Kiova blackberry variety.
History of selection
The Kiowa blackberry variety, or Kiowa, as it is also called, appeared two decades ago thanks to the efforts of plant breeders at the University of Arkansas, who crossed two experimental varieties and obtained a blackberry that fully met their hopes. The variety received its name in honor of one of the Indian tribes.
Photo of Kiowa blackberry:
Description of the berry crop
The berries of the Kiova variety are considered one of the largest among all blackberry varieties. This is precisely why he won the hearts of gardeners.
General idea of Kiova blackberries
The large-fruited Kiova blackberry is a late-ripening variety. Blackberry bushes of this upright growing variety have erect shoots about one and a half meters high, sometimes even a little higher. Blackberry shoots and leaves are completely covered with numerous sharp thorns.
The blackberry bush of the Kiova variety is covered with abundant, emerald-colored foliage. The inflorescences are white, sometimes with a pink tint.
Berries
By the time they ripen, the berries of the Kiova variety become glossy black. The average weight of the berry is about 13 g, sometimes individual specimens reach 20 g. The oblong, round-shaped fruits taste sweet, with a slight sourness.
Kiowa blackberry seeds are medium sized. Particularly noteworthy is the stunning aroma of this variety, clearly reminiscent of its forest ancestors.
Characteristic
Breeders did a great job creating this variety. It consists of practically nothing but advantages.
Main advantages
The Kiova variety is frost-resistant and can withstand down to -23C°. But when growing in the central region, it is better to play it safe and cover the bushes for the winter. It’s important not to overdo it here so that the kidneys don’t rot.
Juicy, but quite dense Kiova blackberries are not afraid of transportation. They can be stored for several days without losing their presentation or taste.
Flowering period and ripening time
The flowering period of the Kiova blackberry variety is late; the fruits begin to ripen in mid-July. But it also depends on the planting region and climatic conditions.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
Kiowa blackberries bear fruit for a long time, taking up to six weeks.The quality and size of the berries remains within normal limits until the end of the season. The variety is considered high-yielding; in its homeland, the productivity of Kiova blackberries varies between 4.5-6 t/ha. But, it must be emphasized that high performance can only be achieved with proper care and compliance with all rules of agricultural technology.
Area of application of berries
Blackberries are consumed both fresh and processed. Its fruits make wonderful-tasting preserves, compotes, jams, tinctures, syrups, and liqueurs. Kiowa blackberries are also used as a filling for pies. Blackberries of this variety are also valuable because when frozen, the taste and shape of the berries, as well as their beneficial properties, are well preserved.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, Kiova blackberries are not afraid of fungal diseases. And if preventive treatments are carried out in a timely manner, it is unlikely that pests will bother it.
Advantages and disadvantages
The originators of the Kiova variety worked conscientiously on its creation, and blackberries have many more advantages than disadvantages. The advantages include:
- resistance to fungal diseases;
- wonderful taste of berries;
- large fruit;
- good transportability of fruits;
- frost resistance (applies only to southern regions);
- duration of fruiting.
Among the disadvantages it should be noted:
- many sharp thorns;
- extended late ripening (this drawback does not allow this variety of blackberries to be grown in regions with harsh climates).
Reproduction methods
The blackberry variety Kiova is propagated vegetatively, that is, shoots are rooted. At the same time, shallow grooves are made, and, having pinned the tops of the shoots, they carefully cover the rooting sites with earth.
During the warm season, they are watered; you can also feed the growing seedlings with a solution of nitrophoska.
Landing rules
Proper planting is the key to achieving a high yield. There is nothing complicated in planting Kiova blackberries, but you still need to follow some rules.
Recommended timing
Blackberries of this variety are planted mainly in the spring, when the ground is warm enough. When planting Kiova blackberries in the fall, the timing is calculated so that the seedlings have time to take root before the first frost.
Choosing a suitable location
For planting, choose well-lit places protected from strong gusts of wind. Dark areas should be avoided.
Soil preparation
The soil where Kiowa blackberries are planted should be nutritious and light. You can add sand or peat to the soil, this will significantly reduce the density and enrich the composition of nutrients. If the soil is acidic, then it is limed using dolomite flour.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
When choosing blackberry seedlings of the Kiova variety, you need to pay attention to the fact that the plant has a developed root system with a living bud and one or two shoots with leaves. The roots should not be shorter than 10 cm.
Algorithm and landing scheme
The distance between plants should be at least 1.5 m. Before placing a blackberry seedling in a planting hole, drainage is laid on its bottom. These could be small pebbles or broken bricks.
Next, a small amount of fertile soil is poured into the planting hole. On the resulting small mound, the blackberry root system is straightened.
The blackberry bush is gradually sprinkled with soil mixed with organic fertilizers.The soil around the root collar is compacted and then watered.
The root collar of the blackberry seedling should rise slightly above the ground. The ground around the bush is mulched with straw or peat, and then the shoots are cut off. Their length should be 30-40 cm.
Subsequent care of the crop
Growing the Kiowa blackberry variety is quite simple. Even inexperienced gardeners do not have any particular problems when growing shrubs.
Growing principles
Although the shoots of the Kiova variety are erect and quite strong, it is still better to strengthen them on a trellis with a fan. This simple procedure will make it easier to care for and will not allow the branches to break under the weight of ripening berries, and will also simplify pruning and harvesting, because blackberry shoots are covered with sharp thorns.
The productivity of the Kiova variety is directly related to proper care of the plant. By following simple recommendations for caring for blackberries of this variety, you can achieve excellent results. You will have no reason to worry that the harvest will be meager.
Necessary activities
The need for watering for the Kiova variety is moderate. Systematic watering should be done from the beginning of flowering, because the quantity, size and quality of the developing fruits depend on the amount of moisture. To retain moisture, the soil is mulched with straw or peat.
From the beginning of the budding period, it is advisable to fertilize blackberries by adding mineral supplements to the soil around the bush once every three weeks. Loosening and weeding are done as needed.
Shrub pruning
For erect blackberries, pruning of the side shoots is necessary to give the bush a compact shape and prevent them from growing chaotically.
Kiowa blackberries are pruned in spring and autumn. During spring pruning, dry and rotten shoots are removed. During the autumn season, young, weak shoots are pruned, as well as old, fruit-bearing branches remaining after the harvest. As a result, no more than 10 young and healthy shoots are left, which are also shortened a little, shortening by approximately 1/3.
Preparing for winter
After pruning, the blackberry shoots, before they become lignified, are removed from the trellises, and, carefully bending them down, they are placed under cover. Although breeders claim that the Kiova variety is frost-resistant, it is still not worth the risk, because in its homeland the climate is much milder and warmer.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
The Kiova variety is disease-resistant, and therefore does not cause additional trouble for gardeners. In the spring, the bush can be treated with the environmentally friendly drug Fitosporin for preventive purposes.
But pests can spoil the harvest and cause significant damage to the bushes. But knowing the enemy by sight makes it easier to fight him.
Pests | Signs and damage | Methods of control and prevention |
Common spider mite | Leaves turn yellow, dry out, and fall off prematurely | 1. Collection and burning of damaged leaves 2. Loosening the soil to a depth of at least 7 cm 3. Mulching the soil around the plant with a layer of at least 7 cm 4. For spraying, preparations containing sulfur are used |
Raspberry stem fly | Blackening, wilting, and drying of shoots | 1. Pruning and burning damaged shoots 2. Mulching the soil with a layer of mulch at least 5 cm thick |
Stem raspberry gall midge | Inhibition of plant growth, and even death of the bush | 1. Pruning and burning damaged shoots 2.Loosening the soil to a depth of 7 cm 3. Mulching the soil with a layer of at least 6 cm |
Khrushchev May | Wilting and death of plants | 1. Manual collection of pests 2. Watering the plant with iodine solution (20 drops per 10 liters of water) 3. During the growing season, use of the drug Antikhrushch, Konfidor |
Blackberry mite | Deterioration in fruit quality | Spring treatment of plants with Tiovit Jet, Envidor |
In conclusion, watch the video about Kiowa blackberries, and listen to the advice of the author of the video:
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the Kiowa blackberry deserves attention. It captivates gardeners with its unpretentiousness, high productivity, and tasty fruits. Reviews from gardeners about Kiova blackberries are only positive. Those who have tasted the sweet berries forgive even the sharp thorns. Well, what can you do, everyone has shortcomings, and the Kiova variety, although they are prickly, are still small.
