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Despite the fact that Ivan Michurin paid attention to blackberries, and even developed two varieties - Izobilnaya and Texas, the crop has not become widespread in Russia and neighboring countries. But across the ocean, entire plantations of tasty and healthy berries are planted. It is not surprising that almost all new products appearing on the market were created through the efforts of North American, and not domestic, breeders. One of the best is the Columbia Star blackberry variety.
History of selection
The blackberry variety Columbia Star is one of the newest and most promising. It was created by Chad Finn of the University of Oregon under the auspices of the US Department of Agriculture. The first sample of blackberries of this variety was obtained in 2008, and from 2009 to 2012 it was tested. Columbia Star was registered in 2014, and a patent was issued for it in 2015.
Columbia Star blackberry is a hybrid obtained by crossing an unpatented variety from New Zealand NZ 9629-1 and the Orus 1350-2 form.
In fact, Columbia Star contains the genes of a large number of blackberry cultivars and raspberry hybrids. The famous Lincoln Logan variety was used as a donor for thornless and flexible lashes.
Columbia Star blackberries were originally created as a crop with an ideal taste and a beautiful berry that would be easy to grow on an industrial scale.
Description of the berry crop
Before describing the variety, some explanations need to be given. Blackberry Columbia Star is new. It has been tested in the United States. But even there the oldest bush is not yet 10 years old. This is very little for testing a variety.
Russian conditions are very different from North American ones. Even if we assume that the first blackberry bush of the Columbia Star variety came to us in 2014 and was not “disassembled” into cuttings, but left as an experimental plant, 4 years is a short period. We cannot know exactly how the cultivar will behave in 3-5 years, what its productive age, productivity, and disease resistance will be during epizootic years. Even the size of blackberries depends greatly on local conditions.
So you have to rely on the little experience of overseas producers and trust the statements of the American Department of Agriculture. But judging by the advertising campaign launched there and the area of blackberry plantations already established, the Columbia Star variety is really worthy of attention. Moreover, it promises to become a real sensation.
General idea of the variety
Columbia Star blackberries need support. Its shoots even in the first year after planting give an increase of 3-4 m, later they reach 4-5 m.The lashes are flexible, thornless, durable. They are easy to form, tie to a support and remove from it for the winter. If the shoots are left undisturbed, they will spread like dewberries.
Lateral branches are strong. The average length of internodes is a little more than 5 cm. Mature leaves are large, green, young leaves are light, almost light green in color. The root system is well developed.
Fruiting occurs on the shoots of the previous year.
Berries
Large white flowers, more than 3 cm in diameter, are collected in clusters of 3-4 pieces. The cone-shaped berries of Columbia Star blackberries are one-dimensional and large. They have a dark brown color with a burgundy tint, more typical of raspberry-blackberry hybrids. The flesh is reddish when cut.
The average weight of a Columbia Star blackberry declared by the manufacturer is 7.8 g. Some seedling sellers call the figure 10-12 or even 16-18 g. Whether this corresponds to reality in our conditions - only time will tell. Most likely, this declared size of berries is just an advertising ploy. In fact, a blackberry weighing 8 g is already considered large.
In the technical characteristics of the Columbia Star variety, the diameter of the fruit is stated to be 1.88 cm, length - 3.62-3.83 cm. The aromatic pulp is tender, juicy, elastic, the drupes are small and, when consumed fresh, are almost imperceptible. The taste is balanced, with raspberry and cherry notes, sweet and sour. Tasting score for Columbia Star blackberries is 4.7 points.
Characteristic
The characteristics of Columbia Star blackberries as a variety with exceptional consumer qualities have not stood the test of time. We can only hope that he will show himself well and take root in our conditions.
Main advantages
Like all dewberries, the Columbia Star variety has average winter hardiness and needs shelter. Under favorable conditions, this blackberry can easily tolerate 25 degrees of frost. At temperatures below -14⁰ C without shelter in a snowless winter, with periodic thaws followed by sharp cold snaps, the plant may die.
Columbia Star blackberries have high drought tolerance. It needs regular watering only in the first year after planting. Just don’t forget that blackberries are a shrub, not a fruit tree, and they need more moisture, especially in the south.
Blackberries grow best on loose loam, well seasoned with organic matter. The soil should be slightly acidic.
Growing Columbia Star blackberries is not a troublesome task if you trim and tie up the bush in time. If you neglect these procedures, you will quickly end up with impenetrable thickets that are difficult to deal with. And although the shoots of the Columbia Star blackberry are absolutely thornless, it will be difficult to get the bush in order. And the harvest, firstly, will fall, and secondly, it will be difficult to harvest.
Columbia Star blackberries do not lose their shape for a long time and are easy to transport.
Flowering period and ripening time
The thornless blackberry variety Columbia Star has not yet had time to show real fruiting and flowering dates in our conditions. It is grown only for 2-3 years, and this is the time of adaptation of the culture. Having collected the necessary information, it will be possible to talk about the exact indicators of flowering and fruiting in 2-3 years.In addition, Columbia Star blackberries are planted everywhere - in central Russia, Belarus, and in the south.
Today we can say with confidence that in the south the variety blooms in mid-to-late June. In the middle zone, naturally, later. Fruiting is more difficult. The manufacturer states that it is extended and should take place in the mid-early period.
Yield indicators
When creating a new variety, we always pay attention to its yield. In America, they believe that high productivity is the destiny of industrial cultivars. For dessert varieties, such as Columbia Star blackberries, the main thing is a tasty, beautiful berry. But the yield may be average.
Despite this, our seedling sellers describe productivity as “phenomenal”, “record-breaking”, and Columbia Star blackberries are advertised as producing the highest yields. In fact, in the conditions of the United States, the variety produces 7.5 kg per bush or 16.75 t/ha. This is the average yield.
How the variety will perform in our conditions is generally unknown. There is no such data. And it won’t happen sooner than in 3-4 years.
Area of application of berries
Columbia Star blackberries are delicious and have a rich cherry and raspberry flavor. They are eaten fresh, especially since the transportability of the fruit is good, and they can be stored in a cool room for a long time without losing their marketable qualities. Processed products - preserves, wine, jellies, jams are tasty and healthy.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Columbia Star variety is resistant to typical crop diseases and pests. Of course, it can be affected during epizootic years or in close proximity to infected raspberry or blackberry bushes.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Columbia Star variety is considered promising.If he performs as the breeders plan, he will become one of the best. Its advantages include:
- Absolutely no thorns.
- Delicious berries (4.7 points).
- Resistance to diseases and pests.
- The yield of the Columbia Star blackberry variety is average, but for a dessert berry it is good.
- Fruiting period is more than 2 months.
- Good transportability and keeping quality of berries.
- Possibility of mechanized cleaning.
- High resistance to drought.
- Self-pollinating.
- The shoots of this blackberry bend well - they can easily be attached to a support or removed from it.
The disadvantages include:
- The high cost of planting material.
- Lack of information about Columbia Star blackberries. This is due to the fact that the variety is new. Over time, this defect will correct itself.
- The need to cover the crop for the winter. Unfortunately, today this applies not only to the Columbia Star variety.
Reproduction methods
Blackberries are easy to propagate. There are several ways:
- Seeds. If you have only one variety growing, up to 40% of seedlings will inherit the maternal characteristics.
- By layering. The easiest way is to tear off the leaves of the current year's shoot in August. It is dug in, secured with metal brackets, watered, and the next year it is separated from the mother bush and planted in a permanent place.
- Apical shoots (pulping). When the young lash reaches 60 cm, cut off 10-12 cm of the top. Several thin shoots grow from the bud; they are bent to the ground, buried 5 cm, secured, and watered abundantly.
- Root cuttings – to obtain a large number of young plants.
- Dividing an adult bush.
- Green cuttings.
Landing rules
Planting blackberries is not difficult even for novice gardeners. The Columbia Star variety is thornless, so you don’t even have to worry about the shoots scratching your hands.
Recommended timing
In the south, it is recommended to plant blackberries in the fall - spring may be short. The rapid onset of heat will not allow the plant to take root normally. In temperate climates, blackberries are planted in the spring, when the soil has warmed to a depth of 40-50 cm.
Choosing a suitable location
Blackberries love well-lit places protected from the wind. In cool climates they should warm up well. The standing groundwater level is no closer than 1-1.5 m. The crop loves moist soils, but does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots.
Soil preparation
Blackberries are unpretentious to soil. But most of all she loves light loams containing a large amount of organic matter. The soil should have a slightly acidic reaction.
Planting holes should be prepared at least 10 days before planting. They are dug 50x50x50 cm in size. The soil for planting is mixed from the top fertile layer of soil, a bucket of humus, 150 g of superphosphate, 40 g of potassium fertilizer. Add a little lime to too acidic soil, and add acidic peat to neutral or alkaline soil. If the soil is heavy, it is improved with sand.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
A blackberry seedling should have 1-2 well-developed shoots and a root with 2-3 thick shoots and a large number of thin fibrous roots. If the plant bark is wrinkled or cracked, you should not buy it. The wood should be green, not brown.
The container plant is simply watered and planted along with a lump of earth. Bare-root blackberries are soaked for about 12 hours.
Algorithm and landing scheme
If you are going to plant several Columbia Star blackberry bushes, think about the placement of the plants in advance. In a private garden, it must be individual for each specific case.
Condensed planting is possible - 80 cm between plants, 3 m between rows. But this is only if you carefully form the bushes and feed them 3 times a year. Most often, Columbia Star blackberries are planted at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other, the row spacing is left the same as in the previous case or 50 cm larger.
Planting holes are filled 2/3 with fertile mixture and filled with water. It’s good if you have time for them to sit for 10-14 days. If blackberry seedlings have already been purchased, you can start planting immediately after the water has been absorbed:
- Trim the shoots, leaving 15-20 cm. Treat the wound surface with garden varnish.
- Form a mound in the center, place a seedling on it, straighten the roots.
- Fill the hole with a fertile mixture so as to deepen the root collar by 1.5-2 cm.
- Gently compact the soil and water the plant generously.
- Mulch the soil.
Subsequent care of the crop
The first time after planting, blackberries need to be watered 2 times a week. At least ½ bucket of water is consumed for each bush.
Growing principles
The Columbia Star blackberry variety requires staking. You can use standard trellises about 2 m high with three rows of wire. The first is at a distance of 40-50 from the ground surface. If convenient, consider other options: a T-shaped trellis or a multi-row trellis, in which 20-25 cm are left between the wire lines.
The yield of blackberries is influenced by fertilizing, timely pruning and tying the bush.
Necessary activities
Blackberries are a moisture-loving crop, although they are drought-resistant. With insufficient watering, the shoots of the Columbia Star variety will grow shorter and the berries will become smaller. If there has been no rain for a long time, the soil needs to be moistened at least once every 2 weeks in the south, less often in temperate climates.
In the spring, after pruning and gartering, blackberries are fertilized with nitrogen, following the instructions on the package. After flowering, the plant is given a full mineral complex. When the harvest is harvested, the blackberries are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Some gardeners limit themselves to the spring application of nitrogen, and give the remaining substances once every 3 years, but in large quantities. This makes maintenance easier, but reduces productivity.
It is better not to loosen the soil under blackberries, but to mulch them. Moreover, humus is used on overly acidic soils, and acidic peat is used on alkaline and neutral soils.
Shrub pruning and winter preparation
Pruning blackberries is the most important stage of care. In the first year, the Columbia Star variety leaves 2-3 strong shoots, which are tied to a trellis with a fan. The young growth is directed in the center, secured to the top wire.
For the winter, the shoots of the current year are removed, laid on the ground and covered with spruce branches, earth or other material. The severity of the cover depends on your climate conditions. For the south, agrofibre with a layer of soil of 5-10 cm poured on top is sufficient. In cold climates, spruce branches and agrofibre are combined, and the soil layer should be about 20 cm.
Remove the cover before the buds open. It must be remembered that damping off is much more dangerous than freezing.
Next, they cut out the old branches, remove some of last year’s ones, leaving 5-7 of the strongest ones. If necessary, remove the frozen or dried tops of the shoots and tie them to one side of the trellis. Young branches will be attached to the other.
In subsequent years, the procedure is repeated, cutting out old shoots into a ring close to the ground in early spring.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
The Columbia Star blackberry variety is resistant to pests and diseases. It only needs preventative spraying. They are made before covering the bush for the winter and in the spring, after pruning and tying it to the trellis, with a copper-containing preparation. During epizootic years, other treatments may be required.
The Columbia Star blackberry variety may suffer from chlorosis, an iron deficiency. This manifests itself in yellowing of the leaves, while the veins remain green. You need to spray the bush with chelates.
Conclusion
Blackberry Columbia Star is a new promising variety. How it will behave in our conditions is still unknown. But all lovers of this crop, without exception, should pay attention to the variety, even if it has at least some of the qualities declared by the originator.
Reviews
In the spring, old branches are cut out, and some of last year’s ones are removed, leaving 5-7 of the strongest ones.
In subsequent years, the procedure is repeated, cutting out old shoots into a ring close to the ground in early spring.
Is it possible to cut out old branches in the fall to make covering the seedling easier?