Content
More and more gardeners and small farmers are coming to the understanding that growing blackberries is much more profitable than raspberries. Of course, these species are not identical, but they are very close biologically, their taste is similar, and so is their scope of use. But blackberries are more prolific, less sick and less susceptible to pests, and contain more nutrients than raspberries.
Everyone knows that there are no ideal varieties of fruit crops, including blackberries. But gardeners are constantly searching. Some have found “their” ideal among the old varieties, many are closely following new products. The next contender for the title of best now is the thornless Natchez blackberry. Let's see if the laudatory comments are true.
History of selection
The first steps to create Natchez blackberries were taken in 1998, when the Arkansas Institute cross-pollinated the hybrids Ark.1857 and Ark.2005. The seedlings yielded a harvest in 2001. The most promising ones were selected, and after six years of testing, in 2007, the Ark.2241 sample was patented under the name Natchez.
Description of the berry crop
Today, the Natchez variety has taken one of the leading positions in the United States. But we should not forget that in America and in the post-Soviet space the priorities when growing blackberries are different. The main thing for us is productivity and ease of care. And since little of the crop was previously grown in Russia and neighboring countries, only specialists and gourmets understand the intricacies of blackberry taste here.
In America, where the consumer is spoiled by an abundance of varieties, it is the tasting qualities and visual attractiveness of the berries that matter most, rather than the yield. In addition, the climate there is ideal for growing crops, and there is no need to remove the shoots from the support and cover them for the winter.
General idea of the variety
Black Natchez blackberries are semi-creeping varieties - at first the shoots grow straight, like brambles, then they move to a horizontal position and become like dewberries. An adult bush is powerful, spreading, with thick lashes 5-7 m in length. In the first year after planting, Natchez blackberry shoots spread along the ground, reaching 3-4 m, and only the absence of thorns distinguishes the variety from a typical dewberry.
On adult bushes, the lashes grow very quickly, forming many lateral branches and fruiting branches. Natchez blackberry leaves differ from other varieties - they are light green, with fine serrations along the edge and a terry surface.
The root system of blackberries is powerful, and the more green mass you leave when pruning and normalizing the vines, the better developed it is. Fruiting occurs on last year's shoots.
Berries
The photo of Natchez blackberries shows that the fruits are beautiful - black, with a characteristic shine. They have the shape of an elongated cylinder, on average reaching a length of 3.7-4.0 cm and a weight of 9 g. With good care and free planting, individual berries can weigh 12.7 g when weighed.
There are 12-30 blackberries collected on fruit branches. The berries are moderately dense, juicy, but tolerate transportation well. They are attached to the stalk well, the tear is dry, the drupes are small.
The taste of the fruit is very sweet, the acid is almost not felt, the tasting score is 4.6 points. The rating of domestic gardeners gave the Natchez variety 4.3 points. However, the quality of the berries of this blackberry is greatly influenced by external factors, care and soil composition. Gourmets claim that the fruits of the first harvest have a subtle taste of good coffee.
Characteristic
Reviews from gardeners about Natchez blackberries show its superiority over other cultivars. It would seem that this is the ideal dessert variety. But there's no need to rush. Only those who choose blackberries with maximum information will not be disappointed. Therefore, we advise you to read this chapter carefully.
Main advantages
Natchez is not a drought-tolerant variety. However, the entire culture is moisture-loving and requires regular watering. The bush tolerates heat well, but berries at temperatures higher than 35⁰ C require shading.
Winter hardiness of Natchez blackberries is also not the best. It tolerates frost no more than -14⁰ C.Moreover, the shoots hold low temperatures quite well, but the flower buds freeze out. However, Natchez blackberries very quickly grow green mass and recover. But a frozen bush will not produce a harvest, so it will have to be covered even in the southern regions.
But the transportability of the berries of the Natchez variety is high, which is rare for blackberries with juicy fruits. There are no thorns on the shoots.
Growing Natchez blackberries requires some effort; they are not unpretentious. The choice of soil should also be approached responsibly - not only the quantity, but also the quality of the berries depends on this.
Flowering period and ripening time
The Natchez blackberry variety is one of the earliest. Depending on the region, it blooms from mid to late May. Fruiting is extended, lasting 35-40 days, sometimes longer. The beginning of berry ripening depends on the climate; in the south it is mid-to-late June. Natchez blackberries in the Moscow region ripen by mid-July.
Yield indicators, fruiting dates
The yield of Natchez blackberries is the highest among the dessert varieties of the Arkansas collection. From one adult bush you can collect 15-20 kg of berries. If we take into account the early fruiting and the absence of thorns, we can consider that the Natchez variety is close to ideal.
But not everything is as simple as enthusiasts would like. Replacement shoots in Natchez blackberries do not form well. Therefore, to obtain a high yield, it is grown in a two-year cycle. This means that during the fruiting season, all young shoots are cut out. In the spring of next year the bush will be “naked”, it will produce more new vines, but there will be no berries at all.
Area of application of berries
Natchez blackberries are a dessert variety - their berries are tasty and sweet. They are suitable for fresh consumption and making desserts.But the preparations made from it are “not very good” - here the sweet taste of the fruit plays a cruel joke, since jams and juices turn out “flat” and too sugary. But Natchez blackberries can be used for prefabricated compotes, multi-juices and assorted jams.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Like other blackberries, the Natchez variety is disease resistant and is rarely affected by pests. But preventive treatments need to be done, and you need to plant them away from nightshade crops, raspberries and strawberries. The ideal distance is at least 50 m; if possible, it should be maintained.
Advantages and disadvantages
Natchez blackberries have both advantages and disadvantages. However, the same applies to other varieties; the ideal does not yet exist.
The undeniable advantages include:
- Early ripening of berries.
- High yield.
- The berries are large, beautiful, with a high tasting score (4.6 points).
- Transportability and keeping quality of the fruit are very good.
- Natchez blackberry vines produce many side branches and fruiting branches.
- No thorns.
- The variety is resistant to diseases and pests.
- Dry picking of berries.
- Long-term fruiting.
- The berries are well attached to the stalk and do not fall off. If they are overripe, the taste and commercial quality do not deteriorate, so if necessary, you can delay harvesting. This is especially important for summer residents who come to the site once a week.
- If the bush is still frozen, you don’t have to be afraid of losing the variety - it has a high regenerative ability.
Disadvantages include:
- Low frost resistance of the variety.
- At temperatures above 35⁰ C, the fruits are baked.
- Natchez blackberry shoots do not bend well and can not only break, but also crack.
Reproduction methods
Unlike other blackberries, the Natchez variety does not propagate well from root cuttings. They need to be dug in the fall, stored in sand under certain conditions, and planted only in the spring. The variety produces few replacement shoots, let alone shoots; this method is also not suitable for amateur gardeners.
The solution is layering and pulping (rooting the tips of the shoots). These propagation methods are available in any garden plot, even for beginners. The main thing here is not to forget to water the buried branches.
Landing rules
The Natchez variety is planted in the same way as other blackberries. It’s just that it places increased demands on the soil, so simply digging a seedling into the area won’t work.
Recommended timing
In the south, blackberries are planted in the fall, but no later than a month before the expected frost, so that the young plant has time to take root. In regions with temperate and cool climates, excavation work is carried out in the spring, when the soil warms up. Then, before the onset of winter, the blackberries will have time to take root on the site.
Choosing a suitable location
Choose a place for Natchez blackberries that is sunny and protected from the wind. In the south, shading will be required in mid-summer. There should be no nightshade crops, raspberries and strawberries nearby.
The soil for blackberries is slightly acidic, preferably loose fertile loam. The Natchez variety should not be planted on sandy soil. Groundwater should not be located closer than 1-1.5 m from the surface.
Soil preparation
The Natchez variety needs pre-planting soil preparation more than other blackberries. The holes are dug at least 10-14 days in advance, with a depth and diameter of 50 cm. The nutrient mixture is prepared from the top layer of soil, a bucket of humus, 60 g of potassium, 120-150 g of superphosphate.
But the Natchez variety places increased demands on the calcium content in the soil.It is better not to add calcium nitrate when planting; dolomite flour or ordinary eggshells will do. But calcium reduces the acidity of the soil, so high-moor (red) peat should be included in the planting mixture.
If the soil is sandy, more organic matter is added to it. Excessive soil acidity is neutralized with dolomite flour (in this case it is preferable to lime). Sand is added to dense soil. The neutral or alkaline reaction of the soil is balanced by acidic (red) peat.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Natchez blackberry seedlings should be purchased from trusted retail chains or directly from a nursery - the variety is relatively new, but there are many who want to purchase it. There is a high probability that they will sell you something that is not what you need.
Natchez blackberry shoots are thornless. They should be elastic, without cracks, stains or other damage. One of the signs of a healthy root system is the pleasant smell of fresh soil. Naturally, it should be well developed, without signs of fungi or rotting, the shoots should bend well and easily.
Before planting, blackberries purchased in containers are watered. The bare root is soaked in water overnight.
Algorithm and landing scheme
For Natchez, compact planting is not recommended. This blackberry forms a powerful bush with well-developed roots, thick shoots and many lateral branches. The best distance between plants is 2.7-3 m (in industrial plantings 2-2.5 m is allowed).
When compaction reaches 1-1.5 m, strict rationing of shoots and increased nutrition of blackberries will be necessary. But experienced gardeners claim that this leads to a decrease in yield per bush, so planting at a distance closer than 2 m between plants does not justify itself. In addition, the quality of berries with strong compaction drops significantly.
Landing sequence:
- A pit is prepared for blackberries, filled 2/3 with a nutrient mixture and completely filled with water. Let it sit for 10-14 days.
- A mound is formed in the center of the planting hole, around which the blackberry roots are spread.
- Cover the seedling with the nutrient mixture, constantly compacting it. The root collar should be buried 1.5-2 cm.
- Blackberries are watered abundantly, and the soil is mulched with humus or acidic peat.
Subsequent care of the crop
The first time after planting, blackberries are often and abundantly watered, not allowing the soil to dry out.
Growing principles
Natchez blackberries must be staked. Most often, a three-row trellis with a height of 1.7-2 m is used. Since the variety is grown in a two-year cycle, the shoots will not be divided into fruit-bearing and young shoots, they do not need to be spread in different directions. This makes gartering much easier.
It is necessary to accustom the lashes to being raised on a support and covered for the winter from the moment they appear. As soon as the shoots reach 15-20 cm, they are bent to the ground and pinned. When the lashes grow, it will be easier to tie them up.
The Natchez variety is usually overloaded with berries and forms an overly dense bush. If the plant is poorly fed and pruning is neglected, the fruits simply will not ripen - they will not have enough nutrients and sun.
Necessary activities
Natchez blackberries are watered frequently and deeply in the summer. In the absence of precipitation, an adult bush needs 4-5 buckets of water once a week. During the period of ovary formation and fruiting, watering is done once every 3 days, spending 20-30 liters per plant.
The Natchez variety requires abundant feeding. In spring the plant needs nitrogen. It is best to use calcium nitrate. During the period of flowering and fruit formation, blackberries are given a complete mineral complex with the obligatory calcium content.
During fruiting, it is advisable to do additional feeding with a solution of mullein infusion or grass. They are diluted in a ratio of 1:10 and 1:4, respectively. Foliar feeding with the addition of humate and chelates is useful, which prevent chlorosis and improve the taste of berries. In early autumn, the Natchez variety is fertilized with potassium monophosphate.
In spring and autumn, the soil around the blackberries is loosened. During flowering and fruiting, it is mulched - this will prevent moisture evaporation, serve as additional fertilizer and protect the root system from overheating.
Shrub pruning
Natchez blackberries are recommended to be grown as a crop that bears fruit once every 2 years. This is due to the fact that the variety does not produce replacement shoots well. In the year of fruiting, all young shoots are cut out. Next year there will be a sufficient number of them, leaving 6-8 of the strongest.
Often blackberry shoots at a height of 1-1.5 m are pinched to enhance lateral branching. With the Natchez variety there is no need to do this - it bushes well without it. But the lateral growth is shortened to 30 cm (unlike other varieties, in which 40 cm is left). This will avoid a strong overload of berries and increase their size.
After fruiting, old shoots are removed. Sanitary pruning of Natchez blackberries is carried out throughout the year - all broken, dried and thin branches are removed.
Collection, processing, storage of crops
Many varieties of blackberries are distinguished by the fact that the berries need to be picked frequently, immediately after reaching maturity. Overripe fruits quickly deteriorate in taste, often become soft and lose their transportability. Not that Natchez variety. The berries do not lose their commercial quality within 5 days after full ripening and are transported without deformation.
Natchez blackberries are best eaten fresh or used in baked goods or desserts. The products made from them turn out to be too sweet and cloying. But if they are used together with other, more acidic fruits and berries, you will get delicious juices, jams and wines.
Preparing for winter
Unlike other blackberries, the Natchez variety begins to be ready for winter in September or October (depending on the region). At this time, the young shoots have not yet fully matured and remain flexible. They are bent to the ground and pinned. The shelter is built immediately before the onset of frost. They use spruce branches, straw, and dry corn stalks. Natchez blackberries have low frost resistance, so the top of the structure must be covered with spandbond or agrofibre.
Diseases and pests: methods of control and prevention
Natchez blackberries rarely get sick and are rarely affected by pests. But for the purpose of prevention in spring and autumn, the bush should be sprayed with copper-containing preparations, and all foliage and pruned shoots should be immediately removed from the area.
Conclusion
As you can see, Natchez blackberries have both positive and negative sides. There is no perfect variety, but this one comes closer to perfection than others. The main advantage of Natchez is the combination of high yield and excellent taste of berries.
I don’t cut the berries - they bear fruit every year