Blackberry variety Darrow: description, characteristics, photos, reviews

Darrow blackberries are a popular berry variety with many benefits. At the same time, the plant has weak points, so it is important to study all the features before planting.

History of selection

Darrow blackberries are a fairly old variety with a long history. Work on breeding the variety began in New York in 1940, and in 1946 scientists managed to obtain the first specimen.

The Darrow variety was developed by crossing Hedrick and Eldorado blackberries.

The name of the new blackberry was given in 1958 in honor of the American breeder J. Darrow, who worked for many years on the creation of fruit plants in Maryland. The originator of the variety is New York University Cornell, which was once the state's agricultural experimental station.

External description of Darrow blackberries

Darrow's thornless blackberry looks like an upright shrub up to 3 m tall with long climbing branches. The leaves of the plant are pinnate, with five lobes, and green in color. At the beginning of the decorative period, the shrub bears white flowers, collected in panicles of 8-12 pieces.

The berries of the Darrow variety are conical, elongated, completely black when ripe. The length of the fruit is about 2.5 cm, and their weight reaches 4 g under favorable conditions and good agricultural technology. The berries taste sweet and sour, very juicy and refreshing.

Characteristics of thornless blackberry Darrow

Although blackberries have beautiful blooms, they are usually planted in the garden for the sake of obtaining a tasty harvest. Before purchasing the Darrow variety, you need to study the key features of the plant.

Flowering period, ripening period and yield

Darrow blackberries begin flowering in late June, a little later than currants and raspberries. It does not require pollination and forms ovaries without the presence of related varieties in the immediate vicinity. From mid-summer, fruits appear on the branches, first red and then gradually turning black. The berries are located in the outer part of the bush, so there is no need to reach deep into the plant for them.

The fruits of the Darrow variety ripen in approximately 1.5 months. Gardeners note that the berries turn black quite quickly, but they should be picked from the branches only when a characteristic glossy appearance appears. Ripe fruits should be soft, elastic, and easily separated from the bush. Under good conditions, up to 10 kg of crop can be harvested from one plant.

Darrow can produce a small amount of fruit in the fall, but such berries usually do not have time to ripen

The shelf life of Darrow blackberries is average - at room temperature the berries remain fresh and neat for only 1-2 days. Fruits can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, and if deep frozen - for more than six months.

Frost resistance

In temperate climates, Darrow demonstrates good frost resistance. The shrub easily tolerates cold temperatures down to -34 °C, and there is no need to build a shelter for the plant. It is only recommended to mulch the tree trunk circle with a dense layer of organic matter to provide insulation to the roots.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Darrow blackberries have an average level of resistance to fungi and parasites. Under unfavorable external conditions, the shrub may suffer from the following ailments:

• rust - orange spots and growths appear on shoots and leaves, yields may be halved;
  
  

  Rust often affects blackberries when the soil is waterlogged and conifers are close to each other.

• anthracnose - purple areas appear in the lower part of young shoots, which gradually turn into ulcers and cause the bush to wither;
  
  

  Anthracnose is particularly harmful to dense Darrow blackberry bushes.

• didimella - purple spots appear on the blackberries, the leaves begin to crumble, and the shoots and buds dry out.
  
  

  Didimella can spread to blackberries from raspberries and strawberries

To treat ailments of the Darrow variety, Bordeaux mixture 1%, garlic infusion and sulfur preparations are used. To prevent fungi, it is recommended to monitor the condition of the soil at the roots of the bush and remove plant debris in a timely manner.

The most dangerous pests for Darrow blackberries are:

• raspberry shoot aphid - the insect feeds on the juices of young branches of the bush, and subsequently they freeze slightly, and the development of the plant stops;
  
  

  Aphids often attack blackberries when planted near raspberries.

• mole cricket - a dangerous pest gnaws the roots of the bush and can lead to its death;
  
  

  Mole cricket poses a particular threat to young blackberries

• raspberry stem fly - the larvae of the parasite gnaw out long passages inside the shoots, as a result the branches begin to wither from the tops.
  
  

  Gardeners often notice raspberry flies already in the later stages of bush disease.

Spraying with Nitrafen solution 1% and other insecticidal agents works well against garden pests. For mild lesions, soap infusion is also beneficial. Treatments are carried out several times per season, but avoid spraying Darrow blackberries with purchased chemicals after fruit set.

Pros and cons of the variety

Darrow blackberries have many benefits, but they also have some weaknesses. Before planting a variety, you need to compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Gardeners have differing opinions regarding the taste of Darrow blackberries.Officially, the variety has an average rating due to its pronounced sourness. But some summer residents note that when organic fertilizers are applied, the berries become much sweeter.

Features of planting Darrow blackberries

Planting and caring for Darrow blackberries generally does not deviate from standard algorithms. But along with this, the variety has some features.

Landing dates

It is best to plant shrubs on the site in the spring - in this case, over the summer the blackberries will have time to get stronger and will easily survive the winter. In the southern regions, the procedure is allowed to be carried out in the fall.

Selecting a location

Darrow's blackberry grows well in sunny areas protected from strong winds. It does not make any special demands on the soil, although it does not like carbonate soil. It reacts poorly to swampy conditions and often suffers from fungi in damp places.

How to plant

The algorithm for planting Darrow blackberries is quite simple:

1. In the selected area, dig a hole about 40 cm deep.
2. Pour 5 kg of humus, 40 g of potassium minerals and 100 g of superphosphate onto the bottom of the pit.
3. Place a layer of garden soil on top.
4. Place the seedling on the resulting mound and straighten its roots.
5. Sprinkle the blackberries with soil, deepening the neck by about 5 cm.

After planting, it is recommended to trim the shoots to 2-3 buds. The plant is watered abundantly and mulched around the trunk with peat or straw.

When planting Darrow blackberries in the spring, it is advisable to prepare the site for the plant in the fall

Darrow Blackberry Care

Caring for Darrow blackberries is very simple. You need to pay attention to several procedures:

1. Watering. The plant tolerates drought well, but bears fruit better with good moisture.After planting, in the summer heat and during the ripening of berries, it is necessary to apply 3-6 liters of water under the trunk weekly.
2. Feeding. Darrow blackberries are not fertilized the first year. In subsequent seasons, it is necessary to apply manure in the spring, and in the fall, feed the bushes with compost in combination with superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
3. Loosening. From time to time, the soil in the tree trunk circle needs to be cleared of weeds and removed from the earthen crust. Loosening is performed to a depth of 5-8 cm.
4. Trimming. After harvesting, the fruit-bearing branches are cut off along with dry and diseased parts of the bush.

Climbing Darrow blackberry requires the installation of a trellis in the area. Typically, old and young shoots are laid out separately on a support to make caring for the plant easier.

How to prepare for winter

The Darrow variety has good frost resistance and does not require careful insulation. With the onset of autumn, it is enough to perform a sanitary trimming of the bushes, as well as dig up the soil and mulch the tree trunk circle with a layer of organic material.

Reproduction methods

The blackberry variety Darrow can be propagated on the site by vegetative methods. The seed method is not used for the hybrid, since the unique characteristics in this case are not preserved.

Apical layering

Climbing blackberries readily reproduce by apical layering. The procedure is performed like this:

1. At the end of August, a ditch is dug in the ground and an annual shoot of the plant is placed in it.
2. The top is cut by about 10 cm and dug in, secured with a hook or wire to prevent straightening.
3. Water the cuttings properly and mulch thoroughly.

With regular moistening, the top of the shoot will produce roots and its own young shoots in 1-2 months.After this, the new plant can be separated from the main bush and moved to another place.

In the process of propagation by apical layering, the yield of the main bush does not suffer

Root suckers

For propagation, you can use the suckers that the Darrow blackberry produces annually from the root. The algorithm looks like this:

1. The shoots, about 15 cm tall, are carefully separated from the main bush with a sharpened shovel.
2. They are briefly immersed in Kornevin’s solution, and then planted in holes with a nutrient substrate.
3. Cover with soil until the end, water well and mulch in a circle.

Root shoots have very good vitality and take root almost 100%. But you need to take planting material only from healthy and high-yielding bushes.

Propagation by suckers for Darrow blackberries is carried out in late May or early June.

Conclusion

Darrow blackberries are popular due to their high frost resistance and overall hardiness. The berries of the bush are quite tasty, although not dessert. The disadvantages of the variety include the need for a trellis and the low keeping quality of the crop.

Reviews from gardeners about Darrow blackberries

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