Black raspberries: how to grow sweet berries of the color of the night? Description and features of varieties with black fruits

In search of dacha exoticism, plant the Cumberland raspberry variety in your garden plot. Her fruits are of an unusual black color, and all because Cumberland is a hybrid variety of raspberries and blackberries. With proper care, the bush will bear fruit every year, and its yield will impress from the first year after planting. A description of the variety with photos and reviews, those who planted, will help you get a rich harvest of raspberries.

The history of growing black raspberries

Traditional raspberry varieties have red berries, but there are plants with orange, purple, yellow and even black fruits. Unlike blackberries, with which black raspberries are often confused, their berries are very easily separated from the stalk, which is the main difference between crops.

Black raspberries are colored red when unripe, while ripe fruits turn black

Black raspberries grow not only in gardens, they can also be found in nature. The plant grows in the forests of eastern North America, in particular, it is widespread in the central and northern regions of Illinois, USA. Habitats - massifs of deciduous forests, borders along forest plantations, there are also large thickets of black raspberries in open areas.

Testimonials

Valentina Grigorievna 57 years old: Cumberland learned about raspberries from her daughter. Three years ago, she brought the seedlings to the dacha, we planted them right away, and for a month we regretted the purchase. The plant stubbornly showed no signs of life. But then it came to life, and began to grow rather quickly. We breathed a sigh of relief, and a year later we were surprised - the first large, very dark berries appeared. Now our raspberry is three years old, and this is my favorite berry. The intoxicating aroma and unusual color do not leave indifferent even the children of the neighborhood. I often catch them on our site near the miracle raspberry. Amazing productivity. Last season we were full and started to spin the jam, despite the fact that only 4 large bushes are growing.

Igor Dmitrievich 49 years old: I am engaged in breeding raspberries for sale. Cumberland was perfect for this. The berries do not flow, do not crumple and are instantly sold out. Didn't expect this variety to be that good. This year I planted 20 more bushes, and I am sure that I will not regret the money invested. Awesome raspberry, try it, be sure.

Description of the appearance of the plant

Black raspberry is a perennial shrub that grows upright shoots in the first year of life. In the future, lateral processes appear on them, and the stems take a falling shape. Flowers and fruits appear only on the shoots of the second year of life. Initially, the stems are green with a bluish tinge, over the winter they become lignified and acquire a brown tint. Each shoot is covered with short, curved spines.

During the second year of life, short lateral processes appear on the stems, which end in clusters of buds. The leaves consist of 5 lobes, which are ovoid and have small denticles at the edges. The upper side of each leaf has a strong pubescence, and the lower surface is covered with short white hairs.

Black raspberry flowers are grouped in a brush

Flowers are densely grouped in clusters. Each flower has 5 white petals, 5 green sepals and numerous stamens.The petals are elliptical or oblong, and the sepals are triangular. They are about the same length. The flowering period occurs in late spring or early summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks.

The fruits are initially white, then turn red and finally, when ripe, acquire a black-purple color. The fleshy bones that make up the fruit are sweet and slightly tart in taste, they easily detach from the stalk.

Table: fruit characteristics

The biochemical composition of black raspberries differs from red ones. A large amount of vitamin P and P-active compounds help protect cells from aging, improve the body's immune system, and improve the condition of anemia. But the most important property of black raspberry, scientists consider its ability to increase the effectiveness of the fight against cancer.

Table: differences between black raspberries and blackberries

Photo gallery: differences between black raspberries and blackberries

When the blackberry is torn off, the receptacle remains inside the fruit

Black raspberry comes off easily from the receptacle

Blackberries are glossy and elongated.

Differences between black raspberries and traditional varieties with red berries

1. Black raspberries have a sweeter taste than red ones, some varieties have a honey or blackberry aroma.
2. Black raspberries have a higher yield; about 4 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush.
3. The plant is highly resistant to drought.
4. Ripe black berries do not crumble for a long time.
5. The plant does not form root shoots.
6. Black raspberry has excellent resistance to common crop diseases and is practically not damaged by pests.
7. Frost resistance is lower than that of varieties with red berries.

Black raspberries look very exotic

Harvesting berries

The berries begin to ripen at the end of July, the fruiting period is up to three weeks. The peculiarity of the Cumberland variety is that the first berries are slightly smaller, the subsequent batches are larger.

The berries do not crumble, so if, for some reason, it was not possible to harvest on time, you should not worry. You can store berries at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Longer periods in frozen fruits.

Cumberland is an exotic variety that is successfully grown by gardeners in various regions of Russia. Compliance with agricultural technology and care will allow you to get delicious black berries, taste an overseas delicacy.

Varieties of black raspberries

Breeders are constantly working on developing new varieties of black raspberry, which is considered a promising crop. Thanks to their efforts, new products often appear on the market.

• Cumberland. One of the oldest black raspberry varieties. It was received at the end of the 19th century and is still the leading one. The black raspberry Cumberland has a very beautiful bush shape with graceful curved stems. The variety does not form root suckers, so the bushes do not grow. Productivity in comparison with modern hybrids and varieties is not very high, the plant gives only 200 to 500 g of berries from a bush;
• Earley Cumberland. The berries of this variety are larger than those of the Cumberland variety, which became one of the parents of this variety of black raspberries.Their average weight is 2–2.2 g. Fruits of the Earley Cumberland variety have a rounded shape, are colored in a black-violet tone, have a very sweet taste and a fairly dense texture;
• Coal. An early variety of domestic selection. The shoots are long, reaching 2.5 m and bending to form an arch. The thorns are small. The berries are quite small, but juicy, with a pleasant sour-sweet taste and blackberry aroma. The yield of Coal is high, the variety is resistant to both drought and frost;
• Boysenberry. Shoots grow up to 3 m in length. Unlike other varieties of black raspberry, Boysenberry lacks thorns. The berries have an oblong shape, they are very large, the surface is shiny. The variety is fruitful and tolerates frost well enough;
• Bristol. The variety is considered one of the best. The fruit has a sweet taste and is very juicy. The shape of the berries is round, the surface is covered with a bluish bloom;
• New Logan. A high-yielding and early maturing variety with shiny and very tasty berries. The bush reaches a height of 2 m. Poorly tolerates frosts, so the plant needs additional shelter for the winter;
• Litach. An early variety of black raspberry bred by Polish breeders. The bush is vigorous, hard and curved shoots are covered with numerous large thorns. Spherical fruits are covered with a grayish or bluish bloom;
• Luck. The yield of this variety of black raspberries is high, up to 6 kg of selected medium-sized berries can be removed from one bush, their average weight is 1.7-1.8 g;
• Gift of Siberia. Black raspberry bushes of this variety are tall and powerful. The berries have a dessert taste, but they are not very large, the weight of an individual fruit is on average 1.6 g. The advantage of the Gift of Siberia is its resistance to pests and common diseases;
• Turn. Fruits with dense pulp, therefore, they tolerate transportation well over long distances. Productivity is about 5.4 kg per bush. Fruiting period is short;
• Black Jewel. Raspberry stems of this variety, unlike other varieties, are erect. Black Jewel is a winter hardy and very productive variety. The berries are black and have a bluish bloom. Round shape, weight reaches 2.5 g. Sweet taste with blackberry aroma.

Photo gallery: varieties of black raspberries

Cumberland is one of the oldest black raspberries

Airlie Cumberland black raspberries are quite large

Black Jewel is a very productive variety

New Logan is an early ripe variety with delicious berries

Berries of black raspberry variety Litach are covered with a grayish or bluish bloom

The yield of the Luck variety is high, up to 6 kg of berries can be removed from one bush

Black raspberry bushes of the Dar of Siberia variety are tall and powerful

Black raspberries of the Povorot variety can carry long-distance transportation

Bristol black raspberry fruit has a sweet taste and is very juicy.

Berries of black raspberries of the Ugolok variety are juicy with a pleasant sour-sweet taste

Video: black raspberry Cumberland

Preparing for winter

This variety easily tolerates frosts, however, in case of severe frosts, it will be useful to do some manipulations. So, the bushes are bent to the soil with metal staples. You should not cover the raspberries, but in case of a winter with little snow, you can sprinkle the bushes with an additional layer of snow. In the spring, the staples are removed and dried branches are cut.

Important! Also, without fail, the raspberry variety Cumberland requires autumn pruning, this will protect the plant stems from icing and freezing.

With these tips for caring for Cumberland raspberries, you can easily achieve a bountiful harvest.

Care

Black raspberries are considered an unassuming crop. Caring for it comes down to pruning, several watering and top dressing per season.And lush, well-groomed bushes with gracefully curved shoots will become an adornment of the site that attracts attention.

Top dressing

During the season, the culture requires three additional fertilizing. The procedure is started when the plant has bloomed. To do this, make an infusion of chicken manure (1 part to 16 parts of water) or manure (1: 6). To 10 liters of the prepared nutrient solution add 1 liter of wood ash and 50 g of superphosphate. Under a bush of black raspberries, one bucket of top dressing is introduced, pouring it along the perimeter of the plantings. After fertilization, the soil is moistened abundantly. The second feeding with the same solution is carried out during the ripening of the fruits, and the third - after collecting the first berries.

Support creation and trim features

The shoots of black raspberries are very long, in the first year after planting they grow upright, and in the second they take the shape of an arch. At the same time, the tops of the heads, touching the ground, can take root, as a result of which the plantings will be thickened. Because of this cultural feature, it is very important to take care of the support of the plant in advance. To do this, make a wire trellis. At the beginning and end of the row, wooden posts about 2 m high are dug in, on which a strong wire is attached in three rows, placing it at a height of 0.5 m, 1.8 m and 2.1 m.

Another option for support for powerful shoots can be an arch. It is installed between two bushes, and the stems are attached to arches. This design is not only functional, but also very decorative.

Black raspberry shoots will grow long and curved, so you need to take care of the support in advance

Pruning of black raspberries is carried out twice a year: the first procedure is at the end of June, and the second is in late autumn. When performing summer pruning, the apical part of the stems is cut off at a height of 1.7 m. This contributes to a more intensive development of lateral branches, the number of which can reach 6-8 pieces, which will increase the yield of the bush. In the fall, it is necessary to cut out 2-year-old shoots that have already borne fruit. And 1-year-old stems are shortened to a size of 30-50 cm above the ground.

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Preparing for winter

Black raspberries do not tolerate frosts as well as their red-fruited relative, therefore, it is necessary to carefully prepare them for wintering. For this you need:

1. Carefully bend the shoots to the ground.
2. Fix them with metal staples.
3. For planting, you can put spruce branches, which is the best natural insulation.

If the winter has little snow, then snow is shoveled onto the bushes and sawdust is poured onto it, which will help prevent melting.

Black raspberry shoots must be bent to the ground and attached with metal brackets

Landing features

For growing black raspberry Cumberland, gray forest soil or light loamy chernozem is suitable. The place on the site should be sunny, but you also need to immediately think about protection from the wind. On the north side, there may be a fence or trees. The planting scheme for shrubs is as follows: double rows with a distance of half a meter between adjacent seedlings. Do not place them too close to each other, otherwise the branches will intertwine.

For the Central region, seedlings are planted in autumn; in Siberia, it is best to carry out spring planting. Dig holes in the ground with a depth of at least 50 cm. 20-30 g of furnace ash must be added to the hole to fertilize the soil. If there is humus or peat, they can also be added to the soil at the rate of half a bucket per plant.

The roots of the seedling are pretreated with a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate in order to disinfect them. Then the seedling is buried in the ground without deepening the root collar. After planting in Siberia, the near-trunk circle of the plant is mulched with a thin layer of straw or rotted compost. The layer must be at least 7 cm.When planting in the Central Region in the fall, it is better to lay peat with a layer of 5-6 cm as mulch.

Reproduction of black raspberries

Black raspberries reproduce differently than red ones. The thing is that black-fruited varieties do not form root suckers. But it is possible to breed a culture on the site with the help of layering, apical cuttings and seeds.

Propagation by horizontal layers

The procedure for propagating black raspberries with horizontal layers should be started in the spring.

1. Shallow beards are made at a distance of 0.5 m from the bush.
2. Bend down the shoots and put them in the prepared grooves.
3. The place of contact of the stem with the ground is pinned with a metal bracket and covered with earth.
4. During the summer period, roots form in this place, and a new plant will begin to form.
5. Next spring, separate it from the mother bush and transplant the resulting bush to a new location.

This method is very effective. One adult plant can produce 5–6 quality seedlings.

Reproduction of raspberries by horizontal layers is the easiest way

Cuttings

Another breeding method is green cuttings. The procedure is carried out in the summer, while harvesting planting material is desirable on a cloudy day. In the middle of the season, small shoots with several leaves appear from the roots of adult black raspberry bushes. Such shoots must be cut with a knife 2-3 cm below the soil level.

After that, they are placed in a container with Kornevin's solution for 6-8 hours. Then they are planted in a school at a distance of about 10 cm from each other, the soil is moistened and the planting is covered with a film.

To reproduce black raspberries, take green shoots 7-10 cm long and cut them off with a part of the root

After about a month, green cuttings will begin to take root, a sign of this will be the appearance of new leaves. At this time, you can reduce watering and ventilate the greenhouse more often. In the spring of the next season, the rooted cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place, while they should be dug out together with a lump of earth.

Seeds

Reproduction of black raspberries by seeds is considered one of the most troublesome and time-consuming methods, but if there is no other way to get seedlings, then you can grow a bush from a berry. For this:

1. We select good and ripe berries.
2. We grind them and squeeze the juice.
3. Pour the resulting pulp with water and mix.
4. Full-weight seeds should sink to the bottom, and light seeds should float up.
5. We drain the water with floating waste.
6. We collect the seeds and dry them in the air.
7. Seeds are sown in a greenhouse in a loose substrate to a depth of 2 to 5 mm.
8. We periodically moisten the plantings, preventing the soil from drying out.
9. After the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, we dive the seedlings.
10. 2 years after planting the seeds, young plants are planted in a permanent place in the ground.

    

    Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the ground 2 years after sowing the seeds

Diseases and pests

Insufficient care of the plant culture, as well as unfavorable weather conditions, can provoke the appearance of some diseases and insect pests. So, rainy weather contributes to the appearance of fungal diseases, and dry hot weather in the absence of watering causes the appearance of some pests.

Did you know? Raspberries are very good for men. It contains the substances needed for the production of testosterone and sperm. In addition, its consumption protects the sperm from oxidative stress.

Control methods

Before choosing a method of dealing with an emerging problem, it is important to notice and identify it in a timely manner. If this is not done, then the yield of raspberries can be significantly reduced.

The most common diseases of the Cumberland raspberry are:

1. Curliness... It manifests itself in the form of twisting of leaves, which gradually darken and die off. At the same time, the berries become sour.There are no effective remedies for this disease, therefore, at the first signs of curliness, the bush must be removed from the site and burned so as not to infect neighboring plants.

   

2. Anthracnose.
   In this case, gray spots with maroon edges appear on the leaves. The leaves begin to curl and dry. The berries darken and have irregular shapes. To eliminate the problem, treatments with Bordeaux mixture are carried out.

   

Plantings with raspberries can be exposed to invasions of such pests: aphids, spider mites, gall midges, raspberry beetle, weevils, kidney moth, stem flies. To combat them, chemicals such as "Aktellik", "Metaphos", "Karbofos" are used.

Prophylaxis

An important point in obtaining a good harvest of Cumberland raspberries is the prevention of the appearance of diseases and pests.

Important! It is not recommended to grow raspberries for more than 7 years in the same area, and it is possible to re-plant seedlings on it only after 3 years.

Professional gardeners recommend the following preventive measures:

• follow agricultural cultivation techniques;
• do not loosen deep plantings so as not to damage the roots located close to ground level;
• you only need to purchase healthy planting material;
• disinfect seedlings by immersing the root system of seedlings in a solution of 1% copper sulfate;
• plant in a well-prepared area with nutritious soil;
• it is imperative to carry out, after complete harvesting, the removal of fertile and severely affected shoots in such a way that no hemp remains;
• remove affected bushes or stems and dispose of them (burn);
• weed weeds;
• to carry out preventive treatments against fungal diseases with Bordeaux liquid, "Hom", "Oxyhom" in spring and autumn, as well as in rainy weather;
• make sure that there is no thickening of the plantings;
• to prevent the appearance of insect pests, which are carriers of many diseases, to dig row spacings for the fall, as well as to carry out treatments with drugs such as "Karbofos";
• in the spring, it is imperative to apply nitrogen fertilizers to the soil;
• observe crop rotation.

Raspberry Cumberland is distinguished by the black or yellow color of delicious berries. It is unpretentious and useful, has a high yield and versatility in the use of fruits. It can be grown as a thorny, impenetrable fence or placed on arches. Garter and trimming are required for her. It is a great choice for those looking for an alternative to the classic red raspberry.