In order to successfully grow blackberries, you need to know and follow the technology of planting, shaping and proper care. One of the secrets of the correct shaping and garter of blackberries is planting blackberries on a trellis.
Let's try to figure out what a tapestry is and what it is for. Surely many have heard about her more than once.
First, let's figure out what a blackberry trellis is. The trellis is a special structure that acts as a support and supports the plant itself and its shoots..
You need to know that the shoots of blackberries on the trellis itself are fixed in a certain way, in which the shoots are not deformed. A trellis is most often a row of several supports and a wire or rope stretched between them in several tiers.
When growing blackberries, especially in large volumes, the installation of trellises is a must.
The advantage of using a trellis
Growing blackberries on a trellis has many advantages, and they are obvious.
- Lower shoots don't lie on the ground, and are not smeared;
- Berries also don't touch the ground, and do not get dirty, as a result of precipitation or watering;
- The rows of blackberries are well ventilated, which is the prevention of the development of fungal diseases;
- Fruits evenly illuminated by the suntherefore, maturation occurs earlier.
Also, the trellis benefits not only the blackberries, but also helps the gardeners themselves. It gives the grower the following benefits:
- Simplifies it care work behind the bush,
- Speeds up the cutting process old branches;
- Soil mulching and watering becomes much more convenient;
- Harvesting happens much faster;
- Makes it faster preparation for the winter period.
Types of trellises
There are two main types of trellises that are widely used for growing berry crops. it one-lane and two-lane trellis... Large farmers find that using a single-strip trellis is less effective. But the single-lane trellis is well used in small areas and perfectly took root among amateur gardeners. Therefore, there are supporters of both single-lane and two-lane designs.
Single lane
Single-lane trellis is divided into several types such as:
- fan-shaped;
- vertical flat;
- free;
- inclined;
- horizontal.
In fact, they are the same simple construction of supports and wire. Only different ways of tying plants. All varieties are aimed at maintaining the blackberry during the growing season and fruiting.
But if there is a small amount of blackberries on the site, then any of the listed types of trellises will perfectly cope with its task. The main disadvantage of a single-lane trellis is the fact that each shoot must be tied up separately. With a small amount of work, this is so important, but for large berry plantations this is a huge disadvantage.
Two-way
The two-lane trellis, in contrast to the single-lane, additionally provides the ability to carry out correct shaping. Usually these are two rows of guides parallel to each other.... This design provides an opportunity not to thicken the berry, promotes the cultivation of more powerful branches in different directions, which has a good effect on the further harvest.
This is an improved trellis design, which is more often used for large berry plantations.
She also has several types:
- T-shaped;
- V-shaped;
- Y-shaped;
T-shaped trellis
The name of this simple design speaks for itself. The base of this structure, no matter what it was made of, looks like the letter "T", hence the name of the trellis... The wire runs along the edges of the top pole. When forming blackberry bushes, fruiting branches are laid on different sides of the wire. In this case, the center remains free.
V-shaped trellis
She got this name because it looks like the English letter V. It is also called a two-lane inclined trellis... The shaping is done as on the T-shaped trellis.
Y-shaped trellis
It is a modern and new version of the blackberry mount, which looks like the letter "Y". Its racks are often made movable, for this they are fixed on pivoting hinges... This design is very easy to use, it provides the ability to change the angle of inclination of the racks. Also, the racks can be lowered or raised.
Diy blackberry trellis
The question arises, is it possible to make a reliable trellis for blackberries with your own hands or is it better to buy? Of course, buying this structure is much easier and you can do it in garden stores or on the Internet. But you can try to make a good trellis yourself.
To make such a trellis, you will need wooden or metal posts., strong and reliable enough to withstand the weight of the bushes along with the harvest without any problems. And 2.5-3 meters long, as well as good wire, well, and the desire to get to work.
- From one edge of the row with blackberries, we dig a hole under the post, 50-60 cm deep is enough. If there is a special drill hole, then the hole will turn out to be more accurate and it will be much easier and faster to dig it. We make another hole at the other end of the row. If your row is long, then you will have to use several supports, the distance between the posts is usually 5-6 meters. Divide your row of blackberries into equal lengths.
- A layer of gravel and broken bricks can be laid at the bottom of the pit... This will strengthen the position of the pillars and prevent them from sagging during operation.
- Place your poles vertically in prepared pits... Then bury the pillars with earth and tamp them well with your feet or materials at hand, for example, with the back of a shovel handle.
- Now it is necessary pull three tiers of steel wire between the supports... The distance between the wire in the horizontal plane should be about 60 cm. The wire must be well tensioned so that it does not sag. The wire is securely fixed on the outer pillars.
So a simple three-level trellis for blackberries is ready, it is perfect for any kind of blackberry.
Scheme of planting blackberries on a trellis
When growing blackberries on a trellis, various planting schemes are used. When choosing a planting scheme, take into account the exactingness of the variety and methods of forming a bush... As a rule, varieties with less outstanding vegetative abilities with a fan type of formation are planted in a row after two to two and a half meters. The row spacing is also two to two and a half meters.
When growing blackberries in a bush method, a planting scheme of less than 2 × 2 m is used.
The landing pattern can be adjusted depending on the climatic zone cultivation and varietal characteristics.
In areas with high soil moisture, blackberries are planted on raised ridges, and in areas with low humidity, blackberries are planted, on the contrary, in grooves.
Growing and caring for garden blackberries
In the first days after landing it is necessary to water the blackberries abundantly and regularly, this is especially important in the first month after planting. In the future, watering should be carried out during the drought period, as well as during fruiting. Normal soil moisture is considered to be in the range of 60-70%
In the aisles, cultivation is periodically carried out at a shallow depth. Depending on the weather, up to 6 treatments are performed per season. This provides additional weed control and improves soil aeration.
In the first two years of vegetation, while the blackberry has not yet grown very much, it is possible to plant vegetables or green manures in the aisles.
In the fall, the aisles are cultivated or shallow plowing is carried out, while humus and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied. Weeding with loosening of the soil is carried out in the rows.
Soil mulching also works well.... It is best to mulch before the appearance of small shoots. Many people use herbicides in the ranks of blackberries to control weeds, but their use is still undesirable, as it can have a detrimental effect on the development of blackberries.
To obtain good yields, organic and mineral fertilizers should be applied regularly. The dosage of fertilization depends on the presence in the soil. Average application rates can be taken from the calculation, per 1 sq.
In autumn 5-6 kg of humus is introduced, as well as 30 grams of phosphorus fertilizers, 50 grams of potash fertilizers.
In the spring 30-40 grams of nitrogen fertilizers are applied.
Formation of blackberry bushes on a trellis, garter scheme
There are several different methods of shaping blackberry bushes.
Weaving method
The most common way is when blackberry branches are intertwined between the first, second and third tiers of wire or rope... All other shoots that grow after formation are brought to the right and left of the center of the trunk, later they are brought out to the fourth, upper guide.
Fan way
With this method of shaping, shoots must be diluted and tied to guides in the form of a fan, and young branches are tied to the very last 4th row of wire. The difference between this method is that the branches develop more freely, and the bush is better illuminated.... Therefore, light-loving varieties will have an earlier harvest.
Sanitary pruning of blackberries is carried out in autumn. During autumn pruning, all fruit-bearing shoots are removed, as well as shoots with signs of illness or damage... Extra young shoots are also cut off. Although more experienced gardeners do not prune excess young shoots in the fall. And their number is normalized during spring pruning. When the buds open and it becomes clearly visible which shoots have died due to frost, they are removed. On average, no more than 8 young shoots are left on one bush.
The tapestry is not just beautiful, but also very convenient... It is only necessary to install the correct design once and enjoy its use for several years.