Triple Crown blackberries: Triple Crown of Plenty

Blackberries have long been considered a wild berry. For industrial cultivation and cultivation on personal plots, breeders develop garden varieties of blackberries. The defining requirements for cultivated varieties are: pleasant taste of berries, large fruit, adjustable yield, absence of prickly thorns on the stems for easy picking of berries. One of the best varieties that fully meets these requirements is Triple Crown.

• 2 Description of the variety
• 3 Main characteristics of Triple Crown blackberries
• 4 Features of planting and growing

  4.1 Selecting a site and planting seedlings

  4.1.1 Table: distance between blackberry seedlings depending on the type of planting

• 4.1.2 Video: planting seedlings in spring

Features of the variety

Triple Crown blackberries, a description of the variety and photos of which are currently present in many reference books on growing various crops, were bred in the late 90s. The main blackberry variety is native to America and Mexico. As a result of complex breeding work, a new type of blackberry was formed, which in translation became known as the Triple Crown.

The resulting variety has distinctive features and is therefore planned for industrial cultivation. It is unpretentious in maintenance and produces high yields. Dense foliage reliably covers the berries, which do not bake in the sun.

History of selection

The variety was bred at the end of the last century, in 1996. The Northeast Zonal Research Center from Maryland and the Pacific Western Agricultural Research Station from Oregon took part in the selection. Black Magic and Columbia Star were chosen as parent species. Triple Crown previously underwent a series of studies over eight years and only after that it entered the market.

Advantages and disadvantages

Triple Crown blackberries, descriptions of the variety and photos of which can be seen in many magazines, have a number of significant advantages.

They are expressed as follows:

• Large berries with good taste.
• Stable and high yield.
• Resistant to drought and prolonged heat.
• Possibility of transporting berries over long distances.
• The duration of fruiting is 10-15 years.
• High immunity to diseases.
• The harvested crop retains its quality for 10 days. In this case, the temperature must be maintained within +5 ... +7 °C.
• Light frosts at the time of flowering do not threaten the ovaries.

Like any crop, this blackberry variety has its drawbacks.

They consist of the following:

• Long branches can break off under their own weight. Therefore, they need strong supports.
• The culture does not have high winter hardiness. At a temperature of -13° it needs shelter.
• High demands on soil.
• Late fruiting in northern regions.

However, these disadvantages are minor compared to the large number of advantages.

Triple Crown Agricultural Practice Recommendations

Even an unpretentious plant of the North American prairie requires some care. The gardener's primary task when planting and growing large-fruited Triple Crown is to take care of organizing a strong trellis for powerful blackberry bushes.

I form a tall Triple Crown on a trellis in a special way: as the branches grow, they are wrapped around the wire at a height of 50, 100, 150 and 200 cm. At the last level, the shoot is firmly fixed and cut off

After such pruning, increased growth of lateral fruit branches of the 2nd order - the most productive - begins.

Weeding and loosening of the root zone should be done very carefully - damage to the roots can cause uncontrolled growth of root suckers. To avoid such problems, it is recommended to replace weeding with mulching. Mulching solves the problem of lack of moisture

Blackberries should be watered only during the period of setting and filling the fruits, infrequently, but abundantly - approximately 10-20 liters. under the bush once a week. You should be careful when feeding a berry bush - an excess of fertilizers does not increase the yield at all, but provokes the growth of green mass. The best way to feed, which will allow you not to “overfeed” the berry bush, is mulching with compost with the addition of wood ash.

Preparing for the Triple Crown winter begins with removing fruit-bearing branches. Immediately after harvesting, the branches of the 2nd year of growth are cut out, as they say, “at the root.” In the time remaining before winter, the young branches will have time to gain strength. Cover the bushes with spunbond; you will need 2 layers of material with a density of at least 50. If a lower density spunbond is used, for example the popular 30, then before frost, cover with plastic film on top of the covering material. Triple Crown blackberries have good resistance to most diseases characteristic of the crop, but preventive treatments will not interfere with it. To avoid unnecessary chemicals, you can use a folk remedy based on garlic. To prepare, you need to dilute 100 g of chopped garlic in 1 liter. warm water and leave for 24 hours. Strain the resulting solution and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:20. Treat the plant in the morning or evening. The product helps well against septoria and rust. If aphids were found on blackberries, then tobacco will help in the fight against the pest. 100 g of tobacco is diluted in 5 liters. water and add a little liquid soap to the solution. The resulting mixture is treated with the bush.

Triple Crown responds well to foliar feeding. To protect against chlorosis, it is recommended to add a chelate complex to them.

At the end of October, after the first real frost, the branches of the Triple Crown are removed from their supports. It is necessary to inspect the shoots and discard weak and damaged ones. Flexible branches without thorns should be tied into bunches and pressed to the ground with boards or arches. Insufficient winter hardiness of the variety requires covering the blackberry branches with a layer of spunbond or burlap in the conditions of the Middle Zone. Snow cover will finally help protect the bush from frost.

Characteristics of culture

Triple Crown blackberry, the description and photo of which give a clear idea of ​​the attractiveness of the berry, has high prospects for distribution. Already now it is grown in areas where the weather is frosty in winter. This is due to the fact that breeders are constantly working to improve the species.

Ripening period

Triple Crown blackberries are characterized by different periods of fruit ripening. Its description and photo indicate that the berries are ready faster in the southern regions with a mild climate. Flowering occurs in June.

Characteristics of blackberries of the Triple Crown variety.

Just because the fruits turn red or dark lilac in color does not mean they are ready for harvest. You need to wait until the berries turn black completely. In the southern regions this occurs by mid-summer, and in the northern territories the harvest takes place before the first frost.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

Deep roots make the plant resistant to drought. It can withstand intense summer heat for a long time. At the same time, blackberries do not tolerate frost well. This should be taken into account when planting it. If the climate is not suitable for it, then in winter it is necessary to take care of reliable shelter for the bush.

Appearance of plant and fruit

The Triple Crown blackberry grows as a bush. Some branches spread along the ground, while others stretch upward. The length of the shoots in the first year can reach 2 m. Subsequently, the branches grow up to 3 m.

Their characteristic feature is the absence of thorns on the surface, which greatly facilitates harvesting.

Each of the branches is dotted with bright and large leaves. They shelter growing fruits from direct sunlight and various other unfavorable factors. The foliage has an elongated shape. The wider part is at the base. There is a narrowing in the upper part. There are large notches on the edges.

Fruits form on the branches. They gather in clusters and hang like bunches of grapes. At first, the berries are covered with a red color, and during the ripening period they acquire a black tint. Each of them weighs on average 8-9 g. They are oval in shape and contain small seeds. The fruits have a sweet and sour taste. When consumed, a plum or cherry aftertaste remains in the mouth.

The juicy pulp contains fiber, carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins A, C, E, B. Blackberries are consumed fresh. It is also added to compotes and jam is made from it.

Productivity

Triple Crown blackberry (the description and photo characterize it as a high-yielding plant, which is true) produces a particularly rich harvest in areas well lit by sunlight. There will be fewer berries on branches located in the shade. If the crop has been provided with good care, then from 10 to 15 kg of crop can be harvested from one bush.

Nuances of agricultural technology

Despite the amazing taste, blackberries are very easy to care for. It is enough to follow a few simple rules for a bountiful and good harvest:

• During the first time after planting, it is necessary to regularly weed and loosen the soil under the bush, almost daily. But when the plant is well rooted, you shouldn’t do this at all - blackberries have spreading roots.
• Frequent watering of Triple Crown is not necessary, even rather harmful. The bushes need the most water in June and September - at this time they need to be watered once a week, but very generously. The rest of the time the frequency is the same, but less water.
• It will not be possible to grow this variety normally without a trellis. Ideally, its height should be about two meters and it should have parallel fastenings. The shoots are wrapped around them - it turns out beautiful and comfortable. When the shoots reach the top, the top is cut off and the bushes begin to grow in width.
• After the harvest is completed, the shoots are pruned.

I have long wanted to plant blackberries at home and chose this variety based on reviews - everyone wrote that it was ideal and delicious. I was not disappointed - for the fifth year now it has delighted me and the whole family with amazing berries, and the children especially enjoy the picking process. We live in Krasnodar, our winters are warm, so we don’t even cover the bushes - they winter normally.

Triple Crown is the most popular product in my company. Buyers instantly snap it up as soon as it appears. At the same time, the bushes require almost minimal care - water occasionally, trim shoots, protect from the cold. The variety is almost no more, the berries are excellent, they can be stored for 5-6 days if stored in professional refrigerators.

Features of planting and growing

Before landing Triple Crown, you need to choose the right place. In order for the berries to grow sweet, it must be well lit. If the bush is planted in the shade, the fruits will have a sour taste. The place can be located on a flat area or a slight slope. In this case, low areas where water can stagnate should be avoided. Also, cold winds and drafts have a negative impact on the development of culture.

Soil and planting algorithm

Berry grows best in loamy soils of medium acidity. A large amount of organic matter increases crop productivity. It is desirable that the humus layer be at least 25 cm high. Increased soil moisture can affect the root system of the bush due to strong cooling in autumn and spring.

Blackberries can be planted in spring and autumn. For the southern regions, the best option is to use autumn time. This is due to the fact that stable and cool weather contributes to the growth of the root system of the crop. In the future, it tolerates winter cold well. In spring, the bush wakes up and begins to grow green mass.

Spring planting is carried out in the northern regions, when the ambient temperature rises to +15 ... +20 ° C. In this case, the development of the root system occurs more slowly.

Planting Triple Crown blackberries begins with selecting a seedling. It should have a developed root system up to 10 cm long and 2-3 stems. The plant is purchased along with a damp ball of earth. There should be no wrinkles on the spines.

Their presence indicates that this specimen was dug up a long time ago and there may be problems with its rooting. Also, the purchased seedling must have growth buds.

Immediately before planting, each root is cut off and these places are treated with charcoal. A hole measuring 40x40x40 cm is dug in the selected location. This is done 2-3 weeks before planting.

Chernozem is prepared, which includes the following components:

• humus - 5–7 kg;
• superphosphate - 120 g;
• potassium sulfate 40 g.

The distance between bushes should be 2-2.5 m.

The procedure for planting a seedling consists of the following steps:

1. The dug hole is filled to 1/3 of the entire height with the prepared mixture.
2. A bucket of water is poured from above.
3. After absorbing the liquid, the prepared seedling is installed vertically in the center of the hole. In this case, the entire root system must be straightened out.
4. The remaining prepared black soil is poured into the ground. In this case, you need to make sure that the neck protrudes above the surface by 3-4 cm.
5. The planted plant is watered abundantly with water in the amount of 5-6 buckets.

To prevent the soil layer from becoming crusty, the soil near the seedling is mulched. Peat, sawdust or rotted manure are used for this. If you plan to plant blackberries in rows, then leave a space of up to 3 meters between them.

Trimming

In 1 and 2 years after planting, blackberries need formative pruning.

It consists of the following:

• As soon as the first inflorescences begin to bloom, they must be removed, since they interfere with the development of the root system. As a result, due to slow rooting, the culture stops growing.
• After 2 years, all formed shoots are shortened to a length of up to 2 m. This procedure must be performed before sap flow begins. In the spring, you need to remove shoots that could not survive the winter.

In an adult bush, pruning is carried out constantly throughout the year:

• In the spring. During this period of time, shoots that have frozen in winter are removed from the bush. In addition, the plant is thinned out. The number of remaining branches should be no more than 8-12 pieces. This increases the size of the fruit and shortens its ripening period.
• In summer. Starting in June, the plant is covered with young shoots that lack fruit. They take away a lot of nutrients. Of all the shoots, the 5 strongest ones are selected and left for fruiting the next year. All the rest are cut off at the very foundation. This removal of young animals is done twice in the summer.
• In autumn. After fruiting ends, the oldest branches are removed. There should be about 12 strong shoots left on the bush.

A harvest appears on any branch only after 2 years. Therefore, the number of shoots must be such that the root system can provide nutrition to the ripening fruits.

Care

The Triple Crown root system is deep, which ensures the crop's resistance to drought. In the absence of rain, the plant is watered at least 2 times during the week. The volume of water used during this period can be 8-10 buckets.

This is especially necessary during fruit ripening and in hot weather. To prevent a crust from forming on the surface of the chernozem, the soil, after moistening, is loosened to a depth of 10 cm. In autumn, when there is a large amount of precipitation, watering may not be carried out.

Long blackberry branches need staking. This is done using trellises.

They are made as follows:

• Pillars 2.2-2.5 m high are rolled into the ground to a depth of 60 cm. The distance between them can be 1.5-2 m.
• Regular bolts are welded to them in increments of 40 cm. Their number on each pillar can reach 5-6 units.
• A wire with a diameter of 4 mm is taken and wound onto welded fasteners.
• The shoots are sent along the stretched wire and tied to it with ropes.

The process of growing blackberries is influenced by fertilizers. Subcortexing is carried out exclusively after the soil has been moistened. For this purpose, mineral and organic substances are used. Some of them are paid annually, others every 3-4 years. The table shows the rules for fertilizing the crop.

Fertilizers are applied every few years in the fall after harvesting before wintering.

Diseases and pests

Triple Crown blackberries are rarely affected by pests. However, at times this happens and not in all cases the plant can be saved. Possible diseases of the bush are presented in the table.

Blackberries can also be attacked by aphids. It is located on young shoots and looks like green insects. To get rid of such pests, you need to spray the bush with the prepared solution. To do this, add 200 g of tobacco dust to a bucket of water and add 50 g of laundry soap.

Wintering

Triple Crown blackberries are a crop with low frost resistance. In winter, bushes need shelter. In the fall, before the temperature drops to negative levels, supports are removed from under the bush, dry and diseased branches are pruned, and the rest are bent to the soil. Using a rope, they are tied into bundles, and then grabbed to the ground with a metal bracket.

To prevent the branch from breaking when tilted, a load has been attached to it since the summer. As a result, the shoot is constantly in a bent position and gets used to this state. A shelter is placed on top.

They can serve:

• hay;
• plant tops;
• roofing felt;
• polyethylene;
• sawdust;
• humus;
• peat.

Cannot be used to cover foliage from fruit trees. The reason is that they may contain microorganisms that penetrate the root system of the plant over the winter.

If opportunity allows, you can dig small trenches to cover the shoots. Their depth is 10 cm. The branches are placed in the prepared recesses and sprinkled with earth. There is insulating material on top. All this work must be carried out before the first frost. The most dangerous period for the plant is the snowless beginning of winter.

Harvesting

Depending on the region, gradual ripening of the fruits is observed. Often this process is wave-like, which extends the harvest over several months. This period can last from the beginning of July until the first days of September.

Storage

Triple Crown blackberries are a berry that does not have a long shelf life. The reason is its softness. It cannot lie for a long time and quickly wrinkles under mechanical stress.

Usually the fruits are stored in small containers that are placed in a cool place. To maintain a temperature of +3 ... +5°, the best option is a refrigerator. Since fruit ripening occurs unevenly, the harvest is harvested gradually. A small batch of berries is easier to sell or freeze.

Further care

To properly care for daffodils, you need to follow the watering and fertilizing regime. You can protect plants from diseases while preparing the bulbs for planting.

Watering and fertilizing

Moisture-loving daffodils are watered abundantly, but protected from dampness. 20 liters of water are poured per square meter of land. Watered beds are loosened so that moisture is evenly absorbed and oxygen reaches the roots. After flowering, plants are watered for 15 days. Then watering is stopped.

Fertilizing is applied three times a year:

• in spring, after germination;
• at the stage of bud formation;
• after flowering.

In spring and summer, flowers are fed with complex fertilizer. Sprouts require 30 grams per square meter, buds - 20 grams. In autumn, plants need potassium and phosphorus in a 1:2 ratio. 50 grams of mixture are consumed per square meter of beds. After applying fertilizers, the soil is watered and loosened.

Loosening the soil and removing weeds

The soil is loosened after watering and fertilizing. The bulbs are located close to the surface. The optimal loosening depth is 3-4 centimeters. Weeding and loosening prevent the appearance of parasitic insects in the beds. To prevent weeds from appearing in the flowerbed, it is better to cover the ground with a layer of mulch.

Insect protection

Daffodils attract mole crickets, daffodil flies, and root mites.

How to deal with pests:

• warm the bulbs before planting in water at a temperature of 43 degrees;
• Fufanon solution 2% is effective against narcissus flies;
• During the period when buds appear, flowers are treated with Fitoverm.

Plants are sprayed against nematodes with Nemaphos and Carbation.

Diseases of culture

Daffodils suffer from fungal diseases:

• fusarium - starts from the bulb and rises through the plant, a light pink coating appears;
• botrytis - recognized by a gray coating on the back of the basal leaves;
• penicillosis - develops in small bulbs at high humidity, as a result they do not germinate.

Less commonly, daffodils catch viruses - yellow streak, ring spot, mosaic. The plant is withering and cannot be saved. The bush must be removed from the garden before the disease covers the entire flower garden.

Preventive measures are taken against fungus:

• treat the bulbs with potassium permanganate before winter storage and planting;
• sprouts sprouted in open ground are disinfected with Bordeaux mixture.

To protect plants from viruses, you need to fight their vectors - garden pests, cicadas, whiteflies, nematodes and mites.

Transfer

Daffodils grow in one place for 5 years. A strongly overgrown bush with small flowers is a sign of children formed on the bulb. The plant is replanted after flowering:

• dig up the bulb after the stem has fallen;
• children are separated;
• transplanted to another place.

Small daughter bulbs are freed from remaining stems and husks, disinfected in a manganese solution, dried and sent to a cool place for 2 months. The storage temperature of daffodil bulbs should not exceed 17 degrees. The onions are laid out on a flat surface in one layer so that they do not touch each other.

One mother bulb produces up to 4 daughter bulbs. Small bulbs usually separate easily from the base. If they had to be broken off, the broken areas are sprinkled with wood ash.

Principles of proper wintering of daffodils

Bulbs that remain in the ground for the winter are covered with mulch or special material. The soil is slightly loosened and peat, ash, and straw are placed on top. The thickness of the mulch layer is 15 centimeters. The bulbs are covered with agrofibre at the first frost. The organic and hard coating is removed in the spring, after the last thaw. The second way to overwinter plants is in a cool cellar. They are dug up after the stems have dried, kept in manganese, dried and laid out on a flat tray.

Growing regions

Triple Crown blackberries are better suited for fruiting in mild climates. Regions where winter temperatures drop below - 13° are not suitable for such a crop.

The variety is grown in Ukraine and the central part of Russia, where there are no severe frosts in winter. However, even in such regions, bushes often need shelter due to their low winter hardiness. In addition, in the northern regions there is a risk that the crop will not ripen.

Reproduction methods

The best option for propagating Triple Crown blackberries is the vegetative method. To do this, in the spring, the one-year-old run bows to the ground and is covered with soil. The layer of upper chernozem should be within 3-5 cm. During the season, this place should be well watered.

By autumn, the sprinkled branch will sprout its first roots. However, they will still be weak, so it is not worth separating the shoot from the mother bush. Only next spring it is pruned and it begins to exist independently. Another method of propagation is cuttings. This option is more complex.

It consists of steps:

1. At the end of spring or beginning of summer, branches with a diameter of at least 1 cm and a length of about 30 cm are cut from the bush.
2. Root formation simulators Kornevin or Heteroauxin are dissolved in water and cut shoots are placed there for 12 hours.
3. Containers with the mixture are prepared. It consists of equal proportions of peat and sand. The cuttings are placed in containers so that the buds remain on the surface.
4. At first, the containers can be kept outdoors or in a greenhouse. For the winter they are moved to the basement.

Planting of seedlings in a permanent place occurs in the spring.

How to prepare blackberries for wintering

In the autumn season, shrubs prepare for the long winter season.

First, the bushes are pruned. The shoots that bear fruit are pruned. Shoots that are diseased or attacked by harmful insects are cut off at the root, leaving no stumps.

Weak, thin green sprouts are trimmed.

Young branches remaining for the winter are left with three quarters of their length.

After pruning, seven powerful young lashes remain. Then all remnants of vegetation and a layer of mulch are removed from the soil and burned outside the garden area.

The soil is loosened, humus and potassium are added, and watering is carried out. Mulching is carried out with a thicker layer. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture

If sudden changes in temperature conditions are predicted, the shoots are removed from the trellises, carefully bent down to the ground and covered

Where to buy, how much it costs

Triple Crown blackberries are bought in nurseries. Their price is 250-350 rubles. When making a wholesale purchase, the cost of seedlings is reduced to 90-100 rubles. Orders can be made by phone on the websites. Payment is made by card. If necessary, courier delivery can be arranged.

Triple Crown blackberries are a crop that is gradually covering larger areas. By studying the description and photo of the bush, you can clearly imagine how to care for the plant. This is especially true for the central and northern regions.