Thornless blackberryis an increasingly popular garden shrub. Its fruits are not only very tasty, but also have numerous he alth properties. Before we decide to buy a few cuttings, it is worth consideringbreeding thornless blackberryEspecially if we have access to a fertile, he althy shrub. Seehow to breed thornless blackberryfor he althy and plump seedlings. Here are 4 provenways to breed blackberries !
How to propagate a thornless blackberry?
The reproduction of thornless blackberryis a relatively simple procedure. Therefore, if we have a fertile, he althy shrub in an interesting variety, especially inaccessible, it is worth propagating it yourself. It should also be noted thatindependent reproduction of thornless blackberries is also an ideal way to rejuvenate theplant, which has already passed its years of fertility. When establishing thornless blackberry plantations, remember to use only he althy plants, free from both diseases and pests, for propagation and later planting.
1. Blackberry reproduction by tip layering
It is by far the simplest and most frequently used in small amateur cropsmethod of thornless blackberry reproductionThe best time to use this treatment is spring. Select shoots that have reached a length of 70-150 cm for the top layering. Then we bend them to the previously loosened ground surface.Cover the fragment of the shoot below the top with humus soil to a depth of about 7-10 cm (leaving the top not covered). The buried part should take root by autumn. Then we can cut it off from the mother plant so that it has a chance to become independent. At the end of autumn or spring next year, the seedling can be transplanted to a different destination.
2. Blackberry reproduction by herbaceous cuttings
Propagation of thornless blackberry through herbaceous cuttingsis a method based on rooting the shoots. It can be performed from the end of June to August.
In order to obtain a new seedling in this way, it is necessary tocut off the young, non-lignified, apical part of this year's shoot along with a fewleaves (the whole should be 6-10 cm long). The lower leaves (2-3 leaves) should be removed and the shoot prepared in this way should be immersed in a rooting agent intended for herbaceous cuttings. The next step is to place the shoots in a permeable, highly sandy substrate.It is also worth using fungicides at this stage.
Blackberry cuttings prepared in this way must have enough light(but not direct light) and a constantly moist substrate. If possible, we should place them in an inspection window or a fogging multiplier (thanks to this, moisture will not escape from them). To avoid fungal disease, it is good to water the seedlings once a week with a fungicide preparation.
After about 5-8 weeks, the cuttings should be rooted and ready to be transplanted into larger pots. Then we can also start the process of their gradual hardening.Young thornless blackberries can be plantedin their destination next spring.
3. Blackberry propagation by woody cuttings
"Blackberry propagation by woody cuttingsis the method most often used in large-scale fruit farming. The seedlings prepared in this way are much less prone to water loss than herbaceous seedlings.They also require less care and attention.
Woody cuttings are collected in late autumn , when the plants are finishing their vegetation. Cut one-year-old shoots to a length of 10-20 cm (this procedure is best done with a sharp knife, as the pruning shears can crush the shoot), immerse them in rooting for woody cuttings, and then transfer them to a permeable, sandy ground, where they are planted vertically. We keep everything, for example, in the basement until spring (if necessary, protect it from freezing!), Making sure that the substrate is slightly moist all the time. In spring, transplant the rooted cuttings into pots and slowly harden them. Then we place them on the beds or for inspection. Ready-to-plant seedlings are usually obtained in autumn. "
4. Blackberry reproduction by root suckers
Youngblackberry cuttings can also be obtained from root suckersTo do this, gently undermine the root growth and separate it from the mother family.Separate the shoots obtained in this way and, in this form, plant them at the destination at a depth of about 5 cm. In spring, new shoots should grow from the dormant eyes.
When using this method of propagating blackberries, however, one should bear in mind that the thornless blackberry is a cross - quitea significant share of root suckers may have forms with spikes and there is a high probability that we will exaggerate this form. Raspberry owners do not have this dilemma, and root suckers are the easiest and most commonly used method of reproducing raspberries in amateur crops.
