Blackberry Navajo: features of cultivation and care

Description of the variety

Blackberry variety "Navajo" - one of the most promising breeding developments of the famous University of Arkansas. It was obtained by crossing several well-known varieties with the experimental university prototype Ark.550, from which it inherited many positive characteristics. The variety was officially patented and allowed for cultivation in 1987, and for almost 30 years it has firmly held its position as one of the best varieties for horticultural and industrial cultivation.

In comparison with other garden hybrids, "Navajo" does not differ in large berries - the drupes of this variety reach a mass of 4-7 g, but despite this, it is considered very fruitful due to the record number of berries on the bush (up to 400 berries can ripen on one shoot ). In industrial cultivation, the productivity of the variety is more than 9 tons / 1 hectare, which allows it to compete with large-fruited, but less productive varieties.

This variety of blackberries is considered late-ripening, since the berries reach full ripeness in August - early September. It has many positive characteristics, including resistance to diseases and low temperatures - the plants successfully winter at a temperature of -20 ° C. Shrubs of this variety form erect, rather powerful shoots up to 2 m high. Stems are smooth, without thorns and thorns, and require a special approach in pruning.

Blackberries are short, conical, dark blue, and black when fully ripe. The surface of the berries is glossy, the flesh is firm and elastic. Ripe berries have a very soft, exquisite dessert taste without the characteristic astringency and exude an amazing blackberry aroma. A distinctive feature of the berries is their excellent presentation - the drupes are of the same size and shape, they are well stored for a long time, they can easily be transported.

Advantages and disadvantages

Analyzing these qualities, it should be admitted that it is not so easy to find flaws in blackberries, while the advantages of the variety are obvious:

• the absence of thorns - for blackberries this is a big plus, since it is thorns that complicate the process of harvesting and caring for plants;
• relatively high frost resistance - most hybrid blackberry varieties are not able to survive the temperature of -15 ° C, and the Navajo variety can remain without shelter in a cold winter (down to -20 ° C);
• high immunity to diseases - the blackberry of this variety practically does not get sick, it does not require additional treatment from pests and diseases, which greatly facilitates the care of the crop;
• high yield - with a relatively small size of berries, the variety is distinguished by high productivity due to abundant fruiting;
• ease of care - it is easier to care for blackberries with erect stems, to carry out pruning;
• unpretentiousness to growing conditions - of course, the berries will be larger and sweeter if the bush is planted in a sunny place, but the shade for this variety is also not a problem;
• good preservation and transportability of berries - despite the fact that blackberries of this variety are quite juicy, the berries remain elastic for a long time and do not flow;
• long-term fruiting (3-4 weeks);
• ease of harvesting - the berries are arranged in clusters consisting of dozens of drupes, so picking berries is a real pleasure;
• the excellent dessert taste of berries is perhaps the main argument in favor of the “Navajo” variety.

According to gardeners, “Navajo” is the most “problem-free” variety among all garden hybrids of domestic and foreign selection. It is ideal for you if there is no way to devote a lot of time to caring for the berry.

Growing features

As already noted, this variety grows better and bears fruit in areas where there is a lot of heat and light. Partial shade is not an obstacle to fruiting and high yields, however, berries that have received less sunlight will grow less sweet and fragrant.

As an unpretentious plant, blackberries can grow on any soil, but in order to obtain a good harvest, it is better to plant the crop in light sandy loam or loamy soil, enriched with humus, and having a neutral or slightly increased acidity. Too moist soil in a lowland or with a high level of groundwater is not suitable for a blackberry - its root system rots from waterlogging.

With proper care, the Navajo blackberry bush can bear fruit for 10-15 years, so the planting process should be approached as if you were planting a perennial fruit tree. The planting pit should have the appropriate dimensions: a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of at least 50 cm. A bucket of humus, a couple of glasses of ash, 80-100 g of mineral fertilizers should be poured into the pit.

The most suitable time for planting blackberries is spring, but in the climate of the central zone, the culture can be planted in early summer. The earlier the bush is planted, the more time it has for rooting before the onset of constant cold weather. Autumn planting of seedlings is not practiced, since the culture has a low winter hardiness.

Since the "Navajo" variety has erect stems, it is permissible for it to plant in rows near the fence. If the seedlings are planted in holes, then the distance between the bushes should be 1.5–2 m. The bushes of this blackberry do not belong to tall plants, so you can do without installing trellises, but in this case, cutting the main shoots at the level of the lateral branches is required.

Subtleties of care

Basic caring for Navajo blackberries is no different from caring for other garden hybrids. On the contrary, given that this variety is characterized by erect stems, we can say that it is simpler, although it has its own subtleties:

• It is recommended to pinch (cut) young shoots not only in autumn, but also at the beginning of summer, when their height exceeds 1 m, while shortening the top by 20-25 cm, as well as side shoots - the procedure stimulates the growth of lateral branches, increases flowering and the formation of an ovary ;
• for tying plants, it is more convenient to use T-shaped trellises, however, if the shoots are properly cut and normalized, you can do without support;
• rationing of the bush is carried out in the fall according to the standard scheme, which assumes the remainder of 7-8 productive shoots per bush;
• preparation for winter includes removing old and underdeveloped young shoots under the root, removing branches from trellises, covering the bush with organic mulch, as well as with insulation material.

Standard maintenance measures include periodic watering 1-2 times / 1 week, top dressing, loosening the soil in the aisles and near-trunk circles. While the seedling is small, it is necessary to loosen the soil more often and remove weeds.When the bush grows, loosening around it is undesirable, since when the integrity of the root system is violated, shoots often appear that grow and lead to thickening of the bush.

Blackberries are undemanding for feeding. As a rule, autumn mulching is enough for her, however, for better growth and vegetation in the spring, you can apply 20-25 g of nitrogen fertilizer (urea, ammonium nitrate) under the bush, and 30 g of potassium during the ripening period of berries. Once every 3-4 years, the bushes are fed in the spring with compost or humus in the amount of 4-6 buckets / 1 adult bush.

Experienced gardeners who have dealt with the cultivation of the blackberry variety "Navajo", argue that the cultivation technique is much easier than that of other garden varieties. The bushes practically do not get sick, are not damaged by pests, bloom profusely in early summer and are literally covered with berries at the end of the season - in August.

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