Description and characteristics of blackberry varieties Agavam, planting and care
In addition to fruit trees, summer residents plant berry bushes, having harvested from which they pamper households and stock up on vitamins for the winter. Blackberry Agavam has 150 years of history. During this time, it has become widespread throughout Russia. Summer residents appreciate it for its unpretentiousness and abundant harvests.
The history of selection of the Agavam variety
Nobody knows exactly about the origin of the blackberry species. It is only known that it was created in the USA. The parent varieties were wild-growing representatives of the culture. The first mention of it dates back to 1865. At that time, the berries were considered large and tasty.
Pros and cons of blackberries
The Agavam plant has many positive and negative characteristics. Summer residents were divided into two "camps", someone advises to grow it, and someone, on the contrary, says that it needs to be removed from the site. The decision remains with the gardener.
Pros:
- unpretentiousness;
- high productivity;
- great taste;
- resistant to getting wet;
- universality of application;
- able to bear fruit for 15 years, being in the same place;
- preservation of presentation during long-term transportation.
Minuses:
- strongly growing growth;
- loss of taste when overripe;
- sharp thorns on stems and leaves.
Planting Agavam blackberries on the site will not give the gardener any difficulties, it will be difficult to deal with the constantly developing shoots, which are not stopped by any obstacle.
General characteristics of culture
The appearance and characteristic features of the plant are necessary for the summer resident to get acquainted. This information helps to correctly allocate places on the site and to allocate a separate segment for blackberries.
Fruit
The berries of the Agavam variety are not very large. Their weight reaches 5 g, the shape is oval. There are practically no thorns on the stalk. Taste, according to tasters, 3.5 points. It is sweet and sour with a typical cultural flavor.
Bush and foliage
A medium-sized blackberry plant produces few lateral shoots. Agave is not sprawling, but forms a lot of growth. The berry grows on 2-year-old shoots.Blackberry variety Agavam shade-tolerant.The trunk and leaves are covered with sharp thorns.The foliage is green, slightly pubescent.
Root system
A highly branched, tenacious and powerful root system allows the Agave blackberry to grow in any conditions, on any type of soil.
Technical description
Data from this category of plant properties helps the summer resident understand whether the variety is suitable for growing in the region of residence.
Fruiting period and yield indicators
Up to 20 berries are formed on one shoot, they ripen separately. Therefore, the harvest is greatly stretched. The yield depends on the growing conditions.
The minimum indicator is 5 kg, the maximum is 15 kg from one bush.
Berry taste and application
The fruit is of a mediocre taste; tasters rate it very low. But this does not prevent gardeners from growing it on their plots. The fruits are used for:
- cooking compotes;
- cooking preserves, jams;
- freezing;
- juices.
The imagination of housewives has no boundaries, so the area of application of berries is extensive.
Frost and disease resistant
Agave has an average resistance to common diseases of the culture. It does not need special and frequent treatments for pests and diseases.
Winter hardiness is high. Sometimes the bushes leave in winter covered with green foliage.
Optimal growing regions
The variety is unpretentious, not afraid of a strong drop in temperature. For these reasons, it is grown in all regions of the Russian Federation.
Reproduction methods
There are several ways to breed. Everyone can choose the one suitable for themselves: by layering, shoots and seeds.Nobody propagates blackberries to Agaves by layering. The reason is that out of 10 buried shoots, only 1 takes root.Blackberry shoots give very abundant, there will definitely not be a shortage of it. It is difficult and long to propagate by seeds.
The nuances of growing blackberries from seeds
Despite the fact that this process is long, summer residents often use it. The seed grows into a plant that is strong, powerful and resistant to many factors.
How to collect and prepare seeds
Fruits are harvested only from healthy bushes. The berries must be overripe. Blackberries are crushed, turning into gruel. Rinse under running water until the planting material becomes clean. The collected seeds are dried.
Seed stratification before planting
The seeds are kept in wet sand for 2-3 months. Store in the refrigerator. The optimum temperature is + 2 ... + 4 ⁰С.Planting material older than 1 year is unsuitable for planting, as it loses its germination.Some summer residents, before planting, damage the seed shell with a sharp object.
Sowing timing and technique
In order for the landing not to be unsuccessful, it is necessary to follow a certain technology. Containers are prepared, the soil is filled with fertile soil. The container is filled up by 2/3, so that, as the seedlings grow, fill up the soil, stimulating the formation of additional roots. Then grooves are made, deepening the planting material by 3-5 cm. Tighten with polyethylene. Water every 2 weeks.
In the spring
Planted in February in containers. Additional lighting will be organized. After 2.5 months, they are planted in a permanent place. Growing at home allows you to pay more attention to seedlings and get healthy bushes.
In autumn
When the leaf falls, a bed is formed and planted directly to a permanent place. The seeds will stay all winter, wake up in the spring and begin to grow. The seedlings obtained in this way are more hardy.
Seedling care
Blackberries Agaves need care in the same way as other plants on the site. Gardeners recommend following standard agricultural practices.
Watering and loosening
Water as the top layer dries. After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil to provide the root system with oxygen.
Fertilizer
Top dressing with organic matter and complex mineral fertilizers will help grow powerful and strong plants. It is advisable to alternate fertilizers with each other.
Seasonal pest and disease control
Blackberry Agavam has immunity to diseases, therefore, subject to the rules of planting and care, problems with plants should not arise. If necessary, purchase special preparations and spray them with bushes. During flowering and fruiting, chemical treatment should be stopped. They use folk remedies.
Garter and trim
To increase the productivity of the bush, it is necessary to cut off the shoots that have bearing fruit in the season to the ground. The first few years, Agaves do not need pruning, then they do it systematically in spring or autumn.
Preparing for the winter period
To preserve the bushes in the northern regions, the Agavam blackberry is covered for the winter. Use special material or improvised means, dry plant residues and polyethylene. After that it is added with a layer of soil.
What you need to get a good harvest of blackberries
Every gardener dreams of getting the declared harvest. But growing it can be very difficult. High harvest volumes are obtained only with proper care and proper planting.
