Blackberry Guy (Gaj)

Gai variety (Gaj) was bred in 2006 by Jan Danek, breeder of the experimental station of the Polish Institute of Floriculture and Fruit Growing. In 2008, blackberry seedlings Guy entered the mass sale on the European agricultural market.

Variety advantages: good yield, high frost resistance, transportability, keeping quality, sweet berries. The disadvantages include low resistance to drought, average immunity to fungal diseases and pests.

Characteristics of the variety

Shrub upright branched subshrub – Kumanik. The shoots are massive, without thorns, up to 3.5 m.  high, need a garter. Foliage is average. The ovaries are formed in the middle and lower parts of the branches, practically absent at the tops.

Fruitsflattened, oval in shape, similar to mulberries. The average weight of berries is 7-9 gr., Maximum – 16 gr. The color of ripe blackberries – black with gloss. Taste – sweet.

The yield of the Guy variety is good, up to 17 kg of berries per bush (under favorable conditions and proper care). Ripening time – mid-early. The fruiting period in the middle lane – July-August, in northern latitudes – August-September.

Immunity to pests and diseases is moderate, in a dry and mild climate – above average. At high humidity and unfavorable growing conditions, plants can be affected by fungal diseases. Spring preventive treatment of bushes will help reduce the risk of pest attacks.

Purpose varieties – fresh consumption, freezing, harvesting for the winter, processing. The berry grows well in open-air fields, tolerates transportation, is stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, so Gaj blackberries are often grown for sale, incl. on an industrial scale.

Growing conditions. Guy blackberry is classified as a winter-hardy variety, according to the originator, bushes do not freeze at temperatures up to –30°C. But Russian realities force gardeners to play it safe and insulate plants for the winter with agrofibre.

Worse, blackberries tolerate heat and drought, and react to excessive ultraviolet light with a decrease in yield. Therefore, agricultural technicians recommend choosing a slightly shaded area for planting blackberries and watering the plant in a timely manner.

Preparations