Blackberry Karaka black (Karaka Black)

Blackberry Karaka Black – a complex hybrid of blackberry and blackberry, bred by Harvey Hall, a scientist at the New Zealand research station Hort Research. Work on the creation of a new variety began in 1982 with the crossing of the American varieties Aurora and Comanche. As a result of subsequent crossing with a raspberry-blackberry hybrid, a new large-fruited variety with long fruiting was obtained. In 2003, it was patented under the name Karaka Black, after which blackberry seedlings went on sale and began to spread to other continents.

Variety advantages: early ripening, extended fruiting, high yield, large berries, practically does not give shoots. The disadvantages include small thorns on the shoots and low winter hardiness.

Characteristics of the variety

Bushes compact, type – dewdrop. Escapes – 3-5 meters long, flexible, of moderate thickness, covered with small spines, arranged horizontally. Shoot formation – average. The leaves are light green with 3-5 toothed lobes. Fruit twigs are numerous, 3-6 berries are formed on each. Fruiting is on the growth of last year, starting from the second season.

Fruitsin the form of an elongated cylinder, tapering towards the top. Berries are large: average length – 4-5 cm, average weight – 10-14 gr., maximum – 17-20 gr. The color of ripe blackberries is black with a dark purple tint; at an early stage of ripeness, the fruits are painted pink. The skin is thick and glossy. Pulp – juicy.

At the peak of ripening, the berry becomes more matte and sweet, with a slightly noticeable sourness. Tasting assessment of the variety – 4.5 points (taste may decrease with a lack of sunlight, in cool and damp summers). The most ripe fruits are prone to shedding, they are worse stored and transported.

Productivity of blackberry Karaka Black  12-15 kg of berries from a bush or 15 q/ha. With proper agricultural technology and favorable growing conditions, indicators can double. The record for the yield of the variety was recorded in England, where 35 kg of berries were harvested from a 5-year-old bush. The variety gives the first full-fledged harvest in the third year of planting. The timing of the beginning of ripening blackberries Karaka Black – early stretched (June-July). Fruiting wavy – berries begin to form and ripen from the upper clusters and end at the bottom of the bush. The main crop is harvested within 6-8 weeks.

Immuneto most diseases and pests. Medium resistance to anthracnose and gray mold. Preventive treatment of bushes with biological products is necessary.

Destination. Karaka Black– elite blackberry variety. It is consumed fresh, juices, jams and even wine are prepared, frozen for the winter. It is desirable to transport and sell the berry at the stage of technical maturity, so it is better stored and less deformed.

Growing conditions. In European countries, the Karaka Black variety is grown in open ground and under film shelters. In Russia, the Australian blackberry is covered in almost all regions, because. at temperatures below – 16⁰ C, flower buds may die. For the winter, the bushes are bent to the ground, insulated with straw and dense agrofibre.

The drought resistance of Karaka Black is medium, blackberries love regular watering. Under the scorching southern sun, the berries can bake, so the bushes shade in the heat.

All procedures for caring for a variety, harvesting and bending down shoots for the winter are best done with gloves, because. small spikes can not only scratch the skin of the hands, but also dig into it, forming splinters.

Preparations